Working The Drag With Lunkers.

[Giggidy564]

Guys, I recently lost a huge bass on the Netbait Paca Swim Jig with a black and blue Netbait Kickin B Chunk. I was fighting with the bass for maybe 45 seconds and he started pulling extremely hard so I started working the drag and the bass shot off like a rocket and shook the hook. I am new to fishing with swim jigs. Maybe. I didn't set the hook well enough. When it comes to using your drag, what are your beliefs on it?

[flyfisher]

Personally i never mess with the drag with a fish on as it can lead to problems as you noted.  Other than that, I don't do anything scientific as it is just by feel for me with it being stouter for certain applications and less for others like crank baits and treble hooked baits.

[WRB]

Reel and type of line?

[Giggidy564]

Reel and type of line?

It was 10 lb. mono by Stren. It was a spinning reel by abu Garcia. I can't remember the exact model.

[Giggidy564]

Personally i never mess with the drag with a fish on as it can lead to problems as you noted.  Other than that, I don't do anything scientific as it is just by feel for me with it being stouter for certain applications and less for others like crank baits and treble hooked baits.

So, do you keep your drag set loose enough to where you can pull some line off the spool?

[flyfisher]

For spinning rods i most definitely keep it that you can pull line off the spool, otherwise what's the point of having a drag.

[A-Jay]

A few thoughts ~ the Netbait Paca Swim Jig sports a fairly stout Mustad Ultra Point hook.  So fishing it on spinning gear and 10lb mono could be problematic in the area of hook penetration, especially if the rod used is of a lighter action. 

 

As for Reel Drag benefits -  the concept revolves around allowing your reel to give line instead of the line parting or the hook pulling out.  It does seem it's another one of those "personal preference" deals - some like it tight, some like it less tight.  Personally, I want (and Hope) that my drag works as it designed when called upon.  Lighter line - like 10 lb test - will often require some drag usage on larger / more spirited bass. 

 

As an angler gains experience with his / her equipment & fighting larger bass, one can become more familiar with how a rod & reel will preform under stain rather than being surprised by it.  This can be a real advantage when it comes to putting a few more of the larger fish in the net.  Surely there will always still be fish lost.  The ones that come right to the boat and then go nuts, the ones that jump 4 feet high and throw the bait right back at you, and the ones that for no reason at all just break you off never giving you a chance to even see them.  Your drag may not play a role in those cases, but it's all fair in Love & Bass Fishing . . .

 

A-Jay

[OntarioFishingGuy]

^^^ preach on!

[Giggidy564]

A few thoughts ~ the Netbait Paca Swim Jig sports a fairly stout Mustad Ultra Point hook.  So fishing it on spinning gear and 10lb mono could be problematic in the area of hook penetration, especially if the rod used is of a lighter action. 

 

As for Reel Drag benefits -  the concept revolves around allowing your reel to give line instead of the line parting or the hook pulling out.  It does seem it's another one of those "personal preference" deals - some like it tight, some like it less tight.  Personally, I want (and Hope) that my drag works as it designed when called upon.  Lighter line - like 10 lb test - will often require some drag usage on larger / more spirited bass. 

 

As an angler gains experience with his / her equipment & fighting larger bass, one can become more familiar with how a rod & reel will preform under stain rather than being surprised by it.  This can be a real advantage when it comes to putting a few more of the larger fish in the net.  Surely there will always still be fish lost.  The ones that come right to the boat and then go nuts, the ones that jump 4 feet high and throw the bait right back at you, and the ones that for no reason at all just break you off never giving you a chance to even see them.  Your drag may not play a role in those cases, but it's all fair in Love & Bass Fishing . . .

 

A-Jay

Thanks, you said a mouthful.

[J Francho]

I keep it simple in regards to drag, and every other aspect, for that matter. I set my gear up anticipating a lunker. Then all I have to worry about is a where the scale and camera are.

[papajoe222]

I tend to set my drag looser for treble hook hard baits and when I fish with braided line. If I'm fishing a single hook presentation (spinnerbait, jig, worm) with mono, I set it just tight enough so the drag gives under a hard steady pull.  There is enough stretch to mono and flouro, that when you combine it with the flex of the rod, break offs aren't as much of a concern as a successful hook set.

[Bluebasser86]

I set my drags tight on spinning reels, just tight enough that it will slip a little right at the breaking point of my line. I much rather back reel than depend on the drag, I feel like I have much better control over the fish that way. 

[gnuisance]

The philosophy of the typical bass angler has evolved from tournament fishing. "get the fish in the boat at all costs bc it could cost you the tournament." That is why we use super stout rods for with massive hook sets and then we just winch the fish in the boat. It's a matter of personal preference. I personally like to play a fish a little bit, especially with a spinning reel. I keep my drag set tight enough to get a solid hook set (always with braid) but loose enough as to where a bigger fish can take some line. To me thats part of the fun. 

 

If a bass is going to shake the hook it will happen when he's in the air. When he starts coming to the surface keep your rod tip down and keep the line tight. 

[Steveo-1969]

My personal preference is similar to gnuisance.  I fish braid on my spinning reel and keep the drag tight enough to get a good hook set (the drag still slips on the hook set though, it's not tightened all the way down).  Then during the fight if it's a big fish I will loosen the drag a little bit at a time and even pull some line off by hand while still being able to keep pressure on him.

[SirSnookalot]

The philosophy of the typical bass angler has evolved from tournament fishing. "get the fish in the boat at all costs bc it could cost you the tournament." That is why we use super stout rods for with massive hook sets and then we just winch the fish in the boat. It's a matter of personal preference. I personally like to play a fish a little bit, especially with a spinning reel. I keep my drag set tight enough to get a solid hook set (always with braid) but loose enough as to where a bigger fish can take some line. To me thats part of the fun. 

 

If a bass is going to shake the hook it will happen when he's in the air. When he starts coming to the surface keep your rod tip down and keep the line tight. 

I totally agree.

45 seconds with a bass on the line is a pretty long time, and I'm sure it's not one 45 second run or 45 yards in distance.  Working your drag, how so, by tightning or loosening, grabbing or palming the spool?  I do all of that but not that often and not typically for bass.  With all due respect the fish may have been lost due to over excitment and not being calm, not the drag setting which should be set where you want right from the start.  A fish of any species that jumps will not be landed 100% of the time, that's near impossible.  The more bass caught the more one understands the nature of their fight, making it easier to stay calm and land them.

[WRB]

OK, spinning reel with 10 lb mono, with a jig you should be using a medium heavy rod.

Set your drag at 1/3 rd the line strength; 3 lbs with a scale and leave it alone. Your knot strength should be close to 9 lbs or more, the line shouldn't break or hooks pull out.

Bass don't make long hard runs, they make fast sharp turns and power into cover or other stuff. Control the fish by keeping the rod loaded, the fish in front of you and be prepared for a hard turn near the boat. Some anglers like to back reel with spinning reels to prevent line breakage near the boat. I just trust my drag and play the bass with using spinning tackle, stop reeling and hold the rod upright when the drag is slipping and follow the fish. If the bass is heading for cover put your finger tip on the reel spool to add a few pounds of extra drag, sometimes the bass wins.

Tom