I can remember a time when there weren’t that many options for “reel speeds” on the market. There was slow and slower, a 5.3:1 reel considered a “high speed” reel. Now, there are plenty of options to choose from to help better suit different techniques and situations. In the Bruin Paul Elias Legend Series reels, we offer FOUR gear ratios; 5.3:1, 6.2:1, 7.3:1, and 8.1:1. With so many options, how do you know which to choose and when to use what reel?

My standard starting point for choosing a reel goes as follows: LOW GEAR RATIOS are for high torque baits like extra deep cranks, big slow rolled spinnerbaits, and even big swimbaits that I want moving at an extremely slow speed. 6.2:1 can be considered STANDARD GEAR RATIO and is suitable for anything that you wind, or move the bait with the reel itself like shallow crankbaits, bladed jigs, swim jigs, spinnnerbaits, etc. HIGH SPEED RATIOS like our 7.3:1 is suitable for baits that you move with the rod and simply use the reel to pick up the slack like jerkbaits, topwaters, dragging worms and jigs, and some pitching scenarios. SUPER HIGH-SPEED RATIOS are a specialty reel, typically used when I’m in heavy cover and I need to get my bait, or a fish up, and out as quick as possible. All of my 8.1:1 reels are used for flipping, punching, and frogging.