Locking drag down with 40lb braid

[grassbasswrangler]

Hello, I would like to put 40lb braid and use fluro leaders on my finesse jig rod but I would also like to lock my drag down very tight so it does not slip on hooksets. I have a reel with 30lb braid ( .012 diameter) and I have to keep the drag very loose to prevent dig in. If I put 40 lb braid (.013) on this reel will I be able to lock my drag down all the way (as the 40lb is in very similar diameter to the 30lb, so I am worried I will experience similar dig in results)  I have considered putting 50lb on it so I don’t have to worry but I believe that will kill the action of my tiny 1/4oz jigs. 

[Hammer 4]

Why would you want/need to lock your drag down..? Simple solution..use your thumb on the spool during the hook sets.

Locking the drag down imho, is asking for problems.

[grassbasswrangler]

2 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

Why would you want/need to lock your drag down..? Simple solution..use your thumb on the spool during the hook sets.

Locking the drag down imho, is asking for problems.

I’m sorry I did not word that very well. I have to set my drag extremely loose on my 30lb braid. I would like to be able to set it tighter and not worry about dig ins on this reel (not really lock it down ) sorry 

[WRB]

Use sharp hooks.

Tom

[Hammer 4]

4 minutes ago, grassbasswrangler said:

I’m sorry I did not word that very well. I have to set my drag extremely loose on my 30lb braid. I would like to be able to set it tighter and not worry about dig ins on this reel (not really lock it down ) sorry 

Back when I used 30 lb braid, I set the drag, then firmly pull on my line so that I could pull line out. Never had any issues with dig in's , ect..Experiment, see what works best for you, but the drag doesn't have to be all that tight.

 

And as Tom said, use Sharp hooks.

[grassbasswrangler]

Thank you for all the tips. I think I might just spool them up with fluro, like I have been doing, that way I won’t have to worry about dig ins and drag. I will keep the 30lb braid on my Topwater rod and just keep the loose drag and use my thumb to stop the spool like you said. 

9 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

Back when I used 30 lb braid, I set the drag, then firmly pull on my line so that I could pull line out. Never had any issues with dig in's , ect..Experiment, see what works best for you, but the drag doesn't have to be all that tight.

 

And as Tom said, use Sharp hooks.

 

[TnRiver46]

If you’ve got a stout rod, lock it down. If you use the same cheap rods I do, lock it down then back it off a touch. But seriously I would guess you can break that leader if you swing hard enough so I would either loosen it a tad or don’t set super hard (not Easy for excitable fishermen like me )

[grassbasswrangler]

15 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

Back when I used 30 lb braid, I set the drag, then firmly pull on my line so that I could pull line out. Never had any issues with dig in's , ect..Experiment, see what works best for you, but the drag doesn't have to be all that tight.

 

And as Tom said, use Sharp hooks.

Hello again, I’m gonna be using dobyns rods which usually run a little bit more moderate fast action even though they are labeled fast and I will be using them for jigs so as a personal preference I’d like to not have a super stretchy line (which is why I was gonna get braid) so I read up on it and picked some seagaur abrazx. So I wanted to ask if  y’all have any experience with this line and if it’s been good for you? 

[scaleface]

I only use braid for frogs and toads . 50 lb . I have the drag set as tight as it will go  . I dont want any slippage .

[grassbasswrangler]

3 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I only use braid for frogs and toads . 50 lb . I have the drag set as tight as it will go  . I dont want any slippage .

Me too! So I’m assuming you like Florocarbon for other purposes? Have you tried seagaur abrazx, how do ya like it?

[scaleface]

2 minutes ago, grassbasswrangler said:

Me too! So I’m assuming you like Florocarbon for other purposes? Have you tried seagaur abrazx, how do ya like it?

I dont use fluorocarbon .

[grassbasswrangler]

1 minute ago, scaleface said:

I dont use fluorocarbon .

Oh okay 

[waymont]

17 hours ago, grassbasswrangler said:

Hello, I would like to put 40lb braid and use fluro leaders on my finesse jig rod but I would also like to lock my drag down very tight so it does not slip on hooksets. I have a reel with 30lb braid ( .012 diameter) and I have to keep the drag very loose to prevent dig in. If I put 40 lb braid (.013) on this reel will I be able to lock my drag down all the way (as the 40lb is in very similar diameter to the 30lb, so I am worried I will experience similar dig in results)  I have considered putting 50lb on it so I don’t have to worry but I believe that will kill the action of my tiny 1/4oz jigs. 

You seem to have a problem that doesn't affect me. There isn't really a need to lock your drag down. I use 30lb braid on almost all of my casting rigs, and I have never had dig in problems when fishing jigs or T rigs. You can make it tight, but you don't have to be concerned about locking it down. Why do you keep your drag very loose? How about somewhere in between locked and very loose? You may not be loading the line on tightly enough to begin with, try reloading nice and tight. Make sure your hooks are sharp, and set firmly.

[Heartland]

I fish a little old school but when I hear something like, "I fish 1/4oz jigs on 30-40lb braid with the drag locked down"  it makes my head spin a little and ask   why?

[Captain Phil]

On 7/3/2020 at 2:17 PM, waymont said:

You may not be loading the line on tightly enough to begin with, try reloading nice and tight. 

If you are experiencing problems with your line "digging In", you are not putting enough pressure on your line when you spool it on.  

[RoLo]

 

Welcome to the forum John   

 

Line-burrowing occurs when 2 conditions come together:

> Line that's loosely coiled on the spool

> Heavy pressure applied to the reel spool

 

Here's an example of line-burrowing waiting to happen:

> You're casting and retrieving a light lure that coils the line loosely on your spool.

> You get fouled on something, then apply heavy pressure to break free of the snag

 

It becomes obvious, that locking down your drag only plays into the hands of line-burrowing.

 

Roger

 

 

[MickD]

Do you know the max drag rating of your drag?  If it's over 20 pounds , I'd be surprised.  More likely about 12-15.  Regardless, if you set the drag at about 1/3 its capacity, and use the right technique for setting the hook, your worries are over.

 

With braid you don't need to tear their jaws out to set the hook, just give a little line to get a little slack, then a quick, sharp, but not all that heavy of a snap.  That's with drop shot , jigs and other  finesse.  With cranks and spinnerbaits, just apply pressure.  

 

If you are getting dig-in you may be using an older version of some braids which are flat, so they dig in by going edgewise into the spool of line.  Try a premium braid that advertises that it's round.  Might cost more, but braid lasts most fishermen for years.  And you can go higher on drag without digging in .

 

And yes, make sure your hooks are sharp.