I have a question for the fluke gurus

[Tail Chaser]

So what is a good gear ratio for an all around fluke reel?     5: 1 , 6:1 , 7:1

[jerseyhunter]

? what does the ratio have to do with it?  You don't need a  fast retrieve  unless your going to use the same reel for blues  or bass. JMO. If your fishing bait deep and want to get your empty hook up quick go with the faster retrieve. As a kid I caught them hand lining with a one hand over the other retrieve..

[deerkiller18]

i like the faster reels. i got a trinidad 16na this year with 6.1 ratio and 46 inches per crank retrieve. I am very pleased with the reel. its nice to get a couple cranks on them and get them off the bottom fast. But i feel everyone may have different outlooks on this one. i hope i helped

[chris n]

slower the gear ratio the more power and torque you will get out of the reel....usually more drag also. If your just fluke fishing and not using too much weight you can get away with whatever you want...personally id go with a 6:1

[BowhunterNJ]

I'm no fluke guru, but I want a reel that has a good drag and gear system, and a big handle, not so much focused on the ratio as much as the fluid drag and the gears/handle to crank them in. I've fished with old Penn Squidders, a Penn International 965 (later added the power handle), a Calcutta 400BSV, and now moved on to the Avet SX which I really like...lot of cranking power and pretty good drag system. I don't even touch the other reels anymore. The 400BSV is my backup in case something goes wrong with my Avet when I'm on the water, but I wouldn't hesitate to just get another Avet SX.

[Scrubby rack buck]

I agree you dont need to reel in fast, just a decent drag system,

[GunDogs]

I picked up a Daiwa Lexa 300 after hammer4reel was giving it such good reviews in a previous post. Has 7.1:1 gear ratio with 32" of line retrieve per handle crank and 22 lbs of drag. Casts smoother than my Avet and no birdnests. Plus the button makes bucktailing so much easier than the lever drag does. You should definately check one out, especially with a $140 price tag on ebay.

[Tail Chaser]

Jon that's the reel I was considering . What are your thoughts on the drag system? Smooth ? I want to get the power handle but it only seems to be available with 7:1 retrieve . I was wondering if 7:1 and 22 lbs of drag is overkill for fluking

[GunDogs]

Drag is very smooth, even when I had it cranked up high catching bluefish and stripers. You want to try it sometime?

[Tail Chaser]

I would like to try it out. We'll have to fish soon.