I feel I’m too (up)tight. Mine drag is too tight (I think).
yesterday I backed off to safely strip line to re-tie a lost lure. I tightened it down but looser than usual. Then it happened, one bass saw me, saw my kayak, saw me fumbling with net; he got renewed vigor......bzzzzzzztz. It stripped line. I feathered the spool with my thumb - almost instinctively. But hot darn! If that wasn’t kinda exciting.
im not fighting a marlin. But I can’t imagine some cushioning is a good thing. You adjusting mid fight? You run tight, or loose? My buddy goes tight with heavier line and he just winches them in.