IPT
Also called inches per turn, line retrieve rate
What is IPT on a fishing reel?
Inches of line recovered per handle turn. A more honest speed comparison between reels than gear ratio.
Gear ratio tells you how many times the spool spins. IPT tells you how much line that actually moves, which is the thing you care about. A 6.2:1 reel with a large spool can retrieve faster than a 7:1 reel with a small one, because each rotation of a wider spool picks up more line.
Manufacturers print IPT on the box next to the ratio, usually somewhere between 20 and 40 inches for freshwater baitcasters. It also shifts as you fish: a full spool has a bigger effective diameter than one halfway down, so your retrieve genuinely slows through a long cast.
For most people this is a spec to check once when comparing two reels across brands, then forget.
Comparing two reels from different makers, compare IPT rather than gear ratio. The ratios are not measuring the same thing.
Common questions
How is IPT calculated?
Multiply the gear ratio by the circumference of the spool with line on it, which is the spool's diameter times pi. That is why a bigger spool at the same ratio brings back more line per turn, and why IPT drops as the spool empties.
Is a higher IPT better?
Only for fast techniques. A high IPT picks up slack quickly for jigs, worms and frogs; a slower retrieve suits crankbaits and other lures that need a steady, controlled pace.
Where this comes up
The guides that use ipt and show it on real gear.
Last reviewed . IPT is one of 222 terms in the fishing glossary.