Story by Todd Goade | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
There are tons of techniques out there to help us catch bass, and using the right tool for the job can help all of us land more fish instead of talking about the big one that got away. Here are some things I do when selecting the right reel for some of the different applications I’ll be trying.
If I’m fishing a bait on the bottom, such as a jig, Texas rigged worm, Carolina rig, or any other technique where the bait is on the bottom, I’ll use a casting reel that has a 7:1 gear ratio. That allows me to set the hook and get the fish coming to the boat quickly and maintain leverage. For this application I like the Ark Fishing Gravity 5 series reel.
If I’m using a buzzbait or a swim jig, I like an 8:1 gear ratio casting reel which allows the bait to stay on top and up high in the water column. With these techniques, you’re usually standing on the trolling motor covering as much water as possible. I also like the Ark Fishing Gravity 5 for these methods.
If I’m throwing swimbaits and medium diving crankbaits in the 6- to 10-foot range, I like a casting reel that has a 6.4:1 gear ratio. The slower gear ratio allows the bait to stay in the strike zone longer, which in turn will draw more strikes. I like the ARK Fishing Gravity 8 here.
Lastly, one technique I lean on a lot if the conditions are tough and you need a bite, is a 1/8-ounce Pulse Jig thrown on a spinning outfit. This little dude gets bites and has saved me many times in tournaments throughout the years. The spinning reel I use is an ARK Fishing Gravity 2500 and has a 5:1 gear ratio. I take this with me everywhere I go.
The next time you’re in the market for a new reel, keep these things in mind. I hope they help you catch more fish.
Todd Goade – Angler Profile
