reel speed

[Brian H]

When I first started fishing I was using cheaper reels with a slower gear ratio, if I remember right it was 3:1.
Now I have spendier reels that are 6:1 and I think maybe i'm fishing to fast.I think for me it is easier using a 3:1 reel than to actually slow down my retrieve.
I should maybe mention I cast mostly for bass and pike.
Anybody have any thoughts on this?
Thank you

[shadowman]

try a reel with a 5.2 to 1

[marcbodi]

Hi,
Great question.When I cast for Salmon I use Garcia 300's because the ratio is 4-1 and I just barely turn the crank.For Walleyes I used to do great casting jig and minnows using a Shakespere 2052 but I had trouble with the bail and went to a bigger faster reel and did terrible.Switched to a small Quantum with a low 4-1 gear radio and do great again.I think I was moving the jig to fast.

May I be fishing somewhere Tomorrow

[TONY ON ICE]

BRIAN
The lower retrieve ratios definitely mke a difference when working a jig.
I found myself in the same boat back when I was in my teens.
All I ever used were my fathers or uncles Garcia Conlon rods and Mitchell 300 or 308 reels. It was like a magic wand in my hand and the walleyes came prety easy with the bucktail jig on the end of my line. Then, I got a job at GM and started making some good money and had to have the best and highest retrieve ratio reels on the market.
Talk about humbling !! I got my chops busted every weekend by my father and uncle but they never told me why I was no longer catching fish like they were.
I took me a whole season to figure it out and a few clues from one of my cousins who overhead my father and uncle talking about my lack of fish catching ability with my new reels.
When I did tell them that I knew what was wrong, they said "go buy your own 300's and 308's" so I did and went back to catching fish.
The high retrieve ratios have their place and time but for jigging, the old 3.1 and 4.0's are the hot set up.
There are companies that still make the lower retrieve ratio reels. Just need to do some searching.

T.O.I

[Fatbutt]

I use the 6:1 ratio reels for casting all the time and do just fine. You just have to remind yourself to keep it slow. One thing I do often is watch my jig up close in the water to see how slow I can fish it an still get the needed action. If you do this frequently, it will become automatic to keep your speed where it needs to be.