drag setting Million dollar question on setting the drag on baitcaster

[TOXIC]

3 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

You’re right, but you’re talking about multiple different factors that all just happen to be playing together at the same time. There is drag setting as relates to spool diameter (how much line on the reel at any given point in time); there is “drag” on the line based on length of cast and how a fish moves; drag as relates to rod action and rod angle during a fight; there is elasticity and hooking force; there is distance vs bite detection; line diameter vs all these things; and others. You can create equations to probably solve most of them, but I’m not sure what a Grand Unified Theory would look like. Might need @Deephaven or @fissure_man for those - lol.

??. For fun, I looked up some of the formulas and in addition to what you listed there are other factors like resistance and line diameter vs strength, temperature, wind, drag type, and about a dozen more.?. I have to stop, my head hurts.?

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, TOXIC said:

??. For fun, I looked up some of the formulas and in addition to what you listed there are other factors like resistance and line diameter vs strength, temperature, wind, drag type, and about a dozen more.?. I have to stop, my head hurts.?

That’s why you just push the thumb bar and play it by ear! 

[huZZah]

I have my drag cranked down for jigs on braid. Baitcasters.
Spinning I have it set pretty tight for 15# mono but working softer as the lb test of line gets lower. No clue what weight it is but it’s a lot easier to pull my 6lb test out than the 15 ?. Works for me. 

My Trig is set pretty tight with 12lb floro, but it will still move if the fish pulls hard enough. 

On bait caster. 

[Deleted account]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

Try tying your line and lifting a gallon jug of water with your drag lock down with your flipping rod. 8 lbs of drag is easy with baiting reels. More then 6 lbs if drag is over kill with bass fishing.

Tom

PS, let me where your rod broke!

I'm pretty sure I can lift 2 gallons with my Daiwa Greenie and 30 lb BG without letting any slip. Wouldn't try it with today's sticks.

[akmac]

I lock mine down and back off a click or 2.  Once I have the fish cleared I will back off the drag if needed.  In an emergency you can click the thumb bar and thumb the spool.  I have lost too many good fish due to the drag slipping and not allowing for a good hook set.   

[Deleted account]

37 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

I'm pretty sure I can lift 2 gallons with my Daiwa Greenie and 30 lb BG without letting any slip. Wouldn't try it with today's sticks.

Stand corrected. One gallon, no problem, 2 gallons maybe, but I chickened out of really leaning on it. 

Haven't had that rod in my hand in probably 15 years, maybe more. I'll probably use it for swimbaits, and maybe a little striped bass fishing. The handle is longer than I remember it, and it was one of the first no fore grip rods with that giant bullet shaped lock ring. I might actually go flipping with it in the summer.

[Dens228]

Set to max, 1/4 turn back.........

Except frogging. 

[Bankbeater]

I set my drag to around 1/3 or 1/4 to start with.  After I'm out on the water I'll adjust it depending on the conditions.

[RDB]

I set mine at 3/4 the maximum capacity minus 2 standard deviations from the mean divided by 5 times Pi.  
 

In other words, feel depending on what and how I’m fishing.  Sometimes I hand feed line on spinning reels. Sometimes I use the thumb bar on baitcasters.  Most of the time it is fine.  Just today I pulled an 8 off a bed using a merthiolate wacky worm with 8 lb leader and though I had to feed some line a few times, I had no problems.  It’s fishing...not calculus ?.

[GTN-NY]

I just did the dumbbell weights thing. I have to admit that was kinda scary. When you’re fishing you don’t really pay attention to how much the rod is bent. But when you’re looking right at it seeing bent right over trying to lift 2 lbs it got me worried

[ATA]

7 minutes ago, GTN-NY said:

I just did the dumbbell weights thing. I have to admit that was kinda scary. When you’re fishing you don’t really pay attention to how much the rod is bent. But when you’re looking right at it seeing bent right over trying to lift 2 lbs it got me worried

I am more into using scale to do that than dumbbell.

 

[Choporoz]

Purely by feel.   But I will say that I set it tighter now than I did years ago.  For me slipping on hooksets and not getting them turned in the right direction are much bigger risks than breaking off.  I'd bet a majority of my bites are in wood, pads and docks and too loose means trouble.  I do have it a lot lighter for open water trebles and drop shot.

[redmeansdistortion]

You guys need sharper hooks if you're having trouble setting the hook on bass with the drag set according to the line strength.  I run about 6lb of drag fishing king salmon and never have any trouble setting the hook, and they're super sticky hooks I might add.  Their mouths are like rocks compared to bass.  If you can drag a hook across your fingernail and it doesn't catch, time to sharpen them.  Keep them hooks sharp fellas!

[Johnbt]

"There is drag setting as relates to spool diameter (how much line on the reel at any given point in time); "

 

That's why I set the drag before casting and then check it quickly by tugging the line after the first long cast. It's usually too tight when the spool is half empty.

[Emiliano]

On 3/31/2021 at 2:44 PM, Johnbt said:

"There is drag setting as relates to spool diameter (how much line on the reel at any given point in time); "

 

That's why I set the drag before casting and then check it quickly by tugging the line after the first long cast. It's usually too tight when the spool is half empty.

? unless you have 500+yds of line in a very narrow spool or you are casting miles away  it doesn't affect too much your drag setting, period. I used to fly fishing in salt water for tarpon in my trips and tuna in my home country and I can tell you it doesn't matter too much, if it does it's something really subtle in a 100-200 baitcasting size reel 

[Johnbt]

I agree it doesn't affect it too much. If you fish with a really tight drag it will make it a little bit tighter. It depends on what you like. I like my drag set for the instant the fish bites.