Reel Drag per technique

[juicebass]

Hey guys,

Looking to get a look at what drags should be set on a baitcast reel and spinning reel for specific techniques.

For example, I've heard a lot about setting the drag full for frog fishing. I've also seen that different applications require different settings. Can you share?

Specifically looking for drag settings on baitcast for-

1-frogs

2-jigs

3-plastics

4-plastic craws

5-spinnerbaits

6-crank baits

7-swim bait

8-swim jig

9- top water

10-buzzbait

Spinning set up for-

1- wacky rig

2 - drop shot

3- carolina rig

4- Etc...

Looking to get some insight into what drags to set. Most times i feel lost on how tight to set the drag. Would love to learn some rules of thumb when it comes to specific techniques.

Thanks!!

 

[EvanT123]

That's a good question. 

Frogs-lock it down. 

I like the drag to slip with a steady pull when I'm fishing weightless or trebles. 

If  I'm fishing the bottom I go a quarter or half turn more. 

Simple but I hope it helps. 

 

 

 

[Montanaro]

Also depends on ths drag itself.  A stuttering drag is worse than setting it too light

[Catt]

I set my drag the same on every reel!

[Montanaro]

I have more time to post now...trebled lures are pretty loose drag 50% maybe.  Just want the drag to slip some with moderate pressure.  Frogs jigs soft plastics is always 100%.  Spinnerbaits buzzbaits and swimjigs are 75%.  

Spinning setups vary.  Depends on line size, rod, and quality of drag.  You should be adjusting drag on the fly.

 

 

 

 

[Maxmaxryan123]

this is my first post btw!

[Goose52]

I set my drag by feel and probably end up around 30% of line test (perhaps even less than that).  I like to feel the drag slip just a bit on the hook-set.

The only time I would go with a heavier drag setting might be if fishing in heavy slop where you have to drag the fish out of the heavy stuff, and as mentioned above, with frogs. HOWEVER, locking the drag down, and using braid, might have a tendency to result in an occasional broken rod if you have a really stout drag stack.

I might loosen the drag after hook-set if I'm in open water, and am trying to protect the hook-up on the fish.  I also might loosen the drag if I have a very big fish coming back close to the boat or bank, and fishing with nylon mono or flouro, to protect the line in case the fish makes a sudden run.

Use the drag appropriately to protect your line and hook-up, but no need to have a different drag plan for all of those baits that you listed.

[Catt]

On 15# Big Game my drag is @ 10# leaving my 5# to play fish with.

I dang sure don't want anything slipping on hook set!

[the reel ess]

I lock it down on the frog with heavy line and a good rod/reel combo. If I had a questionable (cheap) combo, I'd set it a little over halfway. The fact is you can't set a drag on a BC reel higher than the break strength of 65# braid. But you can lock it to where almost no bass you catch will take it out so you can drag the bass and the salad they accumulate out of the water.

Everything else I set it about 3/8 of the break strength if I was using mono line. But that's just a feel. I don't get out a scale and check it.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I discourage the practice of locking a drag down completely. Leave a little to protect the Rod and reel from undue strain. Most reels will give some even at highest settings.  A star drag is easily adjusted while landing fish if need be. The rule of thumb is 1/3 of line rating (mono equivalent diameter for braid). I don't see any reason to adjust for technique . 

[Goose52]

2 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I discourage the practice of locking a drag down completely. Leave a little to protect the Rod and reel from undue strain. Most reels will give some even at highest settings.  A star drag is easily adjusted while landing fish if need be. The rule of thumb is 1/3 of line rating (mono equivalent diameter for braid). I don't see any reason to adjust for technique . 

I left that out of my post. My use of 30% of line test applied to nylon mono and flouro. DVT IMHO has an excellent recommendation when it comes to braid.

[the reel ess]

1 hour ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I discourage the practice of locking a drag down completely. Leave a little to protect the Rod and reel from undue strain. Most reels will give some even at highest settings.  A star drag is easily adjusted while landing fish if need be. The rule of thumb is 1/3 of line rating (mono equivalent diameter for braid). I don't see any reason to adjust for technique .

I probably should have said "in heaviest cover" because I don't do that most places and I don't fish a LOT of slop either. But I do set it higher on the frog rod with braid.  I'm in the kayak, so I can go get a bass anywhere. If I spook them, I just paddle past it and come back later. bass have a short memory for sure.

[J Francho]

Irrespective of technique, I go with this rule of thumb: 1/3 to 1/2 the rating of the weakest link in the system. So if you're using 50# braid, with a 15# leader on a rod rated to 20# line, you can go 5-8 lbs. of resistance, and be assured nothing will break, provided you tie a good knot.

[Paul Roberts]

BCing: just shy of the weakest link.

Spinning: Lock it down and back-reel.

[roadwarrior]

All my drags are set the same: slight release. In terms of drag weight that equates to about 2 1/2 lbs.

 

 

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[rippin-lips]

1/3 - 1/2 

[clh121787]

If I fished lakes with open water I'd use lighter line and set drag loose. But I don't all of my drags are locked down. Most of my rigs are 17 to 20 pound line. Alot of people here at fork say 20 is the minimum. Here you have to turn a fish and keep it comming or you risk getting wrapped in a tree and broke off.  All this is simply dictated by my home waters

[Molay1292]

8 hours ago, Paul Roberts said:

BCing: just shy of the weakest link.

Spinning: Lock it down and back-reel.

Paul, why do you feel it is an advantage to set your spinning reels in this manner?

[Paul Roberts]

I've posted a bunch over the years on back-reeling, as explanation, then almost always in defense. I've never opened a back-reeling thread. Drag may be simpler -maybe. Bottom line I guess is that I just don't want to turn control of my fish over to a mindless stack of washers. 

Here's another (I must have missed):

 

[roadwarrior]

Well, I will just agree to disagree. Today's technology trumps many of the "old school" techniques and this is one of those.  I know some guys cast with all brakes off, too. That would not be me.

 

 

[WRB]

Agree with DVT, 1/3rd the lb test on the reel for mono and FC, not less than 2 lbs or exceeding 5 lbs, except swimbaits the weigh over 4 oz, go up to 6 lbs.

Heavy cover using 65 lb braid, 6 to 8 lbs drag. 

If I need more drag use my thumb on the spool for bait casting and index finger for spinning, I don't back reel.

Tom

[Josh Smith]

When using braid, no leader:

Single hooks: 3/4 to full drag.  I'm usually fishing salad with this, and go to full lockdown.  I've known some folks who take pliers to their drags.  I'm not one of those.

Treble hooks: Generally not used without a leader, but would go to 1/4 to 1/2 drag as long as the drag's not slipping on the retrieve.  I'm thinking deep crankbaits here.

When using braid with leader, or mono:

Single hooks:  Generally not used, but on the rare occasion they are (like with round head jigs) I set the drag to 1/3 to 1/2 the weakest link, with the weakest link generally being tied at the lure.

Treble hooks:  1/4 to 1/2 the weakest link breaking point.  I'm usually fishing open water and I do this to prevent fish loss more than anything.

Josh

[.ghoti.]

25 - 33% of line test. When I'm trout fishing, that's about 1 lb. up to about 5 lbs for my heaviest power combos. 

[Molay1292]

I probably should practice a better method of setting my drag, but this seems to work for me.   I just pull line from the end of the reel until it feels right to me.   I can adjust on the fly and use my thumb on the spool if needed.   Not what I would recommend, but works for me.

[papajoe222]

I've always backed off the drag on my reels at the end of the day, even if I plan on fishing the next day. I reset them the next time out, likely a lot looser than most, but then I drop my thumb on the spool when setting the hook, or if I feel I need to when fighting a fish.