Back Reel or Use Drag???????

[eyedabassman]

What do you guys do, back reel or let the drag on the reel work for you?  I let the drag from the reel help me out. But I am not sure if I should start to back reel to the fish?

[skillet]

 The folks that can do it, swear by it. Never tried myself because I just don't see how you could be quick enough with it (maybe I should change that you to I )...

                               As Ever,

                                skillet

[tommy]

im a drag only man, i use 6# alot and when i set the hook the drag is loose enough to give some. i dont think i would like backreeling, but ive never really tried it.

[gobig]

I use the drag only. With all the modern reels I see no need to back reel. They are smooth and very effective. I have landed several fish over 100lbs and there is no way you could ever keep up with them trying to back reel. I know these are not bass but the point I am making is the reels are designed for it.

[Sam]

I agree with Gobig.

Let the drag fight the fish.

Be sure to TEST THE DRAG before your first cast; all day long; and then release it totally when storing your baitcasters along with taking the pressure off the spool.

As posted on this forum a long time ago, try to have about 2.5 pounds of pressure to release the drag.

BUT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU CHECK THE DRAG AFTER CHANGING BAITS AND AFTER 20 TO 30 CASTS.

A poorly set drag can make you lose a nice fish.

I know.  I still have nightmares about that lady that hit my lure and took off and my drag was too tight and she broke off.  I was so excited about going fishing I just forgot to check the drag on my baitcaster.

Live and learn.

[MALTESE FALCON]

I tried back-reeling once. I wasn't very good at it. I let the reel do the work now.

Falcon

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

backreeling: a sure way to get a cluster****

I used to use it with my cheap reels as a kid when fighting fish like carp which make long straight powerful runs,then I finally figured out how the drag will wear the fish down better.

[Grey Wolf]

A properly set drag can't be beat.

[roadwarrior]

The folks that can do it, swear by it. Never tried myself because I just don't see how you could be quick enough with it (maybe I should change that you to I )...

                              As Ever,

                              skillet

So true. I seriously considered trying to develope this skill, but Fish Chris made the point on another thread that you just cant' be quick enough when you really need it. Not that he knows anything about big fish, but that was good enough for me.

Modern drag sytems are excellent. I have never had an issue and some of my pet brown fish have tested the drag a time or two. I have a great deal of confidence in my equipment when it's properly set...and it always is!

8-)

[Tokyo Tony]

Anyone under the age of 100 who backreels in this day and age is trying to show off.

[Team9nine]

Alright, I'll admit to being a back-reeler though I'm obviously in the minority here. And yes, I can still squeek under that century mark  ;D Don't care for drags on baitcasters either, I'm a thumb bar spooler there. Obviously it is whatever works for you and I've never had a problem doing it this way.

There are a couple issues I see with drags. One being that you are inherently always setting them to slip less than the breaking strength of the line (otherwise you wouldn't need it). So you can only generate so much force with your outfit before it slips, be that a hookset or trying to stop a fish on a run. I want to be able to push my line to the breaking point if need be so that I am getting 100% of what it has to offer, not 60% or 80% or even 90%. I'm just guessing, but I would hazard to say that the majority of you couln't tell me at what pound of pressure your current drag will start working at relative to the line you have on the outfit, at least not without testing it? All you know is that when you pull on it, it slips before the line breaks.

Another issue is that due to the physics of drags as relates to spool diameters and such, a fixed drag setting will apply different levels of pressure depending upon how much line is left on your spool. So whatever you have your drag set for, it will be a different amount of pressure applied between say a lower spool level on a hookset after a 60 foot cast versus a fuller spool level such as when a fish makes a run right at the boat. So did you set your drag with enough line out to simulate a cast, or did you just pull it straight off the reel? Either way, you're compromising at one of those different length scenarios.

Fortunately we're chasing bass and not bonefish, so most everyone can get by with whatever they are most comfortable with and be perfectly fine.  8-)

-T9    

[roadwarrior]

I suggest, no...STRONGLY RECOMMEND initially setting your drag with a scale when you have a new rig. I do this occasionally just because it's fun to play with! After you establish a "measured" drag setting, you can pull line and develop a "feel" which is a very close approximation. 25-30% of line breaking strength is what is recommended as long as that is within the suggested range of your rod.

Although I understand that there is some variance with regard to spooling, I maintain my reels fully spooled by adding line rather than changing it out completely. I like two cast lengths and some margin so I never feel the knot. That's 80-100 yards of clean line.

Now, the argument for using 80, 90 or 100% of your line's strength may appeal to your logic, but not to mine. I never get broken off by a fish and it drives me crazy when other people report that they do! If you need more breaking strength, use stronger line, but set your drag as I have suggested.

8-)