Drag Power

[Paul Roberts]

Is there a way to increase drag pressure on a casting reel? I was about to switch out some drag washers (Carbontex) but really what I'm after is more drag power. I've assumed my drags are old and just need new washers. Suggestions?

 

[J Francho]

Carbontex will add power, especially if installed dry. 

[derekxec]

put your thumb on the spooi or tighten it down with some pliers haha

[J Francho]

tighten it down with some pliers

 

 

I can't tell you how many mangled drag star stars I see.  It blows my mind why someone would be possessed to do this.

[derekxec]

check out guys who fish for goliath grouper around bridges haha they even hit it with a hammer to lock it down as much as possible lol

[lmbfisherman]

check out guys who fish for goliath grouper around bridges haha they even hit it with a hammer to lock it down as much as possible lol

That is crazy! I could never take a hammer to my precious reels.  EVER!

[skeletor6]

If carbontex is your selection it will increaase drag strength and its a cheap upgrade. If you have not done regular maintenance to your drags I am sure you will see significant improvement.

[derekxec]

That is crazy! I could never take a hammer to my precious reels.  EVER!

 

haha when you are goliath grouper fishing you dont want them to take line at all so you have to lol...if they take line they run into a hole and flair their gills and sit there all day lol

[BradH]

put your thumb on the spool

 

Yep!

[Paul Roberts]

Yep!

But then you crank and go nowhere. Pumping just makes fish freak and pull harder. I guess I want to winch them. My old drags are just too far below the lines break strength. I tighten just short of pliers now on a couple reels.

[J Francho]

Spring washers might be shot.

[Capt.Bob]

The spring washers are a good point J, I too see reels come in with poor drag maintenance, and by that I mean, the drags CRANKED DOWN,,,,, they probably have been that way since the day they went on a rod. It is hard on the whole assembly, one way to maintain top drag performance is to back it off when you are not using it. I can't remember the last time I opened a customers box and found the drag backed off, and most of the time they are cranked down where you can't tell if they use a hammer or not??? This kind of constant pressure weakens the spring washers and shortens the drag range, usually benefits from the metalic surfaces needing polished, and causes very jerky drag performance and in time reduces max drag poundage.

 

I have no way of measuring this but have seen very little difference in wet and dry Max drag poundage, but see a very increased performance in smoothness, I highly recommend any drag being ran wet with Shimano or Cal's drag grease, with the Carbontex washers you will get the best of both worlds, Max poundage and smoothness,  and when you store your reels with the drags backed off, a lifetime of top performance.

[SirSnookalot]

The amount of drag applied should be relative to the strength of line being used. If one's reel has a max drag 10# and spooled with lighter line I don't see the need to try and improve the drag capability, as long as the present drag is working fine.  When a fish is pulling drag the chance of the line being snapped is greatly reduced, hopefully your reel has enough line capacity. Where derekxec and I fish winching them in doesn't work, landing a good sized fish quite often requires pulling up and reeling down, applying additional drag by holding the spool briefly as you are pumping up then letting go as you reel down without having to manually tighten the drag.  My drags are never tightened down for any kind of fish.

[J Francho]

Paul knows what he's doing - he's not a rank amateur.  I'm sure if he says he wants more drag power out of his reels, he actually needs more drag out of his reels.

[SirSnookalot]

The point is the drag power should not exceed the limits of the line.

[Paul Roberts]

Good thread. If anyone has questions about drag power, or drag care, it's likely in this thread.

 

Thanks all.

[.ghoti.]

The point is the drag power should not exceed the limits of the line.

More importantly, the drag power should never exceed the limit of the rod. A very well respected rod builder has posted this comment, more than once: I would never expect a graphite bass rod to be able to lift it's rated strength, and I would never trust a salt water rod that would not.

[J Francho]

If you're tightened down all the way, and you have line peeling off well below the rod or line's maximum capabilities, something is wrong.  Spring washers are flattened, or drag washers are worn.  If I know Paul as well as I think I do, he's using good gear that has given him years of service.  My bet is the washers are toast.

[SirSnookalot]

One thing I know 1 st hand, if the fish is strong enough having your drag locked down all the way sometimes doesn't end well.  If a fish is pulling line out with the drag maxxed there are times when I have not been able to turn the crank,  a rod can be broken or the line get snapped.  In fairness to the conversation this isn't likely bass fishing, but in other cases it can be very likely, I can attest to that.  I may tighten the drag a bit for short periods, why I like the hand on the spool method (I do this in bass fishing to pull fish out of cover) but I'm letting my fish run to tire them, not try overpower them with drag.  

[Paul Roberts]

Good thread.

 

The reel that prompted my post is a 1980’s ABU XLT. I picked it up in the early to mid 1990's at a garage sale for 5$, and I got the kiddy pole it was attached too as well . I have 30lb braid on it and use .014 to .017 leaders. I now have to crank it down hard, and the drag slips at 8lbs on a calibrated scale.

 

Another is an early '80's Shimano Bantam Mag I bought new. It's been a great reel and still is, being my dedicated shallow to mid CB reel for some time now. It's been stored between fishing sessions, like all my reels, with drag backed off. The drag is still functional, but I having to crank it down pretty tight now. Granted I use "heavy" line in it -Trilene XT 10lb, which is akin to most 14lb lines at .014 diam. Haven’t weighed the drag, but, I don’t have too. I’d like to reach adequate drag power BEFORE I have to dent my thumb trying to tighten it.

 

I suspect the drag washers have needed replacing for some time now. Guess it’s time to get to it. Not sure I can find the entire replacement stack for these reels. Will look around. At very least I’d like to add some Carbontex washers to the stack, first to add some power, and secondly, bc where I’m headed the only bass are Florida strain (lake record is apparently 7kg) and the mangrove snappers apparently, don’t give you a second’s chance. Maybe I'll get another 20 or 30 years out of them.

 

Thanks all for the good advice all around.

[derekxec]

where are you headed to fish?

[.RM.]

  If I know Paul as well as I think I do, he's using good gear that has given him years of service.  My bet is the washers are toast.

Yup those ABU XLT's are really good gear and should be easy to upgrade....LOL

[J Francho]

Back when they were actually Swedish cut gears.....

[.RM.]

Back when they were actually Swedish cut gears.....

Yup the gears were well done.

I was trying to be nasty in that reply, the level wind systems in the reels were a real joke some of the worst I ever serviced.

IMPO Garcia never got the hang of a really good hassel free LP reel, even today............

[J Francho]

I was trying to be nasty in that reply, the level wind systems in the reels were a real joke some of the worst I ever serviced.

 

 

LOL, I caught the backhanded compliment.  I've done a couple XLTs, and yeah - a little too "innovative."  But they were a cool idea, if a little over baked in the engineering dept.