Gear Ratios...work in progress

[John Sheehan]

 Here is a list of my Spinning  and Bait casting reels with their gear ratios . I am suspecting lost fish isn't  always my fault , well yeah it is , but maybe because I hooked them with the wrong tool. Perhaps with more matched gear I wouldn't have lost that fish that defeated me . Catching up to a bolting fish and keeping the tight feel to the tip of the rod that may not have a good hook set can be tough . Windy conditions can really screw things up by putting slack in your line as the fish heads toward deeper water where the boat is . .I am trying to figure out best gear ratios for conditions ,metabolic activity of fish etc. I lost a good Pickerel that was swimming like lightening toward the boat and a 5.2:1 gear ratio couldn't keep up . You are doing something right when hooking them for sure but losing a fish even after feeling like you had a good hook set means you're doing something wrong or something like Nature or power of fish to gear ratio used made you lose .Have to consider rod length and position of rod to fish also. Holding rod high takes slack out and is helpful depending on which way you're positioned to the fish .

  Ask yourself friends; did i blow that or could I have got the fish to the shore or in the boat with the right gear and technique ?

Spinning Reels :

5.5: 1

Penn Silverado SV 2000

5.3:1

Daiwa Laguna 2500

 5.2:1

Pflueger President 6730 ;Lost some Pickerel ,

Pflueger President UL

PfluegerSupreme UL

Shakespeare Whisker Titan 41/35; Lost a Pickerel

5.1:1

Penn 4300 SS

 Daiwa 500 T Spinmatics UL

Daiwa  SST  1300

4.9:1

Browning Challenger 40

Daiwa Sweepfire  1000 UL

Daiwa Sweepfire  1000B UL

4.1:1

Ryobi/Fintek: Silverspin SX4M

Baitcasting Reels:

6.2:1

Abu Garcia Ambassador Black Max

5:1

Shimano 2000 Bantam Magnumlite

Shimano BTX 100MAG

4.9:1

Daiwa SP 1000 Magforce

4.67:1

Daiwa Magforce HT 1500 F

3.8:1

Quantum Crankin' Reel 381

[carl hendrix]

AFTER READING YOUR EQUIPMENT LIST;; NOTHING THERE THAT COULD LOOSE A GOOD FISH;; YOU HAVE SOME GREAT EQUIPMENT THERE BUDDY !  MY OPTION IS THE HOOKS THEMSELVES;; POSSIBLY TO DULL; OR TO SMALL;; NOT GAPED WIDE ENOUGH FOR PROPPER HOOK SETS ON THOSE BIGGER FISH YOU LIKE.   A GOOD HOOK;; GOOD HOOK SET; SHOULD PUT FISH IN THE BOAT !

[John Sheehan]

Carl, here's a pic of  the lures that caught and lost fish last week  .Notice the bigger sharper hooks on the Aglia #3(only 1 fish but no losses) The Sluggo hook is thick and I agree I should have sharpened (1  fish ,2 losses) The smaller Vibrax hook caught 3 ,lost 2 .I think I 'm gonna change that one to a bigger hook . Thanks for your input pal! I  think there's more factors  than the hook but am not denying it's huge importance . Unsecured hook set with wind putting slack in my  line while trying to keep a fish on gives time for the fish to dislodge the hook . I remember multiple hook setting when I use to fish local Bass club tournaments use to help secure the fish .I really thought I had the Pickerel bending the rod good but when he got in deep water and the wind put slack in my line and perhaps I dropped the rod tip ,ahhh lost fish ! I saw it jump and the size so big disappointment . I'll suck it up LOL!

[carl hendrix]

ALL OF THESE LOOK GREAT TO ME JOHN;; I MUCH PREFER DRESSED TREBBLED HOOKS ; JUST MY PREFENCE THERE;; AND ALSO;; I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY;; IF YOUACTUALLY HOOKED; LANDED EVERY BIG FISH;; WOULDNT IT GET BORING AFTER AWHILE ? BY LOOSING A BIG ONE; KEEPS US COMING BACK !!  WE ADJUST OUR EQUIPMENT; ASK OTHERS OF THEIR IDEAS;;  THEN;; HUNT THAT BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY !!   HEY; !!  ITS FISHING !!!!

[John Sheehan]

Just wish I could've traded the one I lost with one of the smaller fish I caught LOL!