What is Gear Ratio

Gear ratio tells you how many times the spool rotor turns for one full turn of the handle. A 6.2:1 reel turns the rotor 6.2 times per crank; a 5.0:1 turns it five times. Higher ratios pick line up faster, which helps when you need to catch up to a fish swimming at you or keep a lure moving quickly. Lower ratios trade speed for cranking power, which suits slower retrieves under load.

The ratio on its own doesn't actually tell you retrieve speed, because spool size matters too. A big spool at a modest ratio can take in more line per crank than a small spool at a high one. The more useful number, where the manufacturer prints it, is line retrieve per crank in centimetres.

For most UK lure fishing a middle-of-the-road ratio is honestly fine. It only becomes a real decision at the edges: very fast retrieves, or slow methodical work where cranking comfort matters.