Shopping For A Bait Caster Reel

[FishBaitThe2nd]

Well, im shopping for a bait casting reel right now. And i was taught at one time what the gear ratio means and everything but i dont exactly remember. Im looking at a Shimano Caius Baitcasting reel right now, the gear ration is 6:5:1... I think its like 6 cranks and then i couldnt tell you about the 5 and the 1. What exactly should I look for in the gear ratio? If you have any other options or recommendations on reels then id more then willingly take your advice. Im spending $90 on a rod. so I dont really want to spend to much on a reel. No more then $70 is what I would like, the rod is bought the money is put to the side for that. Im working on the 70 for the reel,Im only 14 so money is an issue for me, i love fishing and have much expierence and take good care of my equipment, im just tired of spinning combos. Or if you have any old bait casting reels, let me know what you got and ill see if i can get the money or maybe i can work for it. Thanks for the help guys !

[Amx]

Should have been at the pizza party, swap meet yesterday evening. Lots of good reels to choose from.

What fish are you going to fish for with the new reel? What lures are you going to be using?

[FishBaitThe2nd]

i should have included that info in the original post
I will be fishing for salmon and steelhead, and lures will be bobber/jig, and corky/yarn, and the occasional spoon.

[Amx]

I don't know, I like using spoons for eating ice cream.

[Sthao92]

I have been using the shimano callisto baitcasting reel for the past 2 years for salmon and steelhead and would recommend this reel. It has a nice low profile to it. Not sure how all the gear ratio stuff works but it reels in line fast enough for me. The drag system works great on it. I have it paired with a 8'6" trophy series lamiglass pole and have used it for twitching jigs, corky and yarn, spoons and spinners, float fishing, and even throwing plugs from the bank. The only small issue i have with it is when i am float fishing in slow slow water is that i have to manually pull line out to let the float drift down river but i have talked to the fishing guys in sportco and outdoor emporium and they pretty much told me that i would have that issue with every baitcaster in slow water and i have. But thats the only issue i have had with it. Hope this info is helpful. Also i fish the skokomish and use this same rod and reel and do just fine. The other guys you see at the sko with big ol reels and heavy rods have it for a reason, they are snaggers. A king caught legally in the mouth is alot easier to bring in then a king snagged in the side, tail, or fin.

[FishBaitThe2nd]

a 5 pound jack hooked in the tail can feel like A 15 pounded sometimes lol

Yeah theres alotta snaggers out there at the skok, but theres snaggers everywhere you go you just cant simply avoid them sadly.

And alright thanks for the info !

[A9]

Im spending $90 on a rod. so I dont really want to spend to much on a reel. No more then $70 is what I would like, the rod is bought the money is put to the side for that. Im working on the 70 for the reel,Im only 14 so money is an issue for me, i love fishing and have much expierence and take good care of my equipment, im just tired of spinning combos.

Spend less on the rod and more on a quality baitcaster.........

[losaturn]

I second what he said, spend your money on the reel. You can skimp on spinning reels, but not Casting reels. I got a Abu Garcia Silver Max early on this year to use for steelhead, but it couldn't even freespool. I finally purchased a Revo SX today, as it was on sale at Cabela's. Lesson learned.

[Gringo Pescador]

A simple explanation is number of rotations of the handle to number of rotations of the spool. For instance a 6.3:1 What this number means is it has a 6.3 to 1 gear ratio. In other words, every full turn of the handle crank results in the line spool rotating 6.3 times. A 5.3:1 would be one spool rotation shorter and a 7.3:1 would be one spool rotation more.

I prefer higher, nymbers for float fishing, gets the gear back to you faster after the end of the float so you can get it back in the water faster

[Gringo Pescador]

The only small issue i have with it is when i am float fishing in slow slow water is that i have to manually pull line out to let the float drift down river but i have talked to the fishing guys in sportco and outdoor emporium and they pretty much told me that i would have that issue with every baitcaster in slow water

Not true - I've got three Curados and none of them do I have to pull line out by hand in slow water. Try playing with the spool tensioner.

[kzoo]

The only small issue i have with it is when i am float fishing in slow slow water is that i have to manually pull line out to let the float drift down river but i have talked to the fishing guys in sportco and outdoor emporium and they pretty much told me that i would have that issue with every baitcaster in slow water

Not true - I've got three Curados and none of them do I have to pull line out by hand in slow water. Try playing with the spool tensioner.

I agree with Gringo, you should never manually pull line out of a baitcaster for slow water. I've used cuarados and citacs for drifting and float fishing fore several years. MIght need to clean and oil your bearings.

[Sthao92]

You guys may be right, i might have to clean it. Also I have played with the spool tensioner many times and it does work some what but the float tends to lean. Might i add the 2 reels you guys mentioned are way out of the price range that fishbait wants to pay for. Also i'll give you an example of the slow water i encounter sometimes. The wallace river under hwy2, sherman hole, and cedar holes, i don't know if you guys know these areas but the water there is pretty slow at times. I don't know if that explains it enough but like you both said maybe i need to clean it or upgrade.

[Bodofish]

Sounds to me like a cleaning and a reset of the tensioner and the casting brake. Less casting brake and more thumb will make for a better handling rig.

[Gringo Pescador]

You guys may be right, i might have to clean it. Also I have played with the spool tensioner many times and it does work some what but the float tends to lean. Might i add the 2 reels you guys mentioned are way out of the price range that fishbait wants to pay for. Also i'll give you an example of the slow water i encounter sometimes. The wallace river under hwy2, sherman hole, and cedar holes, i don't know if you guys know these areas but the water there is pretty slow at times. I don't know if that explains it enough but like you both said maybe i need to clean it or upgrade.

Yep, know the holes - try cleaning and oiling your reel and see if that helps I am always amazed at the difference a good cleaning/oiling can make in my reels. The deteriorzation of performance is so slow you don't notice it, until it is gone.

I never meant the Curado's as a suggestion for fishbait, just trying to explain the gear ratios and saying that is what I have and have no problem free spooling a float in frog water.

[Bodofish]

A simple explanation is number of rotations of the handle to number of rotations of the spool. For instance a 6.3:1 What this number means is it has a 6.3 to 1 gear ratio. In other words, every full turn of the handle crank results in the line spool rotating 6.3 times. A 5.3:1 would be one spool rotation shorter and a 7.3:1 would be one spool rotation more.

I prefer higher, nymbers for float fishing, gets the gear back to you faster after the end of the float so you can get it back in the water faster

I know this is a caster discussion but just to add to the conversation, when comparing the numbers to that of a spinner, the ratio numbers mean nothing because of the differences in spool size, a 5.3:1 spinner can be much faster retreive than a 6.3 - 7.3:1 caster. I've run into a quite a few people that have shyed away from a nice spinner because of the numbers. A guy really needs both in his quiver..... He who dies with the most toys.......

I personally use both interchangably but in light conditions I really prefer a spinner. bail on, bail off all done by hand, not the with the crank, less than minimal line drag.

Gringo, I'm right with you on speed of retreive, after I got a burner 7.3:1 caster, I'll never go back, the screaming retreve can save your bacon and a lot of gear with a quick twist of the crank.

[Bodofish]

Flame suit on> As far a Curado's go, chopped liver in my opinion if you want to pit one against a Quantum in the same price range, the quantum will win every time. They're just that good. < Flame suit off.......


FB2 if you really want to learn to handle a casting reel, get out there and spend the $69 bucks and get a new Ambassador and have an experienced hand show you how to set it up and get out there and start practicing. By the time you are ready to buy a big $ rig you will truely be able use and appreciate it. Don't let the price fool you any of the Ambassador round reels are darn fine and will handle anything from a 8" trout to a 60# King.

[kzoo]

You guys may be right, i might have to clean it. Also I have played with the spool tensioner many times and it does work some what but the float tends to lean. Might i add the 2 reels you guys mentioned are way out of the price range that fishbait wants to pay for. Also i'll give you an example of the slow water i encounter sometimes. The wallace river under hwy2, sherman hole, and cedar holes, i don't know if you guys know these areas but the water there is pretty slow at times. I don't know if that explains it enough but like you both said maybe i need to clean it or upgrade.

I use to fish Sherman and whatever the other hole above it is quite a bit. You should still be able to free spool in those conditions.

Try cleaning and oiling your bearings, it does a world of difference. Look for tutorials on how to, over oiling bearings and things that don't need lubrication will prevent performances.

[FishBaitThe2nd]

Thanks for the info guys. !

I already know how to use to a baitcaster, thats not an issue. Ive been using one for a litte over a year now. I just only have bass ones, and the one i have that could be used for salmon is a abu garcia ambassadeur , but its a right hand retrieval and i need a left hand retrieveal.

[tsath24]

SHIMANO CURADO ALL THE WAY!!! Best reel I've used hands down, never use anything else besides a baitcaster, unless it's fly fishing or course...

[FishBaitThe2nd]

I wish i had the money for a curado, ive used them a couple times (they were my buddies) , and i was very impressed very nice reals.