Deep Drop Rigs: Hand Crank Vs. Electric

The term “deep dropping” means different things to different people, and while sending a bait down 300 feet for grouper or bluelines seems deep, it’s an entirely different endeavor from dropping 1200 feet down for goldens or barrelfish. Part of the discussion prior to any form of deep dropping, however, inevitably revolves around using hand crank versus electric reels.

Ultimately, which you choose to do is a matter of personal preference. A wise angler, however, will take several things into consideration before deciding whether to crank those fish up by hand or press a button.

First off, think about just how deep that drop really is. In 300 to 600 feet of water, a high-speed hand-cranked reel will work fine for most folks. Plan on five to 10 minutes to pull the line up. But don’t try it with a low-gear reel that only turns the spool three times per crank roatation, or it’ll take twice as long. In 600 to 1200 feet of water you’re going to have a tough time justifying the decision to reel with your hands. A 10 to 20 minute retrieve gets old fast, especially when you’re just checking the bait after a missed hit. Most people can only stand to do so three or four times before they cry uncle. And in water deeper than this, it’s folly to even attempt without power.

Secondly, consider just what you’re trying to accomplish. Using an electric reel you may catch a new world record, but it won’t count – you have to hand crank to earn that honor. But if you’re simply harvesting dinner (or more likely month’s worth of dinners), why not go the easier route?

Third, consider the time investment. Many of us don’t run for hours just to deep drop, but do so either to add to the fishbox at the end of the day or as a “Plan B” when the pelgics didn’t cooperate. In this case, your deep-dropping time will likely be limited to an hour or two. Do you really want to invest all that time in cranking by hand, when time’s a’ wastin’?

Like we started out saying – whether to hand crank or go electric is just a matter of personal preference. But before you decide which you’ll try, be sure to consider all of these factors carefully.