Properly Set Drag

[bdogfish]

Just wanted to see how some of you guys go about to set up your drag.

I have always set up my drags at 1/3 of the test. To be honest it is until bass fishing that I have really gotten into properly setting my drags on my rods. I think back at all the good fish I should have brought in but rather lost due to a bad drag setting, fresh and saltwater.

So lets hear how you go about setting the right drag.

[the captain]

I don't measure mine I just set it to where I can fairly easily pull it out then I tighten it just a tad this works just fine have not lost a fish due to bad drag setting.

[roadwarrior]

I measure the drag precisely on new equipment and recheck it occasionally just for fun. I tend to be on the light side at 25% of line strength and in some cases less. For those reading this for the first time, the parameters we are talking about are INSIDE the guidelines for the rod, too.

Here is a simple way to set your drag:

Place the proper weight in a plastic grocery bag and tie your line to the handle of the bag. Lift the bag GENTLY off the ground and adjust your drag to just begin to slip at that level. The weight or drag setting should NOT exceed 70% of what you estimate to be the maximum flex in your rod. This margin will prevent your rod from being broken on hang-ups and aggressive hook-sets.

[Marty]

I just pull out the line and adjust to what feels right to me. Like RW, I use a light drag, although I haven't measured it lately, but it's probably less than 25%. I always thought a light drag can offset some other problems.

[moby bass]

What is the weight  I should use for 10# test line?  Would that be 2 1/2 pounds to be at 25%?

7 pounds for 70% seems like a lot of dead weight to be testing. I'm not sure I'd want to subject

my rod to that. Maybe I'm not understanding the testing procedure fully? :-?

[roadwarrior]

2 1/2 pound would be right for 10 lb test line. The rod reference was for heavy line. If you were using 50 lb braid, 12 1/2 pounds is probably WAY too much for your rod. If the line is within the parameters suggested for the rod, 25% is the answer.

[Banor]

You can't argue with RW's advice...

I am with Marty and the Capt though... I just set the drag to what feels right, generaly just enough to where I have to put a tad bit of pressure on it to pull drag (not much).  With practice you can tell when you are riding the fine line between pulling drag too easy and the other extreme of stretching the line while pulling drag.  For me I want to be right smack in the middle riding that fence.

I loosten all my drags to zero after each tourney/trip and just dont have the time to measure them exact before each trip.  In addition you are going to set your drag differently for different applications and I dare say for each fish if the situation calls for it.  For instance, braid situations like frogging or heavy flipping in pads where you just cant afford to let the fish run with your lure, you are going to want to set the drag pretty tight.  I know Reel_Mech will cringe at that because it's really hard on the reel and he's right, but for me I have to do what I have to do to get it done.

B