Yep my wife has used low speed, some moons ago in Tonga we had Keith McKee's very first charter on Kiwi Magic, he was super keen for us to be successful and we were, I landed my first blue and so did Lorraine, her one was foul hooked and she skull dragged it in sideways, no mean feat, boy was she red in the face, and thank full for low gear

Kinda think you answered your own question.

It's not how often you use it it's that you have it and use it when needed.

It's not bling.
It's a tool.

True Shaneg,!
Guilty of not re reading ifishb8s post properly.

Your red glasses are clearly still in progressive field.

I'm also a high speed user most of the time.
Can't think of too many times I've dropped to low.
Probably haven't caught enough big stubborn fish yet.

I do use the lower gear for others though.
Generally first timers who have been in the fight for a while and need a bit of respite but still need to pursue the fish.
Youngsters and my wife would be the other categories.

I did once use first gear unknowingly.
I was trying to get my fastest marlin capture.
It could of been one minute but ended being two minutes.
Surprising the speed you can crank under adrenaline.
Was gutted when I discovered it was a two speed reel.
Not my gear and in the moment it's not what your concentrating on.
Too many guys in your ears telling you to go for it.

So there is a place, but I do like high speed line retrieval and when appropriate a high speed catch for the fishes welfare.

jakepitsville wrote: Been stuck on fish that without lower gear gaining line would be impossible.  ie 9 hours ona sword.  and 5plus hours on a massive blue.