Setting Your Drag

[roadwarrior]

This topic comes up from time to time and as I was perusing the Shimano website I ran across their recommendations: (paraphrased)

Have someone hold your rod or place it in a rod holder in a stationary fishing position (10 o'clock?). Using a scale, set your drag to release at 1/4-1/3 of the rated breaking strength of the line.

Although this was not specifically stated, I think this requires testing line within the guidelines for the rod you are using.

[Guest DavidGreen]

RW,

I was taught that back in 1985 while in service training..So it is old school..

The problem today is that the up and coming anglers (new schoolers), don't believe in the old school ways. They think the reels built today are magical marvels and can hold up to anything..

Although this was not specifically stated, I think this requires testing line within the guidelines for the rod you are using.

Most definitely.....

Pound it into their heads bud, and maybe they will realize their equipment will last longer (rods and reels), and, they won't have to worry so much about rod warranties..

Just an old schoolers .02¢

Tight Lines!!!

[BucketmouthAngler13]

If i'm using nice sharp hooks, i set the drag a little to the looser side. One i have a fish on, i change it depending on what is happening.

I figure, it is better to loose a little line than to loose a fish.

Of course, it depends on the conditions. If i'm fishing really think lillys and i need to get the fish out quick, i set it a just a little tighter. If i'm fishing open top water, i set it tighter, the losen it as soon as i get a fish on. (tighter for better hook sets with buzzbaits)

This methed seems to work great with strechy line. You set the hook, with little drag, and the line strech makes up for it. then the next instant you losen it and fight him in easy.

Tell me, is this the right way to do it? It seems to work for me....

Thanks

Matt

[roadwarrior]

I don't think so. I check my drag before fishing and occasionally while I'm fishing, but NEVER with a fish on.

This is why: I'm set up so that I can put maximum "heat" on my equipment, whether setting the hook or fighting the fish, without any concern of breaking my line or rod.

[FIN-S-R]

I try to set my drag such that when a fish makes a run he can have some line, but otherwise I want him headed my direction. I try to make sure my rod can act as a good enough shock absorber to handle the head shakes and constant pull variation (gotta match your equipment to the situation). With real light spinnin' tackle I generally go more to the light drag school of thought, like someone said better to lose a little line during the fight than to lose the fish.

[RoLo]

As RW stated, it really takes two people and a good scale to do the job right.

For both fresh and saltwater tackle I always "try" to set the brake around 28% of breaking strength,

while the rod is held perpendicular to the line. It will soon become obvious which reel manufacturers

produce the smoothest drag systems. Cheap braking systems tend to release in jerky fits-&-starts.

     Following the 28% rule, the drag tension for a 20-lb outfit would be set at 5 1/2 lbs.

While that may not sound like very much, it will flatten the parabola of the rod blank

and generate a surprising amount of pressure at the angler's end before slipping.

Roger

[VekolBass]

Do you also need to take into consideration the specie you are fishing for and the amount of stretch inherent in the line to mitigate the possibility of the hook tearing out of the fish's mouth? For instance wouldn't 20lb or greater braid on a stiff rod increase the likelyhood of the fish pulling off, particularly as the distance to the end of the rod decreases?

[Marty]

Do you also need to take into consideration the specie you are fishing for and the amount of stretch inherent in the line to mitigate the possibility of the hook tearing out of the fish's mouth?

I tend to use a light drag setting which has served me well. A few years ago I took one of my combos to a Lake Ontario pier to try for some king salmon. I was fishing a crankbait and sure enough I had a hard hit and the reel was screaming immediately, then it all went limp.

I'm no physicist, but I think the energy generated by that hit and running fish went into pulling line against the drag rather than driving the hooks home.

I'll never know if I would have hooked that fish with a tighter drag, but I know for sure after the fact that you don't fish for kings with a light bass drag.

[nboucher]

Here's how I do that alone:

Calculate what 1/4-1/3 of your line's breaking strength is in pounds.

Take a two-handled plastic grocery bag, and using your scale hooked into the handles, fill the bag with canned goods until it's at the desired weight.

Put your scale aside. Run your line through your guides, tie a good-sized hook at the end, and hook the handles of the bag.

Stand and hold your rod at a 45-degree angle to the floor. Set your drag so it gives just as the bag comes off the floor.

[NJfishinGuy]

thats a good idea, wow i always just set my drag by pulling it till it felt right from next to the reel never from the end of the od with a scale.... ive never had a problem big fish take line and i always get good hooksets but i guess i just have the feel for my set up.

[roadwarrior]

NJfishinGUY,

The importance of setting you drag correctly comes into play when you hook-up with your next PB or the fish of your life. You might only have one shot at her and you might not land that big fish unless everything goes just right. I view setting the drag properly in the same category with sharp hooks, the perfect knot and flawless line. "Almost good enough" doesn't cut it. Failure of any component is a disaster.

[NJfishinGuy]

well i think im gonna try the scale method and see how close i am when i do it by feel. i havent ever had a problem before even when i layed into a 30lb carp.

[RiskKid.]

RW,

On the Yozuri Hybrid lines do you set your drag to 1/4 - 1/3  of the lb test listed on the spool or the higher breaking strengh? From reading your initial post it seems you use the higher breaking strength but I just want to be sure??? Thanks, this is an informative thread......

NB, I like the grocery bag idea, some good old yankee inginuity there!

[tipptruck1]

I always set my drag on the light side. I always control the drag with with my thumb.

[roadwarrior]

Breaking strength.

I think that grocery sack suggestion is a great one, too.

[OkobojiEagle]

Solid hook sets slip drag slighty... large fish get back-reeled.

[Mikey]

I always set my drag very light. I fish crankbaits period and the light drag and the "back-play" in those older Speed Spools handles help me feel when I make contact. I also keep my hooks very sharp !  I hardly if ever lose a bass this way.

[roadwarrior]

I tested my drag today with the grocery sack. My "standard" setting was just under 1/2 lb too tight at  33% of breaking strength. So, now I have the feel for exactly where it should be on my spinning tackle. Tomorrow I am going to test my baitcasting equipment. I think it will come in pretty close to where it should be, too.

[paleo]

ive been told to back off my star drag on my baitcasters when not in use but i dont   i leave it set at 25% of my line rating  wich has always been perfect   does any one back off there drags???

[roadwarrior]

ReelMech says back them down. I back mine down to totally "off".

[paleo]

thanks rw    i like what ive got and would like to last  so i will start doing that

[Grey Wolf]

I back mine off completely.

[bassclown]

ive been told to back off my star drag on my baitcasters when not in use but i dont i leave it set at 25% of my line rating wich has always been perfect does any one back off there drags???

i do. when i'm done for the day the reels and rods get a wipe down and the drag is completely backed off of my reels. after that they go into rod socks and tucked away into my closet. that's just the way i do it.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Do you guys really adjust your drags alot?  I set mine for the lb line and lure combo and never touch it after that.  Never had a problem with breaking off fishe either.  Now thinking about it I guess it would be around the 1/3 rule

[roadwarrior]

I adjust mine before I start fishing.  I probably "pull a little line" during the day just out of habit, but the answer is no, generally no adjustments for me.