How many pounds of drag do you normally use?

[Donny t]

 

 

I normally use 5 pounds of drag (measured with a scale) but occasionally crank it up when fishing heavy cover, and sometimes go as low as a couple pounds if I just want to enjoy the fight (bass actually peel a little drag but can still be landed fairly quickly), though hooksets can be a pain as I have to remember to thumb the spool or risk a failed hookset.

 

 

 

 

[Donny t]

Also a bit off topic but if you live in bronzeback country (smallmouth) would you mind sending me a few pics of some beauties, I really miss those guys, down here all we have is the green stuff ?

[JustJames]

A lot depend on type of line, rod and technique. I tested my a few time and it fall around 3lb but that for my everyday fishing #6-8 copolymer line with M/F rod. If I fish jig, I crank up my drag, frog (braid) even more. If I use Light/UL rod drag pressure will be a lot less doesn’t matter how many lb test of my line.

[Hook2Jaw]

I'm pretty thorough with my drag settings, and I'm sure it has caused me to lose a few fish as well as land a few.  I prefer safe drag settings, typically running a third of the line's rated strength or the tested strength if that's an available number.

 

I set the drag by tying a bowline in the end of my line, hooking the scale up and pulling until it slips consistently at the number I'm looking for.

 

6# gets two pounds of drag.  This is pretty much my open water dropshot line.

 

10# gets three pounds of drag.  This is my typical finesse line poundage for shakyheads and lightly or unweighted baits.

 

12# gets 4 pounds.

 

You get the picture.

[jbsoonerfan]

I have a pretty scientific method. I loosen my drag up and grab my line by the spool and pull. If it pulls easy, I tighten my drag and repeat. I do this until I find the "sweet spot". I have no idea what pound it is. I have been doing this for many, many years and I don't know that I have ever been broke off due to my drag not working properly. That being said, I would say that I do err on the side of caution when using fluoro, mono or a braid to fluoro leader. I have a buddy that cranks the drag down on every reel he uses and he can't figure out why he breaks off.

[MN Fisher]

Question is too open - all depends on what line-test is loaded on the spool. But...I try to set my drag like Hook does - but more often than not, it's more like JB sets his

[jimmyjoe]

   I use a max drag of 4 lb., and I set it with a half gallon milk jug of water. I frequently come down off that to fight a fish more efficiently and tire him out so as not to lose the fish. I also thumb the reel to get the drag effect I want when I'm using a lower setting.

   But that's bass. I also fish where there are pike and musky, and then my drag is set higher.       jj

[new2BC4bass]

55 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I have a pretty scientific method. I loosen my drag up and grab my line by the spool and pull. If it pulls easy, I tighten my drag and repeat. I do this until I find the "sweet spot". I have no idea what pound it is. I have been doing this for many, many years and I don't know that I have ever been broke off due to my drag not working properly. That being said, I would say that I do err on the side of caution when using fluoro, mono or a braid to fluoro leader. I have a buddy that cranks the drag down on every reel he uses and he can't figure out why he breaks off.

I use the same scientific method.  Lighter lines (and rods)...set the drag lighter.  Heavier rods and line...heavier drag pressure.

 

Clueless guy, hey?

[jbsoonerfan]

1 minute ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

Clueless guy, hey?

Oh for sure! LOL 

 

I've tried explaining to him how a drag works in a reel to help keep your line from breaking. Apparently speaking to a 38 year old man as if he is 4 years old makes them mad.  

[Tennessee Boy]

I set mine with a scale and usually set it to start slipping between 1/4 and 1/3 of the line test or max line rating of the rod which ever is less.  

[Jermination]

Tighten baitcasters until i cant pull it(except for jerkbaits and small crankbaits) and spinning reels just tight enough to where you can reel hook fish

[Finessegenics]

I do it exactly like @jbsoonerfan and @new2BC4bass. I don’t think I’ve ever lost a fish because my initial drag was too loose or too tight. What I do find odd, is how I seem to never have to tighten or loosen the drag on my casting setups. I really found the sweet spot on those. But I haven’t caught any fish recently which were feisty enough to even peel line on my baitcasters. I’m constantly tweaking the drag with my spinning reels depending on how the fish are fighting.

[Big Rick]

IMO, there's a reason the drag wheel is shaped like a star and easily accessed. I have adjusted drag while fighting a big fish. I've had to tighten as well as loosen drag. Most of the time that I have to adjust mid-fight is with a braid to leader situation that is utilizing a stiffer rod, like jig fishing in clearer water. 

 

My spinnerbait, crank bait, and topwater setups allow my rod to do most of the work fighting the fish. However, I do have to loosen the drag on a larger fish, at times, once I have a hook in her and realize she's threatening to straighten out a hook. 

 

I have never tested my drag settings with a scale. I have spent the last 35 years just doing the @jbsoonerfan technique and it has suited me just fine. While I have never caught a DD I do have a lot of 6-8 lb fish under my belt. 

[roadwarrior]

4 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

 I have never tested my drag settings with a scale. I have spent the last 35 years just doing the @jbsoonerfan technique and it has suited me just fine. 

Well, test it on a scale to quantify "the feel".  First of all, it's fun. Secondly, I think you will be surprised

by actual weight. My spinning reel is set a little shy of 2 lbs; baitcaster under 4 lbs. I NEVER make any

adjustments while fighting a fish.

 

[FishTank]

I set it by hand based on the line.   You kind a get a feel for it over the years but its pretty light.  I would say maybe 6-8 lbs on a baitcaster and 4lbs on spinning gear.

[LCG]

I always find it odd when I read or watch reel reviews and some people criticise drag of only 11 or 12 pounds. That's more than enough for the fish I have caught. Usually set mine by hand 2-5lbs ish depending on line, technique, and cover. I will take smooth drag over raw power any day. 

[Bankc]

I set it to about half of what will break the line.  When I get snagged and have to break off the line, it usually takes about twice as much force as I thought to break it.  So maybe I'm around 1/4th?

 

I always loosen the drag when not fishing, so I don't want to mess with precise measurements on the water.  If I need more or less, it's easy to adjust on the fly.  Sometimes I'll just thumb the spool to get more drag pressure.  It's not something I'm overly concerned with.  It's rarely cost me a fish, and usually when it does, it's because I forgot to set the drag the first time or did something else stupid.

[txchaser]

I weighed for a while, with a target of 1/3 based on what I learned here. I just eyeball it at this point, seemed pretty easy to remember what each of them felt like.

 

On really light line I probably under-do it, as I shouldn't need much to get a thin hook in.

 

If I can keep my wits about me and/or have a good wingman in the boat I'll back off drag pretty quickly on a big fish, when the fish gets near the boat. I figure a hookset breakoff is a knot or an overdoing it problem, and a boatside breakoff is a drag or a rod position problem.

 

I had a fight recently where a fish was peeling drag on 14lb line. Very exciting. It was a LM, so it didn't surge for long, but exciting nonetheless.

[moguy1973]

11 hours ago, Big Rick said:

IMO, there's a reason the drag wheel is shaped like a star and easily accessed. I have adjusted drag while fighting a big fish. I've had to tighten as well as loosen drag. Most of the time that I have to adjust mid-fight is with a braid to leader situation that is utilizing a stiffer rod, like jig fishing in clearer water. 

 

My spinnerbait, crank bait, and topwater setups allow my rod to do most of the work fighting the fish. However, I do have to loosen the drag on a larger fish, at times, once I have a hook in her and realize she's threatening to straighten out a hook. 

 

I have never tested my drag settings with a scale. I have spent the last 35 years just doing the @jbsoonerfan technique and it has suited me just fine. While I have never caught a DD I do have a lot of 6-8 lb fish under my belt. 

Yep, I'm the same way.  Tight as it goes until I need it.  I've only broken off on one fish in recent memory because my drag was too tight and that was because it straightened out my line clip, which I had noticed wasn't as springy as it had been and I should have replaced it.  Line never broke.

[Bankbeater]

I’ve never checked my drag with a scale, but I tighten or loosen as needed. 
If my bait is causing the drag to slip I tighten it up a little. Same with fishing in cover. If I can’t get the bait out of the weeds then the drag gets tightened down some.

If I hook a good fish and it isn’t pulling drag then l’ll loosen it up a little. 

[MassYak85]

7.29 lbs exactly....

 

 

But seriously, it depends first on the line and lure I'm fishing. I obviously don't want to break lines or bend out hooks, but also need enough uuumph to set the hook and get fish out of cover. There's too many variables to just set it at something it's more of a feel thing. Then there's frogs, punching, and big swimbaits where I run a locked drag more or less. But that's because the hardware I'm running is so over the top that I don't worry about that failing, the goal with those techniques is muscling in fish. 

[Catt]

On 10/22/2020 at 10:13 AM, Big Rick said:

. I have adjusted drag while fighting a big fish.

 

That's what thumbs are for!

 

As for loosening drags while fighting fish, its called bowing to the fish!

[soflabasser]

If I am fishing light tackle I use less than 5 pounds of drag and if I am fishing for large bass I often use over 5 pounds of drag sometimes over 10 pounds in heavy aquatic cover.

[Lmsmbassaddict]

For me the biggest thing that effects my drag right now is line and type of hook. Drag is there for your benefit. I don't want to bend spool shafts or flex the gears. For all you braid only guys this is critical. I'm dirt broke most of the time anymore, I am the type of person that can and will save a dollar or even change for year for a new set up so breaking my gear hurts my wallet and my feelings. 

 

Hooks also play a role too. You can get away with lighter drag if using treble hooks (smaller). Or even using single light wire hooks and smaller ned rig hooks. 

 

I see many companies advertising 20lb drag but know from personal experience if you crack something hard enough with drag set that high you will ruin your baitcaster. Maybe not the 1st time but it'll happen eventually.

[new2BC4bass]

22 hours ago, Lmsmbassaddict said:

For me the biggest thing that effects my drag right now is line and type of hook. Drag is there for your benefit. I don't want to bend spool shafts or flex the gears. For all you braid only guys this is critical. I'm dirt broke most of the time anymore, I am the type of person that can and will save a dollar or even change for year for a new set up so breaking my gear hurts my wallet and my feelings. 

 

Hooks also play a role too. You can get away with lighter drag if using treble hooks (smaller). Or even using single light wire hooks and smaller ned rig hooks. 

 

I see many companies advertising 20lb drag but know from personal experience if you crack something hard enough with drag set that high you will ruin your baitcaster. Maybe not the 1st time but it'll happen eventually.

I doubt I could save like you, but breaking a rod or reel makes me feel very bad.  Hate it.  I don't care how much it cost me.  So far only broke a rod when I fell face first into a pile of rocks.  About cried.  My favorite rod at the time...an OG Falcon Expert MH.  Then I didn't put the cover on a mint Chronarch 101A when moving from one lake to another (just a short distance) and it got a nice boat rash.    A used $50 reel got none.