Anybody use a 5.3 to 1 ratio for Hudds?

[BMX Bassin]

I got a 5.3 to 1 ratio Curado 200. I got it for deep crankin. The reel is awesome, but it feels HUGE with 3 revos on my deck. So I got the curado 100 for small tube swimbaits and love it like the Revos. I am thinking of spooling up the curado for throwing Hudds. Most the time you slow roll a Hudd anyway. Just wanted thoughts or experience on a 5.3 to 1 reel. Thanks

[L Dub]

I would think you need a little extra speed to reel them pigs in... but I wouldn't know.

[BassManDan]

Well there are some goods and bads about your decision...

Having the slower reel, gets you bait moving slower and in turn, catching more fish. But you also want the speed with the High Efficiency Gearing, because as soon as you slam it to that fish, you want to power him in as fast as possible, cause that's what you can do with 25 lb line, and you don't want him to turn or get any run on you or he's just gonna throw the hook.

From a practical sense, you really arent going that much slower (21" of line with a 5.3 retrieve as opposed to 26" of line with a 6.2 retrieve) so really the best choice ought to be the 5.3, and use everything you got in that rod to keep that fish coming to ya once he's hooked!

Hope you figure out what works for ya without losing the big one!

BassManDan

[Dan Rechs]

The main problem is that you won't be able to spool up much 25# test on a standard Curado 200 size reel. You could spool it with 65# braid and throw big top waters though. Some people like to use braid with a floro leader. That would work too.

Dan

[BassAddiction]

I would stay away from throwing the huds on braid or flouro. Youwant the stretch in the mono so you don't see your $35 hud go flying when you stop the line quickly. The 5.3:1 gear ratio is fine but as mentioned earlier the spool size on the 200 is too small. Take a look at the Shimano Cardiff 400/401. It's a great swimbait reel and at an even better price. The cardiff 400's have a 5.2:1 gear ratio for slowing down those swimbaits. It's max drag is 11 lbs for handling those big toads.

[DeltaDan]

I would stay away from throwing the huds on braid or flouro. Youwant the stretch in the mono so you don't see your $35 hud go flying when you stop the line quickly.

Thankfully Punkers Float !! -- #65 PowerPro on a backlash ........



I was able to get this one back !! (I was only wearing my skibbies ..... and took them off to put my dry shorts back on when back on land.... Lottsa people walking ther dogs were saying WTH as they came around the corner.... )

[185vsfrog]

I would recommend minimum calcutta 300 te. It is 5.2:1 gear ratio is perfect for hud fishing and gives extra torque when you hook up. Beleive me, with 25 lb p-line on that reel you can grind in 10lb fish. No need for drag. calcutta 400 te is probably best choice because of large capacity. Super smooth reels and perfect gear ratio. Just my 2 cents.

[BIG DADDY BLUE RANGER]

my $.02

the gear ration is fine..... but the reel size is wrong.. nowhere near enough line capacity, w 25# mono you simply can't cast as far with a reel thats too small... plus even on yer best cast you'll have so little line left on the spool your retrieval rate at the beggining of the retrieve will be way, way low....

not to mention a Hud is a fairly heavy bait and you will tear up a standard 200 curado in no time....

personally I only like a 5 to1 gear ratio's for slow rolling magnum sized spinnerbaits or deep cranking (which I rarely due).... I just had some of my old 5 to 1 curado's changed over to 6 to 1

[kb]

Dan I am hoping that was before you bought your Triton......we have an image to uphold

kb

[DeltaDan]

Yupperz KBz .... Saddest part about it all is that they will not allow the DDII Triton on this pond .... 20' Max limit.


They are discrimating against us Water Ferrari TR21 and TR21x2 Owners ~~ Even though it is TM only allowed propulsion (not allowed to stick Gas motor in the water at all) -- No matter what rig you are sporting !!


I guess we just look like we can reak havoc on the water no matter where we go.

[dockboy]

Cardiff 300 size reel or similiar Calcutta or Daiwa series for me only. If you're fishing a Basstrix or similiar small baits, a low pro is not big deal. But once you get into 7"+ baits, its tough on a smaller reel. A 300 will get you about 115 yds. of 20 if its done a machine, and less for 25lb. For me a 300 does the 20lb. duty, and a 400 does the 25lb. The smaller reels are great for 15lb. with small baits like a Mattlures minnow or Hudd Shad.
On gear ratio, 5.2:1 or 5.8:1 max. Most swimbaits are slow rolled or fished at a moderate pace. Many days you can't fish a Hudd slow enough. A high speed reel like a Curado 300 becomes a real pain then because you literally will barely be turning the handle. I've found a slower ratio means more turns and thus keeps my attention span, whereas a high speed reel means barely moving. When I can focus on what the bait is doing because I'm not worried about if the reel is too fast, I'm in the zone to catch SB fish.