Ryanralston07 Posted January 26, 2023 Posted January 26, 2023 I may have just overlooked discussions on this, but I don't remember seeing any. What is your max drag on the reel you use for your heavy rod setup for fishing in thick cover? I notice most reels around around the 10-13 lb range, and wondering if y'all are just thumbing, or getting a reel with beefier drag and cranking down on it. 1 Quote
Hulkster Posted January 26, 2023 Posted January 26, 2023 I have a curado 200i and it has i think max 12 pounds of drag pressure. When I have it cranked down I still can't pull any off. its enough I think I have a tranx 400 for pike that has 25 pounds of drag pressure Im sure I could pull up a tree stump with it lol Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 26, 2023 Super User Posted January 26, 2023 Max drag is not an issue when bass fishing. 3 Quote
Super User dodgeguy Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 Totally disagree with that. Fish over 7 lbs with weeds piled on them will slip a 12 lb drag. 1 Quote
Super User ATA Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 I have couple 25lb drag for swim baiting (large baits). Quote
Super User dodgeguy Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 I've had a smallmouth slip a 20 lb drag on an Alabama rig for a short burst. Quote
Ryanralston07 Posted January 27, 2023 Author Posted January 27, 2023 What are the reels you guys have with over 15 pounds of drag? Must be stout! Quote
Super User dodgeguy Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 20 minutes ago, Ryanralston07 said: What are the reels you guys have with over 15 pounds of drag? Must be stout! Lew's . Abu also has 20 lbs. Quote
Super User FishTank Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 I have the Abu Garcia Winch and it is rated at 24lb of drag but it's kind of joke. I have smashed the drag down and it was no different than say my Calcuttas or 2012 Antares but its more than what you would get out of a Curado or any Daiwa that I have. I could also say the same with Lew's BB1 Pro I have. The drag was kind of hit and miss out of the box. I have since taken it apart and added a small amount of grease to one of the washers that was dry. It's smoother and less sporadic but it's not near its rated 20lbs of drag. Overall, I am pleased with both the Winch and the Lew's BB1 Pro but the drags on both seem to be not much different than anything else. With that said, I never would use all of the drag a reel has. No need to. I have never seen a fish run that the reels I have couldn't handle when the drag is set properly to the pound test of line I am using. As far as heavy cover goes, I do set the drag higher but again matched to the line I am using. If it's braid, I set it more to its mono equivalent in diameter. There are several videos with the Barbie challenge (see the one with the Sturgeon) but this one makes me laugh every time and shows me that drag ratings are overblown. She might have 4-6lb mono with about 6lbs of drag. 1 1 Quote
Super User T-Billy Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 I fish cover with braid. My reels used for that have 15-20# of drag, and I keep 'em cranked down. Never had a bass pull drag on 'em, but flatheads and muskie sure will. Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 I've never locked down a drag on any reel I've ever owned. Not even when frogging or punching. Everyone talks about locking down reels that have 25 lbs of drag, my poor Calcutta only has 9.5 lbs drag max, I set it at 6 lbs. 10 hours ago, dodgeguy said: Totally disagree with that. Fish over 7 lbs with weeds piled on them will slip a 12 lb drag. 11 lbs 3 oz caught in hydrilla, drag ain't slipped. 3 Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 A gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds. Tie your line to a full gallon jug and lift it off the ground with your rod and reel. After doing this I think you’ll understand why you don’t need 25 pounds of drag. Do this soon so you’ll have time to replace the broken rod before spring. ? 2 1 Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 12 hours ago, dodgeguy said: Totally disagree with that. Fish over 7 lbs with weeds piled on them will slip a 12 lb drag. Fished piled (sic) with weeds can't pull in any direction most times, operator error. 1 Quote
Tatulatard Posted January 27, 2023 Posted January 27, 2023 1 hour ago, Deleted account said: Fished piled (sic) with weeds can't pull in any direction most times, operator error. They pull down when when you hoist them put of the water like a caveman and wonder why your rod just exploded. 1 Quote
Super User bulldog1935 Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 There's a lot of big talk about drag - most of it is numbers on paper. If you really want to set your drag, use a spring scale at the guide closest to the reel. Ambassadeur lists their drag as 12.5 lbs, but it will never deliver more than 5 lbs on spring scale set. If you want to break you rod, do as @Tennessee Boy suggests. 3 lbs drag is a heck of a lot more than any of you imagine, and exactly what you need to protect 12-lb leader. Without measuring, most people never get this high - it "feels" like too much drag. Yes, it will slip, and you have room to dial in more - pretty sure slip is the whole point of having drag. 7 lb drag set is enough for offshore, and this reel is rated 35 lbs. Quote
Super User dodgeguy Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 1 hour ago, Deleted account said: Fished piled (sic) with weeds can't pull in any direction most times, operator error. Not true. They can dive. Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 9 minutes ago, Tatulatard said: They pull down when when you hoist them put of the water like a caveman and wonder why your rod just exploded. So easy a bass angler can do it... 1 minute ago, dodgeguy said: Not true. They can dive. Even if that was true (it's not), they still could not generate enough force to pull out any line with 12 lbs of drag, but I'm not trying to convince you of anything, you do you... Quote
Super User dodgeguy Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 2 hours ago, Deleted account said: So easy a bass angler can do it... Even if that was true (it's not), they still could not generate enough force to pull out any line with 12 lbs of drag, but I'm not trying to convince you of anything, you do you... My fish eat their spinach.Carp certainly pul that hard. I've had my drag pulled by them and never snapped. 1 Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 5 minutes ago, dodgeguy said: My fish eat their spinach. LOL "Listen careful whiles I learn ya"... 1 2 Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 Lew's LFS that has 15 on my jig rod. I say that I cinch it down, but I've had one fish take a little drag on it set very tight, not cinched. I also have a Lew's on my frog rod. Quote
Tatulatard Posted January 27, 2023 Posted January 27, 2023 Are these fish pulling drag instances occurring on hooksets? Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 27, 2023 Super User Posted January 27, 2023 44 minutes ago, Tatulatard said: Are these fish pulling drag instances occurring on hooksets? No, they are dumping the reel in seconds while the crew is unable to pull the rod from the holder, and the Captain is frantically backing down the boat, (and the fares are wearing sneakers to boot).. 1 Quote
Super User dodgeguy Posted January 28, 2023 Super User Posted January 28, 2023 3 hours ago, Tatulatard said: Are these fish pulling drag instances occurring on hooksets? Yeah and during the fight when they get close to the boat a lot of times. Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 28, 2023 Super User Posted January 28, 2023 13 hours ago, dodgeguy said: Yeah and during the fight when they get close to the boat a lot of times. See that thing that looks like a star behind the handle?... Quote
Super User dodgeguy Posted January 28, 2023 Super User Posted January 28, 2023 Yeah I know what it does. Quote
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