The gear ratio is one of the most important specs to consider when looking to buy your next crankbait reel. This refers to the number of revolutions your spool makes with every singular rotation of your handle. The gear ratio that is ideal for you will depend on the type of fishing you are doing, the type of reel you have, and your experience level. A common gear ratio for crankbait fishing is 5.6:1. This simply means that with every rotation of your handle, the spool inside your reel makes 5.6 rotations. This is a relatively high gear ratio for fishing but is about average for crankbait reels.
In crankbait reels, this number is quite important. You will want a gear ratio of between 5:1 to 7:1 with a priority going to the higher end. This is very different from say ice fishing where it is suitable to have a number that is much lower. The difference here is that fishing lines with a lower ratio will experience more torque than that of a higher ratio.