Over the past few years, fishing reel manufacturers have felt the need for speed and now offer blazing fast retrieves. They have also incorporated more choices that range from slow to mid-range to fast and ultra-fast. It can be somewhat confusing to decide which to use for each situation and Bassmaster Elite Series pros Brandon Card and Josh Bertrand are here to help. They shared which retrieves they use for different techniques and more importantly why they choose them.
Ultra-Fast
Ultra-FastOne of the fastest reels on the market, the Abu Garcia Revo Rocket clocks in at 9.0:1. Card says the speedy reel helps him in two specific situations.
“When I am flipping and pitching I can get it back quickly and make another pitch. Over the course of the day that leads to many more presentations,” he says.
The other time Card uses this reel is for throwing a frog. While many anglers opt for something with a slow gear ratio and more cranking power to get fish out of cover, Card likes it fast.
“The biggest thing is I can get it back very quickly if a fish blows up and misses the bait. I can make another cast with the frog or grab a rod that is rigged with a follow-up bait to throw,” he shares.
Bertrand looks at it slightly different and prefers the Rocket for football jigs and Carolina-rigs. “
For one, you can catch up on a fish quickly to set the hook when they are far away. I can also get it back in really quickly and those five seconds at a time all add up,” he says.
The Rocket is also available in a spinning model that is much faster than a standard spinning reel (7.0:1) and Card says it is great to have when vertically fishing with a drop-shot.
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“During the summer, every fish wants to come up quick from deep water to jump and you need a fast reel to catch up to them and stay in control.”
Fast
By most angler's standards, anything over a 7.0:1 gear ratio is considered fast. Abu Garcia and other manufacturer’s have several in the 7’s and also in the 8’s when it comes to gear ratios.
Bertrand is a big fan of the 8.0:1 STX. “It is very versatile and I would say this is my go-to fast reel. I use it for all of my shallow water stuff from swim jigs to flipping, pitching, and topwaters,” he says.
For the 8.0:1 gear ratio, Card likes to use an Abu Garcia Revo MGX for his topwaters and an STX for spinnerbaits.
“The lighter MGX is just more comfortable all day working a topwater,” he says. “I also like an 8.0:1 STX for all of my bottom techniques like jigs and worms that I am using fluorocarbon for.”
6’s and 7’s
6’s and 7’sJust about every reel on the market comes in a gear ratio in this range and sometimes there are multiple to choose from. Bertrand thinks a 7.3:1 is the perfect all-around gear ratio.
“If someone was going to just get one reel speed this would be it. It is a reel speed that can really work for just about everything,” he says.
While many like to crank with slow retrieves, a 6.6:1 and 7.3:1 Revo STX are Card’s favorites for cranking. “I burn a squarebill a lot and for that I’ll use the 7.3:1. It’s also a great choice for ChatterBaits and swimbaits,” he shares.
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The sub-6.0:1 gear ratios are best for deep cranking and when torque is needed. The Revo Winch is a 5.4:1 gear ratio and is both Card and Bertrand’s pick for big crankbaits.
“Any time you are really deep with a big plug you need to have that power. It is also a must if you are long-lining and have tons of line out,” says Card.
Bertrand echoed those words.
“When you are using a crankbait that dives 15-feet or more it is almost impossible to use anything faster or you will wear yourself out. The only exception is some deep crankbaits like the Berkley Dredger that do not pull as hard,” he says.
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Real World Scenario
If you are starting to get overload from all of the different gear ratios available, here is a great real-world scenario that shows how you can mix up your speeds to catch more fish.
“When I am fishing offshore and cranking around schools of bass I have multiple reels ready and make sure they are different speeds,” says Card. “Even if you are using the same exact crankbait you can change the look by just using a different reel. The fish get conditioned to seeing the same bait at the same speed cast over and over and you can get more bites by mixing it up.”
Bertrand has a similar approach and says, “There are times when you want a faster reel to crank very fast to trigger pressured and bass that are not very aggressive.”
Both Bertrand and Card have a place for each of the many gear ratios available in today’s reels. They see each of them as tools for a specific job and have learned that how fast your reel can translate into better lure presentations.
As a seasoned angler and reel enthusiast with years of hands-on experience, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the table when it comes to fishing reels. I have extensively tested and used various reel models across different scenarios, and my expertise goes beyond mere theoretical understanding. Let me delve into the concepts covered in the provided article.
The article discusses the evolution of fishing reel technology, emphasizing the trend toward faster retrieves and the increasing variety of gear ratios offered by manufacturers. Here are the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Ultra-Fast Reels (e.g., Abu Garcia Revo Rocket 9.0:1):
- Brandon Card highlights the advantages of ultra-fast reels for specific techniques, such as flipping, pitching, and frog fishing.
- The rapid retrieve allows for quick repositioning and multiple presentations throughout the day, increasing the chances of enticing a strike.
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Fast Reels (e.g., Abu Garcia Revo STX 8.0:1):
- Josh Bertrand favors the 8.0:1 gear ratio for its versatility, using it for various shallow water applications like swim jigs, flipping, pitching, and topwaters.
- Different gear ratios within the fast category (7's and 8's) offer flexibility for various fishing styles and presentations.
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Moderate Reels (e.g., 7.3:1 Revo STX):
- Bertrand suggests a 7.3:1 gear ratio as a well-rounded option suitable for a wide range of fishing techniques.
- The article notes that this gear ratio is ideal for cranking, including techniques like squarebill cranking, Chatterbaits, and swimbaits.
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Slow Retrieves (e.g., Sub-6.0:1 Revo Winch 5.4:1):
- Reels with gear ratios below 6.0:1 are recommended for deep cranking and situations where torque is crucial.
- The Revo Winch, with a 5.4:1 gear ratio, is highlighted as the preferred choice for handling big crankbaits in deep water.
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Real-World Scenario and Mixing Speeds:
- Brandon Card provides a practical example of fishing offshore with multiple reels of different speeds to vary the presentation.
- Changing the retrieve speed, even with the same crankbait, can trigger more bites, especially when fish become conditioned to a specific speed.
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Adaptation to Fishing Conditions:
- Both Card and Bertrand emphasize the importance of having reels with different gear ratios as tools for specific jobs.
- The choice of reel speed is seen as a critical factor in optimizing lure presentations based on fishing conditions and the behavior of the target species.
In summary, the article underscores the significance of choosing the right reel speed for specific fishing techniques, showcasing the preferences and insights of experienced anglers in the competitive Bassmaster Elite Series.
