Releasing and thumbing the spool while fighting fish

[Fishin Dad]

I have seen what I think are pros releasing their spools and then thumbing the line (Spool)as a type of drag.  Is this true?   Do any of you guys do this?   I have usually seen this as fish make runs boat side.  It seems to make some sense having control over the spool, but not sure how it would work.  Curious if others have used this method and how it works for you.  

[Team9nine]

I do it all the time. It’s referred to as “thumb barring,”  kind of the equivalent of backreeling (done with spinning reels) in my book, which I also do...for the same reasons.

[J Francho]

I don't do it, but I've seen it.  

Just now, Team9nine said:

I do it all the time. It’s referred to as “thumb barring,”  kind of the equivalent of backreeling (done with spinning reels) in my book, which I also do...for the same reasons.

I had an old Daiwa baitcaster in the late 80s that had a backreeling switch.

[Team9nine]

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I don't do it, but I've seen it.  

I had an old Daiwa baitcaster in the late 80s that had a backreeling switch.

Have heard of a few baitcasters that had that switch, but only think I ever owned one (an old Garcia?)...not including my line counter reels that all have mechanical release levers ?  

[TnRiver46]

Lock the drag down and if they pull really hard, push the button and let him take some line 

[soflabasser]

No need for thumbing the spool if you have a spinning reel with a good drag system. I do not thumb the spool on baitcasters either.

[Ski213]

Ive always done it but only in specific instances. It has worked well for me. For me it’s always when the fish gets close to the boat, makes a hard pull, and I don’t have much line out. I’m not sure if it’s necessary but I figure if it ain’t broke...

[georgeyew]

I don't know from where, but I heard that it is bad to push the thumb bar when the gears are under load.

[Team9nine]

2 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

No need for thumbing the spool if you have a spinning reel with a good drag system.

I believe he (OP) is specifically referring to baitcasting gear in this instance from the sound of it...

Just now, georgeyew said:

I don't know from where, but I heard that it is bad to push the thumb bar when the gears are under load.

You either push the button before any significant load is on the reel, or use your thumb to back the spool up a fraction so the load is released while you depress the thumb bar (all done very quickly and almost concurrently). As you suggest, if you try and release under heavy load, bad things can happen, both mechanically and physically - lol.

[soflabasser]

21 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

No need for thumbing the spool if you have a spinning reel with a good drag system. I do not thumb the spool on baitcasters either.

Thumbing the spool to me is as useless as back reeling. I rather rely on my reels drag system. It might be ok for small fish that do not fight much but it is not good for something powerful enough to peel line from your drag.

[Mike L]

I Bar the spool every time when she’s caught up in vegetation. 
It gives me much better control to work her out..

 

The drag system is good enough any other time. 
 

 

Mike

[islandbass]

I try not to, and usually never have to for bass fishing. But when I’m battling bigger species like salmon, sometimes my “drag by feel” setting is a little in the short side and I might have to use that technique until I have the opportunity to correct my drag setting, lol. This is a rare road I travel. 

[TnRiver46]

12 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Thumbing the spool to me is as useless as back reeling. I rather rely on my reels drag system. It might be ok for small fish that do not fight much but it is not good for something powerful enough to peel line from your drag.

I use backreel BECAUSE smallmouth are so fast, and I only use it on big ones not small ones. 

[soflabasser]

16 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I use backreel BECAUSE smallmouth are so fast, and I only use it on big ones not small ones. 

Peacock bass, tarpon, snook, and other fish I catch are much faster than any smallmouth bass and I never had the need to backreel. There is a reason why less and less spinning reels have that option. I suggest you do not try back reeling if you ever decide to fish for large powerful gamefish in the ocean. You can fish however you want but I will continue relying on my reels drag system. So far it has worked very well for many species of fish including the black bass species.

[TnRiver46]

19 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Peacock bass, tarpon, snook, and other fish I catch are much faster than any smallmouth bass and I never had the need to backreel. There is a reason why less and less spinning reels have that option. I suggest you do not try back reeling if you ever decide to fish for large powerful gamefish in the ocean. You can fish however you want but I will continue relying on my reels drag system. So far it has worked very well for many species of fish including the black bass species.

You may also fish however you please but I will keep backreeling/thumb barring.  Obviously I’ve tried using drag before.........

[Kyle S]

I too, have 'barred the spool' a few times. Only memories I have of doing it however is when a bigger fish has been close to the boat. It has made sense in my head to do so each time, so I've followed through and have been pretty happy thus far. 

[king fisher]

I don't recall using the technique with a fish, but occasionally will when snagged and my kayak is shoved by the wind or current  over the snag.  Has saved me from breaking a rod tip more than once.

[WRB]

Never do this! Set the drag and trust it.

If any of you ever do this on strong fish you will learn why. If you like to smell your own burning flesh go for it.

Tom

[FishTank]

I had a habit of doing it years ago but try not to do it now.

 

I set up my reel's drag to pretty much match the pound test of the line.  I try to let the drag of the reel handle the fish and for the most part the drag on my reels can handle just about any fish I am after.  The problem is that I get excited and I end up putting my thumb on the reel. I then try to muscle the fish and end up breaking the line (losing the fish). 

[Scott F]

I tried it a couple of times when pike fishing which can be a big mistake with a big fish. Got my thumb burned more than once. 

[roadwarrior]

8 hours ago, soflabasser said:

No need for thumbing the spool if you have a spinning reel with a good drag system. I do not thumb the spool on baitcasters either.

I have my drag "dialed" and trust it completely.

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Ya, with today’s drags I can’t see the need, compound that with the good chance of damaging internals if your technique or timing is off why chance it. 

[BrianMDTX]

As Austin Powers would say, “Thumbing spools is a drag, baby, yeah!” ?

[Boomstick]

The only time I did it was one time when I landed a good sized smallie and realized I had my drag set too lightly when trying to keep the line tight to try to keep the fish from jumping and shaking the treble hooks, but I don't normally need to do it. But I do know many people do.

[TnRiver46]

If you watch almost any professional, most of them disengage the spool on a baitcaster when a big fish is near the boat. I guess all those pros are just stupid for not trusting their drag? Maybe it's their outdated baitcasters? 

(Sarcasm)