Because i've never fished with one?

[quixtr]

What purpose for an over 8:1 gear ratio? Didn't know I need it, I haven't so far in 30 years

[Team do work]

U dont have to have it but for me it makes it much easier to flip with and i love to throw topwater with them. Especially buzzbaits, make it super easier to keep on top of water.

[new2BC4bass]

What purpose for an over 8:1 gear ratio? Didn't know I need it, I haven't so far in 30 years

You could fish another 30 years and still not need it. There are times faster take up (higher IPR) is a plus. I've come to like the faster reels....even for general use.

[BoatBuggy]

U dont have to have it but for me it makes it much easier to flip with and i love to throw topwater with them. Especially buzzbaits, make it super easier to keep on top of water.

+1

[quixtr]

This makes good sense

[slipknobber bot]

I've found 8 ratio reels to be ideal for pretty much every technique that you aren't moving the bait with the reel. Jerkbaits, jigs, plastics, flipping/pitching, frogs, and also buzzbaits and swim toads.

[krindgen]

I don't have one yet but would use one primarily for topwaters: whopper ploppers and buzzbaits. I use 7:1 for flipping and that's plenty fast. If you're fishing in shallow water with a buzzbait and moving the boat at a decent clip keeping up with a 6:1 is real difficult. I still have a 5:1 for deep cranking, a bunch of 6:1s and a few 7:1s.

[RazorCat]

I use 8.0:1 for spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, frogs, most all moving baits. 7.1:1 for topwaters and soft plastics. 6.4:1 or 5.4:1 for cranks.
Can't imagine going back to a lower gear ratio on moving baits. Never had any trouble powering a fish out of cover.

[Riccochet]

I use 8.0:1 for spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, frogs, most all moving baits. 7.1:1 for topwaters and soft plastics. 6.4:1 or 5.4:1 for cranks.
Can't imagine going back to a lower gear ratio on moving baits. Never had any trouble powering a fish out of cover.

This.

[Lape0019]

So basically, you can use it for everything. I use mine for frogs mostly but I've used it for anything where you want to pick up slack line quick.

I like it for frogs because you can get the frog in super quick and get another cast into the strike zone quicker.

[fluke1987]

My 8.1 is on my frog rod...works great!

[onetime]

For me, bottom contact and topwater applications.

[davidsa]

about 2 years ago I was posting this question and wondering if I would like 90 and 96mm handles. Now I have 8:1 reels with 96mm handles on every bottom bouncing rig I have. I don't throw spinnerbaits or chatterbaits on them but they will work just fine. Throwing a deep diving crankbait is the one place where I did not feel the 8:1 could be a useful tool.

About day 10 of my first 8:x reel did I have a senko fish pickup and run toward me. My ability to catch up with the fish was epic

[Mark Perry]

What purpose for an over 8:1 gear ratio? Didn't know I need it, I haven't so far in 30 years

If you made it 30 years without it then I would keep on keeping on.

[quixtr]

If you made it 30 years without it then I would keep on keeping on.

yep

[rchavis]

Yep i dont have one either . The highest is a 7.1.0 and 6.4.0 ratio.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Be more concerned with inch per turn than ratio. An 8.0 ratio on a reel with small spool might be slower than a 7.0 reel with bigger spool. Or you could have the same gear ratio but different inch per turn between reels again due to size.