I like a 5.1 or slower reel for deep cranks, slow rolling, or winter fishing. Personally, I use 3 different reel ratios,depending on time of the year. I have a 6.3 for summer and shallow, agressive fish, so like Speed Traps and Little N style stuff. 5.1 is for cooler water and deep cranks, it's great for anything from a DLN to a DD14 or 22. The slower ratio keeps the bait in the streke zone longer and lets you get down to maximuum depth. And it's not bad for when you need a reel to pump those crank fish out of deep grass.My last ratio is a 4.7:1 BPS Crankin' Reel. It's nice for cranking in early spring or in the winter, when you really do need to slow down. It can really be good for slow craning a Wiggle Wart or somwthing like that in the prespawn.
But think about it. Everyone is fishing baits at a gazillion miles an hour now with high-speed stuff. What's the use of a 7.1 reel if most the time your bait is not in th strike zone long enoguh for the fish to see it? Using a 5.1 is a alternative nobody is thinking about. Slow down and you'll probably catch more fish anyways.:)