What is the best gear ratio?

[F16ENGMGR]

In the words of Rick Clunn "You can slow crank a high speed reel but you can't speed up a low speed reel without wearing yourself out." 4 Classic wins & voted the worlds greatest bass fisherman. He uses 6.3:1

[davidsa]

5:1 reels are great for deep cranking and help keep chatterbaits down in the water column. For everthing else, I prefer a 6:1 or 7:1.

I have been using the new Shimano Curado E7 reel for about 3 weeks now. It is fast but not stupid fast. I highly recommend this reel. I have owned about everything and to some extent even if money were no factor, I'd own this reel.

[Col Forbin]

I like a slower speed reel for crankin. I have a couple of 5:1's just for crankbaits. Everything else I use a 6:1. I have one high speed 7:1, that I use for flipping and pitching, that way I can burn it back in when I am out of the strike zone.

[CTFSHWHISKER]

it's best to look the inches of line per handle turn,just beacause 2 reels have the same gear don't mean they are the same speed.you can also slow one down by not using a full spool..for cranks and spinners i like something that pulls 18-20 inches per turn.