How To Decide What Gear Ratio Spinning Reel Is Right For You

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If you're in the market for a new reel, do you know what to consider when choosing your spinning reel?
There are many factors to think about about what style of fishing you'll be doing is one of the most important.
Be sure to factor in both gear ratio and "inches per turn" when making your decision about what spinning reel is right for you.
If you want a lighter reel for throwing artificials, a higher gear ratio is probably your better choice.
And if you are using live or dead bait and need more power, the lower gear ratio would be my recommendation.
In this video, you'll learn:
- What inches per turn means
- The difference between high and low gear ratio
- And much more.
Have any questions about gear ratio and inches per turn?
Let us know in the comments of our Fishing Tips blog on our website here: bit.ly/2TUn7SR

[@Saltstrong]

Click here to get the Daiwa BG (and get 20% off if you're an Insider): bit.ly/3k8RGi2

[@anthonycolbourne4206]

One big difference I do see between the reels is the amount of drag available, with the BG limited to 13.2lbs of drag while the Legalis is rated at almost double at 22lbs of drag. It's a difficult aspect to compare two reels and what all those numbers mean in the end. Mount the rod in a holder and try this: If you attach a 6 pack of beer to the end of the line and measure the force you have to apply on the handle of the reel to lift the beer off the ground, that would be a good comparison of how the gear/torque numbers work themselves out inside the different reels. A lower gear ratio should mean less force needed to lift the beer, but just how much less? You could have a higher speed reel with a longer handle that produces the same overall torque as a slower geared reel in the end...

[@jimmyjaimes5268]

Thanks for the information. I'm always interested in learning more about reels . On a good note I got my Slam Shady pack today. Looking forward to trying them out in the morning. Thank you for the deal.

[@rkw221]

nice & concise plus very accessible wording for a confusing topic for many of us.

[@martingray8350]

Thanks for explaining this always wondered what those numbers really meant

[@nukimo2967]

I have to agree with those that would like some type of comparable list(s) be it overall &/or category. Price, gear ratio & inches per rotation… I’m again new to salt water after a lifetime of mountain streams & lakes fishing. With the pandemic & out of stock gear, I’m really at a loss as to the next best of the next best. I’ll miss the season waiting for my ideal reel to arrive! Inland waterway bank, marina, bridge pylon & beach/surf is what I’m looking at reels for.

[@TomMendoladrums]

I enjoy the content you present. Educational and enjoyable.

[@fishingbuddyph8786]

Great information...thank you for sharing! 👍

[@holyroller2445]

Thanks learned quite a bit 😊

[@GreggWaller]

Thank you! Great explanation. Going to your website now.

[@Saltstrong]

Glad it was helpful! Let us know if you have any questions!

[@cindyvaz6654]

Nice information thank you

[@McNateDoggYT]

Wonderfully done man very well thought out and very informative for a long time angler ready to get good haha

[@Saltstrong]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@martinbecerra7859]

An explanation even a 5 year old could understand! Great job brotha, thank you for making me well informed 🔥🔥

[@andrewfloresca5029]

Great video. Great information.

[@AMLuc1320]

Good video Salt Strong but you should have pointed out that the old Daiwa sizing on BG 2500 is a larger spool circumference than LT sized 2500. Therefore with a lower gear ratio can retrieve almost as much line per crank as the highter gear Legalis. Personally I prefer Daiwa’s old sizing.

[@PatRick-xr5tb]

Great video!

[@clivenaidoo5572]

Hello Justin my question is about the gear ratio 5.8.1 e.g I would like to know what the center Number 8 is there for??

[@dixondjallen6620]

Hi Justin! I was trying to describe gear ratios to a friend of mine trying to decide on purchasing a spinning reel, Penn Slammer, and your explanation is much better than what I was...attempting... to describe lol! Thx bud! I'm doing more offshore fishing these days than inshore. You know the water conditions these days in the Merritt Island area. See you on the water...

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks DJ! Appreciate the support and hope to see you out there!

[@dixondjallen6620]

@@Saltstrong anytime you guys are in the, Merritt Island area, Lemmy know! I got my own numbers....

[@markenglish78]

Thanks for the video!

[@Saltstrong]

You're welcome!

[@robertdejonge3607]

Interesting video, thanks for sharing! Maybe its nice to make another video about which gear ratio's are used for which type of fishing styles ( speed jigging, slow jigging, throwing poppers etc. )

[@mch.l.trecords9169]

I've been fishing for 25 years of my life and I can answer that for you very quickly. Slower presentations with heavier lures or bait like crankaits and whole dead or live bait-fish need a lower numbered gear ratio. Because the lower the number on the gear ratio the less line will be reeled in per a rotation of the handle causing a slower more natural presentation. On the other hand faster presentations require a higher gear ratio typically with Carolina rigs you want a 7.2.1 gear ratio for example. The downside to spinning reels is they don't go that high in gear ratio only baitcaster reels do unfortunately. But that's why you see professional bass fisherman using baitcasters instead of spinning reels most of the time anyway.

[@robertdejonge3607]

@@mch.l.trecords9169 Thanks for your reply! ;)

[@mch.l.trecords9169]

@@robertdejonge3607 no problem man, I'm glad I could help.

[@gabrielgonsalves6532]

Is the diwa bg 4500saltwater spinning reel made in Japan and also diwa bg airbail 4500 saltwater spinning reel made in Japan.

[@user-nl2jr2sl1s]

Awesome explanation of gear ratio!!!

[@Saltstrong]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Charsept]

So pier and reef fishing is when you want a little extra torque?

[@jerrysanders9619]

Well explained!

[@Saltstrong]

Glad you found this helpful!

[@purplefurture6960]

For surf fishing dead bait like cur fish or shrimps or small crabs etc etc but no lure or jug I want to throw the bait with sinker soooo far Which or how do i know its for my needs I will also look for 3.5m to 4m rod medium power fast action i think is my need as rod But reel i have no idea I bought daiwa bg60 before 10 years😅 i only knew daiwa is good but the model or spec i have no idea later i checked their website it said its heavy power reel

[@maasai-]

Facts about gear ratio 1- slower gears consist of fewer teeth n more deeper thus more torque, in other side fast gear ratio more teeth n shallow thus less torque 2- line retrieval depends upon gear ratio n rotor arm distance

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for sharing!

[@gabrielgonsalves6532]

What is the cost of these reels. Which part of US are you from.

[@bazzaip2698]

It's like 5th gear vs 6th gear ?

[@jerrynpatti]

You said nothing about the diameter of the spool or does it balance on the rod you have.

[@mbari6963]

You’re right about that! Turns per crank are more absolute than inches per turn. As you gather in more line and increase the circumference of the spool you increase the number of inches per turn. Stick with revolutions per crank as the metric!!

[@anthonycolbourne4206]

@@mbari6963 Some reels of different "size" are really just the same basic body of a reel with a larger or smaller spool on the end to give different results. Changing the size of the spool changes the results you get in a number of ways, torque and inches per turn with the same gear ratio. You could have a 3000 size reel and a 4000 size reel that are exactly the same except they each have a different spool size. You could just swap out the spool size from one to the other to step up or down depending on what you want. Not every company does that but if you look carefully you can see who does.

[@frankcouste4785]

The high gear rods aren’t on the combos in academy.

[@brandonkushida4702]

Okay gear ratio is all good but comparing an S-10 vs a 3500 doesn’t help. Because legalis has a small OD spool next to the BG. Apples to apples comparison would’ve been more helpful.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for your feedback! Make sure to suggest this over on the actual blog or in the Community where the coaches spend their time. The blog can be found here: bit.ly/2TUn7SR

[@curtisharrison1607]

I think people overlook how big is the center that the line is spooled onto.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@AnglerGhost]

👍

[@sarahslye2726]

Hand model really needs a nail clipper😳

[@youtubr4real]

👍🏼

[@ReefMimic]

Aiming for 7:1

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for watching!