If I were looking to buy a new cranking reel, the Ambassador 5500 series with 5.5 ratioq would be hard to beat. Hard to find a good low geared reel these days without spending a fortune. My opinion of course

| Search Fishin.com |
Need Some Feed Back -what Do You Think Is The Best Reel For Crankin Big Or Small Baits? And Can You Use The Same Reel For Both-dd-22's Or 200 Bandit? Mike Cecil
If I were looking to buy a new cranking reel, the Ambassador 5500 series with 5.5 ratioq would be hard to beat. Hard to find a good low geared reel these days without spending a fortune. My opinion of course
I actually own one of the old Quantum Crankin Reels that Quantum came out with back in the 80's that still works like a champ today. I can throw either a DD22 or one of the Mann's 20 plus big lipped crank baits all day long and not be tired from doing so. Unlike a lot of today's models that will simply wear your arms out after about 20 to 30 casts.
Cobra190 is right on with the 5500's. However, something I learned from a guide on Dale was to throw the Hotlips (a deep, deep diving crank bait) on a spinning reel with 8# line. The trick was to lower the rod and point it directly at the point where the line was coming out of the water while cranking. No bend in the rod at all. I have since gone to this method when throwing those large billed baits that go deep. I seem to get a better hook set with this method. At a seminar, David Frits said his favorite crankbait reel was the Lew's BB-1n since discontinued.
I use the old Green Carados the 200 B with the 5:1 Gear Ratio they don't make em any more but you might be able to find for sale of just wait a bit cause they're redesigning them and coming out with a version somewhat like the old one.
The new BPS David Fritts model is almost and exact replica of the lews reel - looks and performance, not a bad price either. I will probably pick one up here in a week or two as the ledges heat up. Already starting to catch some nice ones off ledges.
I think that Daiwa still makes a PR-33 that is 3.8 - 1.
I saw some photo's and spec's on the new curado's, and they look cool. However, They haven't been priced yet - or the info I had did not have a price, If i can find someone that can read japanese, I could learn a little more about them.
can't beat an old Quantum 381 (3.81-1) sell em on ebay all the time $30.00 to your door. I have 2 and wouldnt' sell for nuttin great for dd22-dd16 and the new rap deep divers....
