Thumb instead of drag?

[bugman]

The drag on my baitcasting reel has started to get a little play in it, so I showed it to my dad who has been fishing for the last 60 years. After looking at the reel he said that it slips a little but not that bad. The next thing he said to me surprised me some. He said that he never fights a bass with the drag, instead he disengages the spool and uses his thumb. Just wondering how many of you do the same? And what do you think of this method?

[Jig Man]

I use my off hand on spinning reels to supplement the drag but if I did what your dad does with a baitcaster it would be backlash city for me. ;D ;D

[Raul]

Nope, I don 't think I 'll ever use my thumb instead of the drag, after all, that 's exactly what the drag is for, if you tell me your dad uses a perhaps 30 or 40 year old reel then maybe the thumb would be a smoother washer than what you used to find in those reels, but with modern reels such school of though simply just does not apply, modern reel drag washers are ages ahead from those old oiled compressed paper/felt/leather found in older reels.

The drag components in your reel have to be changed for new ones, you can do it yourself or have it done by a professional.

[.RM.]

Like Raul pointed out on the reels from the 60's and 80's the drags were of different materials than in to days reels.

On to days reels you have to have the drags tightened to get the spool to turn, setting them to loose will allow the crank to be turned but their won't be enough downward pressure on the drag stack to help turn the drive gear/spool.

I use my thumb in conjunction with my drag.

Tight Lines!!!  

[Triton_Mike]

If you look closely ALOT of pro's use their thumb instead of a drag.  I have been doing it that way for 15 years.  TOo many variables for one single setting in a mechanical drag.  By using your thumb you can micro manage how much drag you want to give or not give based on how the fish reacts and how much cover you got.  I channel lock all my drags down tight as they can go and use my thumb.  The technique is called "Free Spooling"

Mike

[roadwarrior]

If you look closely ALOT of pro's use their thumb instead of a drag. I have been doing it that way for 15 years. TOo many variables for one single setting in a mechanical drag. By using your thumb you can micro manage how much drag you want to give or not give based on how the fish reacts and how much cover you got. I channel lock all my drags down tight as they can go and use my thumb. The technique is called "Free Spooling"

Mike

Mike,

You're an accomplished angler and I'm sure that works very well for you, but for most guys your technique would be a disaster. Today's sophisticated drag systems have been developed over the years to allow even the most finicky fisherman to fine tune his equipment. I set mine up, at least initially, with a scale, and rely on them to perform flawlessly. I am extremly pleased with the drag set-ups on all my Shimano reels.

[bugman]

If you look closely ALOT of pro's use their thumb instead of a drag. I have been doing it that way for 15 years. TOo many variables for one single setting in a mechanical drag. By using your thumb you can micro manage how much drag you want to give or not give based on how the fish reacts and how much cover you got. I channel lock all my drags down tight as they can go and use my thumb. The technique is called "Free Spooling"

Mike

Thanks for the reply.

I will have to sit down with my dad and talk about free spooling. I do have one question for you though. Why do you crank down on the drag? With the drag that tight, it seems you would have to free spool on the hookset also. At my skill level I think i'll wait until after the hookset to go into free spool.

[CJ]

I use a similiar method with deep cranks.First off I set my drag very light.It doesn't take much to set it off.When a fish takes the lure I use my thumb as a manual drag.I can mannually adjust how much drag I let the fish take immediatly.I do this because of the light line I use for deep cranks to help get them down.It takes time and experience to get it right.I wouldn't subjest it for begginners as RW mentioned.Again I only do this with deep crankbaits.

[grimlin]

i tried that today...backlash city.....Don't try unless you know what you are doing. ;D

I did it out of fun....

I have my drag set on a medium happy setting.Still have to thumb the spool when i get a fish on.

[lubina]

I'm extremely careful with my drag setting especially on those sets where I have braid with a leader, no a problem in open waters but when dragging in a fish + 5 lbs of mud and grass, it may become a nice exercise. Otherwise if I have to use my thumb....I have a monster on.

[FishTank]

I only use my thumb if it is absolutely necessary.  If I'm in heavy cover and need a strong hook set, I'll use my thumb on the spool.  I try to set my drag according to the type of line I'm using.  So if I need to control the fish from far away or if my drag is set to a light line, my thumb is always there if I need it.

[Triton_Mike]

bugman,  By cranking the drag down you get solid hooksets.  No worrying about if your drag is too loose or if it becomes loose.  As soon as the hookset is over with I am ready to free spool.  Like someone said earlier older reels had horrible drags and that is how I got started.  Namely the 5500C Abu that I grew up fishing with.  I fished for Sharks with this reel and free spooled for a drag.  Got the burn marks on the thumb to prove it .  I actually caught a 7ft hammerhead on a abu 5500C and a flipping stick and 20lb line .  

Roadwarrior,  Since I was 13 or 14 I was free spooling.  You don't need to be an accomplished angler at all to do it. Just takes a little practice.  

The problem I have with drags is this.  If a fish surges to the right or left it takes "X" amount of force to have line come off your reel.  NOW if a fish surges under the boat it takes "Y" setting of your drag for line to come off your reel because of your rod.   Take a wild guess where most of the fish get off??  AT THE BOAT.  This is where free spooling shines.  I don't like the fact that a mechanical piece of equipment without a brain determines how much or how little line to give a fish as each situation is different.  I also give different amounts of pressure based on what baits I am throwing as well and also what kind of cover I am fishing in.  If I am throwing baits with little #6 treble hooks I really free spool very lightly especially on big fish.  It's just so easy to tear out skin hooked fish on little treble hooks.  If your a big jerkbait guy like I am this technique is invaluable to putting those big fish in the boat.  Anything to put the odds in your favorite and free spooling does just that.  One thing I am proud of is my catch loss ratio.  I very seldom lose big fish.  I have lost them but it's a rarity.  

Bottom line is this.  USe what works for you.  But don't be so hard headed to not try different ways of doing things.  

Mike

[skillet]

 I have my drag set pretty light and use my thumb to help, as on hook sets...

                       As Ever,

                        skillet

[Pond Hopper]

I tend to do this with fish hooked close to the boat because my drag is buttoned down pretty well on the Revos and when they are hooked that close and want to go somewhere, I would rather play them out than try to horse them to the boat before they are ready.

[Catt]

I tried that once with a 60 lb Cobia (Ling) didn't work to will, took the skin off to the meat, aint tried it since

[bugman]

If you look closely ALOT of pro's use their thumb instead of a drag. I have been doing it that way for 15 years. TOo many variables for one single setting in a mechanical drag. By using your thumb you can micro manage how much drag you want to give or not give based on how the fish reacts and how much cover you got. I channel lock all my drags down tight as they can go and use my thumb. The technique is called "Free Spooling"

Mike

Thanks for the reply.

I will have to sit down with my dad and talk about free spooling. I do have one question for you though. Why do you crank down on the drag? With the drag that tight, it seems you would have to free spool on the hookset also. At my skill level I think i'll wait until after the hookset to go into free spool.

I asked the question about cranking down the drag because in the past I havs snaped my line on hooksets when I forgot to reset my drag after cranking down to release a snag. I use 12# on most of my reels so this may be the reason. Thanks again for taking the time to ansewer my questions. This forum has been a great source of information and has helped me to become a better fisherman.

[Triton_Mike]

Bugman,  If your line is breaking on the snap with 12lb test something is wrong.  Even if your drag is set your line shouldn't slip on the hookset IMHO.  Maybe if it's super close to the boat.  I set the hook like a ninja with 12lb test and no problems.  You either have bad line,  Bad knots, use heavy lures with small lb test or don't retie often enough.  

Mike