The Moore Legacy Journal
Some fishing situations call for patience. Others make you wish you could pick up line a little faster.
For Team Moore, skipjack fishing is one of the reasons high-speed spinning reels have earned a place in the boat. We have several KastKing Speed Demon Elite spinning reels, and their quick retrieve fits the way we like to fish when speed matters.
But catching bait is only part of the story.
Keeping a surface bait moving
Think about a buzzbait or a Lunker Lure working across the surface. Getting it up and keeping it moving at the right pace takes a steady retrieve. A fast reel gives you more room to find that pace without having to turn the handle quite so frantically.
That doesn’t mean every cast needs to be burned back to the boat. Let the lure’s action and the fish tell you how fast to work it. The extra speed is there when you need it.
Spend time in the strike zone
Sometimes the best part of a cast is a short stretch beside cover, along an edge, or through the water you expect a fish to use.
Once the lure clears that area, there may be a long stretch of less promising water between it and the boat. A fast retrieve helps bring it back so you can make the next cast.
We still fish a bait through water that deserves attention. But when we’re ready to reset, picking up line quickly is useful. Over a day of repeated casts, those little moments add up.
Why the numbers matter
The Speed Demon Elite spinning reel has a 7.4:1 gear ratio. The high-speed baitcasting version is rated at 10.5:1, with a listed retrieve of 42 inches per handle turn.
Gear ratio is only part of the picture. Spool size and how much line is on it affect actual line pickup, so the ratio alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
What we’ve used—and what comes next
Our firsthand experience is with the spinning reels. We own several, and skipjack fishing is a big reason we appreciate that speed.
The baitcasters are next on our order list. We’re interested in putting them to work with buzzbaits and other presentations where quick line pickup makes sense. We’ll share what we learn after we’ve spent time fishing them.
A fast reel won’t make every presentation better. Sometimes slowing down is exactly what catches fish. But for catching bait, keeping a surface lure moving, or getting back for another cast, speed can earn its place in the boat.
Where does a fast retrieve help you most—skipjack fishing, topwater, or getting ready for the next cast?
Explore the KastKing selection at Team Moore Outdoors:
https://teammooreoutdoors.com/?s=KastKing&post_type=product
View the KastKing Speed Demon Elite Baitcasting Reel
View the KastKing Speed Demon Elite Spinning Reel
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