Crankbait Reel

[bassboogieman]

I'm a Pflueger reel user also. Diving cranks I use the Asaro, which is very similiar to the President (- 2 bearings), except is has a slower rater of retrieve. Both are 6.3 ratio reels, the President is 28" per handle turn, the Asaro is 25", not a huge difference but I think the RoR is more important than ratio and it does slow the lure down a bit. Lipless cranks I use a Summit 7:1 and RoR is 28". The Asaro @ $129 (list) doesn't bust the budget either. The REVO Winch mentioned above is an exceptional cranking reel, but the 5:1 (or whatever it is), IMO would be better suited for deep cranks rather than the shallow to medium. Everyone has their preferences, that's mine.

[nofearengineer]

Shop ebay, and get yourself a new Revo Winch for $120-140. End of story.

[islandbass]

Thanks, Tav. I also like abu g reels and I think they look good. I have a round reel that is sporting abec 7 bearings and it casts as well as my curado 201BSF.

[Rebbasser]

My recommendation really depends on the baits you will be throwing. The bigger/deeper running baits you are going to throw the lower the gear ratio you want. I throw shallow baits, i.e. Bandit 100s on a 6.3 to 1. I throw big bruisers like a DD-22 on a 4.7:1 reel. Throwing a DD-22 on a 6.3:1 I'm good for about 5 casts. I can throw the same bait on a low GR reel all day. I do throw lipless baits on a 7.1:1 reel, so you can see I'm all over the board, but there is a method to my madness.

In a nutshell, the bigger, deeper bait you are going to throw the lower the GR I'd recommend. I have done a lot of trial and error and found this works for me.

[Old Hooker]

For shallow cranks, say 0 to 10 feet, I use a BPS Pro Qualifer with a 5.2:1. The rod is a BPS Crankin' Stick 7' med/fast. This set up works good for me.

Like Rebbaser, I also throw lipless cranks on a 7.1:1 and a 7' med/fast rod. I like to have a dedicated rod and reel set up for different things.

[tomegun]

Also, consider how it fits in your hand. The newer smaller low-profiles are easier to hold and cause less hand fatigue than the bigger low-profiles.

[mikechell]

I use two inch Husky Jerks a lot. All of my lighter lures are thrown on spinning reels.
The lightest lure I use a baitcaster for is weightless Sticko baits.

Why do you want a slower retrieve reel? You can always slow the retrieve of a faster reel, hard to reel in a slow reel faster. Slower retrieves allow for more power to pull with ... but the smaller hooks on smaller lures might not withstand that.

Anyway ... small, light crank baits, for me, means spinning reel.

[OkobojiEagle]

With a 2" Husky Jerk I'd be using a spinning reel also, the small cranks I'm writing about would be Wiggle Warts or Bandit sized... ~1/4oz. I don't buy into the faster is better mentality. Slower can mean a bass might see what their senses are feeling in stained or dirty water. Also, many crankbaits won't run true if retrieved too quickly (as is so with spinnerbaits). 5:1 ratios give me pretty accurate speed control with my normal handle rotation speed.


oe

[bassboogieman]

I have a couple Gen2 Winch reels and they are very good for cranking baits that dive. I prefer a faster reel for lipless cranks as they can run faster. The lower ratio and power in the Winch reel is easier on the wrist when you are throwing diving cranks all day.

[mikechell]

I approach fishing differently, I guess. I very rarely fish open water, and I rarely fish the entire distance from my target to the boat. So, after working the lure around the target, and reel it in and cast to the next target.
For me, a faster reel speed means I can retrieve and cast faster. It's got nothing to do with fishing speed. I use the rod to work the bait, the reel to retrieve it.
I also do not use the reel to fight a fish. I doubt many others do, either. I fight the fish until the rod is vertical, then reel in line while lowering the rod. In fact, I've called many people on trying to "reel" in a fish instead of pumping it in.
So, it's all about casting ... small, light lures are cast on spinning gear, larger heavier lures, flipping and pitching are done on level winds.

[bassboogieman]

I fish a moving lure all the way back to the boat, bass will follow a bait. Muskie are notorious followers, as are pike and snakeheads. I have had all those 4 species strike a lure as I was about to lift the lure fom the water at boat side. I find that especially true when fishing a spinnerbait but have had rattletraps and chatterbaits hit at boat side also.

I reel fish in, fish under 3# anyway dependant on what line and rod I am using (more so with single hook baits than trebles) by keeping the rod high and winding fast and sometimes the fish are skimming along on the surface. Big fish are fought with the rod, lifting the fish then taking up line while lowering the rod tip.

[OkobojiEagle]

Thanks Tony... The guys (and Gal) at the Abu service center explained the same to me. I put on 20lb tracer braided line instead to better watch (slow down) my reeling speed.

Where've you been lately, haven't seen you in the middle of any arguments, uh, I mean discussions on Bass Resource lately... Shoot me your email address sometime, then I can bother you with silly questions directly? (EvansClothing@iowatelecom.net)


oe

[Tavery5]

Originally Posted by OkobojiEagle

Thanks Tony... The guys (and Gal) at the Abu service center explained the same to me. I put on 20lb tracer braided line instead to better watch (slow down) my reeling speed.

Where've you been lately, haven't seen you in the middle of any arguments, uh, I mean discussions on Bass Resource lately... Shoot me your email address sometime, then I can bother you with silly questions directly? (EvansClothing@iowatelecom.net)


oe

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