Bassmaster Elite Series pro Josh Bertrand breaks down bass fishing reels to match fishing lures and techniques.
As bass fishing continues to get more specialized, it also becomes more confusing.
Take reels for example.
There are countless models of fishing reels to choose from. They are being sold by the major brands that vary based on weight, drag, line capacity, gear ratio and more.
For Bassmaster Elite Series angler Josh Bertrand fishing reels are part of the tools that he uses every day to earn a living. His daily experience gives him insight that other anglers don’t get as frequently.
Here he shares his fishing reel knowledge breaking down which reel he uses for some of the most popular techniques and more importantly - why he choose each one for a specific technique.
Deep Crankbaits
When fishing deep crankbaits, Bertrand prefers the Abu Garcia Winch, a fishing reel with a 5.4:1 gear ratio. “It was designed for deep cranking and perfect for it, he said. “It has the slower retrieve, but also has great line capacity and longer handles to make it easier to crank.”
Squarebills, Shallow Diving and Lipless Crankbaits
These three fishing lures can be grouped together because of how they are fished.
Bertrand’s choice is a 6.4:1 gear ratio reel, because it is not too fast of a retrieve and also not too slow.
“That helps if I am fishing around heavy cover and need to get them away from cover, a slower reel makes it harder to crank them in quicker,” he said.
The Abu Garcia Revo Premier is his choice for these techniques.
Swimbaits
Like reels, swimbaits come in a variety of sizes and models. For the small swimbaits, Bertrand fishes with a spinning rod simply for better casting. “I’ll use a Revo STX 30, because it has a wider spool and casts very far,” he said. “It is also a faster retrieve than the 20 size.”
Moving to jighead swimbaits and intermediate size, he prefers a Revo SX with a 6.4:1 gear ratio. “That reel is very powerful, has good drag and handles 15- to 17-pound fluorocarbon very well,” he added.
For the jumbo swimbaits, he opts for the Revo Beast for three reasons: drag, line capacity and handles. “That deep spool is great for holding a lot of heavy line and the handles really make it powerful,” said Bertrand.
Punching
When using the heavy line and big weights needed for this technique, Bertrand goes with the Revo Beast.
“It has such a strong drag and the big handles on it give me great leverage, when I am pulling in a fish wrapped in grass,” he said.
Frogs
For fishing frogs on heavy braided line, he prefers the 7.1:1 STX.
“It handles braid very well and the gear ratio is perfect for pulling big ones out of the grass. It is harder to turn them with the faster reels,” he said.
Jerkbaits
Bass often strike jerkbaits on a slack line. This is why Bertrand prefers a fast retrieve in his reel and the MGX with a 9.0:1 retrieve is his choice.
“It is easy to pick up that slack, but also casts light lures very well,” he said. “I will also (sometimes) only fish it half way back to the boat, before quickly reeling it in to make another cast and the fast retrieve helps,” said Bertrand.
Worms and Jigs
These two techniques are when he prefers the Revo MGX in a 9.0:1 gear ratio. He likes this reel because of how light it is and how it has a stronger drag.
Topwater
This is a technique where speed can make a difference and Bertrand relies on the ultra-fast Revo Rocket with a 9.0:1 gear ratio. His reasoning comes down to how he fishes topwater baits, similar to his jerkbait fishing.
“I can get it back to the boat and that allows me to make more casts in a day,” he explained.
ChatterBaits
Like topwater lures, speed matters with vibrating jigs. For these baits, Bertrand says it comes down to the performance of the bait.
“I like a 6.4:1 Revo MGX, because a reel that is faster tends to make the bait surface too much,” he said. “I like to fish them down a few feet, beneath the surface and a faster reel makes it hard to keep it down.”
Dropshot and Other Light Finesse
“The lighter the reel you have, the more sensitive the rod can become,” began the Arizona pro. With that in mind, he prefers a size 20 Revo Premier spinning reel for his finesse needs.
All Around Fishing Reel Picks
Not everyone wants to purchase a reel for each situation and not everyone has means for it. Bertrand was asked to pick just three that can be the most versatile.
- 7.1:1 Revo STX
“This is a workhorse reel and handles both braid and fluorocarbon well. You can do a lot with this reel,” Bertrand said.
- 6.4:1 Revo ALX
This is a new reel in the Revo lineup and so far Bertrand has been very impressed. “What I like about it is it casts light lures really well and you can fish all kinds of baits with it,” he added.
- Revo STX 30 Spinning Reel
“The 30 size is a good all around size and if I was just getting one spinning reel, it would be this reel,” he said. “It’s really light and you can fish any finesse technique with it.”
Choosing a reel does not have to be a frustrating process. The good news is that most reels will work for many situations, but dialing it in based on personal preference and the reel’s characteristics can help make you more successful.
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