Drag setting

[Striper9]

When you guys are fishing with a spinning rod should your drag slip even a little

bit a hook set? I’ve watched videos and it seems some guys fish extremely light drag where that’s all you gets when they’re fighting a fish and other guys you don’t hear the drag at all

[new2BC4bass]

When I started fishing, it was before graphite rods.  Initially I set drag by feel.  As an older teenager, I locked the drag down and back reeled.  This was with 4# XL.  Still before graphite rods.

 

I rarely use a spinning rod anymore.  When I do, drag is set by feel (again).  That could change if I started using spinning gear on a regular basis.  Spinning would be reserved for very light lures.

 

Long way to say it's personal preference. 

 

[PBBrandon]

I adjust by feel too and consider factors (line, lure, target fish, size of fish in the pond, etc)

 

I don’t like my drag slipping at all on hook set. Don’t want to run the risk of not getting a good one. I tend to set my drag a little tighter than most, haven’t had a fish snap my line yet

[PaulVE64]

Light wire hooks and trebles I'm probably 2# drag, heavy wire I am around 6#

[FishTank]

Light hooks, light line, light rods = light drag

 

I adjust mine by hand and feel. I also adjust it on the fly based on the fish I am fighting. 

[MN Fisher]

I try to set it to 1/3 the lightest line in the run. On my 10# braid to 6# leader, that's 2# of drag. Adjusting as needed if a fish is continually running and stripping line.

[bulldog1935]

All my reels get drag set using spring balance coming off the bench, and never get adjusted again until they leave the bench next time.  

Proper drag set is 1/4 weakest link, line or leader breaking strength, or 1/4 rod max line rating - whichever is the smallest number.  

I set drag at the first guide using spring balance.  2-1/2 to 3 lbs is a heckuva lot more drag than you'd guess until you actually measure it - most people "set" their drag at about 1 lb by feel.  

 

The reason for this fraction is shock loading, which can multiply the load by 4 times.  You're fishing with a known rather than nebulous feel.  This is how you avoid break-offs and rod breaks, and get fish to hand quickly and safely - your reel is paying drag only when needed.    

You can probably push this to 1/3 with USM lines, since you don't know the actual breaking strength and they under-rate on purpose, but Never higher than 1/4 rod max line rating.  

 

This system has never failed.  Never seen a good argument for something different, and have seen them play out poorly on the water.  

 

Offshore with big fish with soft mouths is where you need lever drag to vary drag between set (max = 1/4 weakest link) and a lighter run value - the reason here is first plant the hook, and back off for long energetic runs of big fish with soft mouths.   

[Skunkmaster-k]

I set the drag by feel. I don’t pull the line from the reel, I grab it at the lure and flex the rod to where I want the drag to slip. 

[redmeansdistortion]

On 8/26/2024 at 8:25 AM, bulldog1935 said:

This system has never failed.  Never seen a good argument for something different, and have seen them play out poorly on the water.

I did work early last year for a salmon charter based out of West Michigan.  All reels were Okuma Coldwaters, and he showed me a video of the spool shuddering on a few of them, usually when he threw boards out.  Every reel had a warped pinion crown.  It turns out the captain didn't know how to properly set the drag, but locked it down thinking that was ideal.  I showed him the damaged parts and then we got talking about drag and I advised him to get a spring scale and set them to 1/4 the strength of his leader.  I will be getting the reels back once he takes his boat off the water come October.  He no longer has the shuddering according to him, so I think he may have taken my advice. I'll find out when I open them up.