Just how much drag do you need?

[David P]

15-20lbs of drag for most of my fishing, but 6-8 is fine for some.

[fathom]

don't use much drag in freshwater.

god gave us thumbs for good reason.

[tyrius.]

god gave us thumbs for good reason.

Yep, we got them to build tools/machines with precision so that we can eliminate potential issues with using one's thumb as a drag.

Using a quality reel's drag provides for a much more consistent release of line when necessary.  No thought is required.  Set the drag and forget it.

There is also zero reason to tighten the drag down to achieve an effective hookset.  It doesn't take near the pressure that people seem to think to drive a hook through a bass's mouth.

Ike also annoys me when he "feeds the fish line".  I can't think of a single reason why this would help at all.  He's got a high quality reel that is more than capable of releasing the line as needed.  "Feeding it line" is just a waste of time.

[Team9nine]

god gave us thumbs for good reason.

Yep, we got them to build tools/machines with precision so that we can eliminate potential issues with using one's thumb as a drag.

Using a quality reel's drag provides for a much more consistent release of line when necessary. No thought is required. Set the drag and forget it.

There is also zero reason to tighten the drag down to achieve an effective hookset. It doesn't take near the pressure that people seem to think to drive a hook through a bass's mouth.

Ike also annoys me when he "feeds the fish line". I can't think of a single reason why this would help at all. He's got a high quality reel that is more than capable of releasing the line as needed. "Feeding it line" is just a waste of time.

LOL, nice comeback tyrius, but until those thumbs can build a mechanical drag that can compete with the mind and it's ability to interpret, sense, think and anticipate, I'll stick to cranking down the drag and doing it myself. If I want to try and overpower or turn a fish using every available ounce of resistance that line can give me (hopefully) without breaking, that can only truly be accomplished with a cranked down drag. Beside, I didn't buy 12# line to only be able to use 6# of it ;D

To each their own. If it works for you and makes you happy/confident, then that is the right system for you.

-T9

[DINK WHISPERER]

I'm with Team9nine on this one guys! Just crank it down and bring em in the boat!!  ;D

[roadwarrior]

god gave us thumbs for good reason.

Yep, we got them to build tools/machines with precision so that we can eliminate potential issues with using one's thumb as a drag.

Using a quality reel's drag provides for a much more consistent release of line when necessary. No thought is required. Set the drag and forget it.

There is also zero reason to tighten the drag down to achieve an effective hookset. It doesn't take near the pressure that people seem to think to drive a hook through a bass's mouth.

Ike also annoys me when he "feeds the fish line". I can't think of a single reason why this would help at all. He's got a high quality reel that is more than capable of releasing the line as needed. "Feeding it line" is just a waste of time.

Word!

p.s. I test my drag by "feel" before my first cast and occasionally

during an outing, but never while fighting a fish...NEVER!

[tyrius.]

Beside, I didn't buy 12# line to only be able to use 6# of it ;D

You're 12 lb line will break long before there is 12 pounds of pressure on it.  

I understand that people do things differently.  Just like Ike "feeding line", but I can't see any benefits of setting the drag "too tight".  If I set it at the recommended 1/3 of the line rating I then am allowed the decision of putting my thumb on the spool to attempt to stop a fish heading to heavy cover (knowing that I could easily end up losing the fish to my line breaking).  However, if I set it too tight then I can't easily/quickly loosen it if necessary.

I would recommend setting the drag at 1/3 the line rating (at the most) and never changing it when fighting a fish.

[fathom]

Beside, I didn't buy 12# line to only be able to use 6# of it ;D

You're 12 lb line will break long before there is 12 pounds of pressure on it.

I understand that people do things differently. Just like Ike "feeding line", but I can't see any benefits of setting the drag "too tight". If I set it at the recommended 1/3 of the line rating I then am allowed the decision of putting my thumb on the spool to attempt to stop a fish heading to heavy cover (knowing that I could easily end up losing the fish to my line breaking). However, if I set it too tight then I can't easily/quickly loosen it if necessary.

I would recommend setting the drag at 1/3 the line rating (at the most) and never changing it when fighting a fish.

i hear something about a thumb in there.  

[tyrius.]

i hear something about a thumb in there.

Yep, that was an agreement of a method that could be used.  I personally haven't ever used it though.  

[SirSnookalot]

My first consideration is what I'm fishing for and my technique, if I need to set the hook a bit harder I will use a tad more drag.

When fishing for larger fish, I do what feels right, it varies.  Bass, snook and tarpon are inhalers and don't slam real hard, toothy fish slam very hard and can snap your line if drag is too tight and they are swimming so fast a hookset is not needed, they set it themselves.

To add drag without a manual adjustment I simply raise my rod putting extra tension on them, once the fish is under control I almost always manually adjust the drag, very easy to do and for me it's part of playing a fish.

Once I'm where I want to be with that fish, I get that rod tip down low (I'm not a tv host ) and keep it's head in the water.

[Triton_Mike]

I take channel locks and lock my drag down as tight as I can get it.  When I need to give line I use the free spool method.

Mike

[roadwarrior]

I take channel locks and lock my drag down as tight as I can get it. When I need to give line I use the free spool method.

Mike

Well Mike, You da MAN!, but I don't think this is the right

advice for the vast majority of our members. Your level of skill

allows you a great deal of latitude. For others, cranking down their

drag will result in broken rods, snapped line and lost fish. If you're

fishing for big smallmouth, I feel this technique is totally inappropriate.

The  surge at the boat will cost people "the fish of a lifetime".

8-)

[Triton_Mike]

I take channel locks and lock my drag down as tight as I can get it. When I need to give line I use the free spool method.

Mike

Well Mike, You da MAN!, but I don't think this is the right

advice for the vast majority of our members. Your level of skill

allows you a great deal of latitude. For others, cranking down their

drag will result in broken rods, snapped line and lost fish. If you're

fishing for big smallmouth, I feel this technique is totally inappropriate.

The surge at the boat will cost people "the fish of a lifetime".

8-)

Kent,  Most of the fish people lose are at the boat.  The reason they lose them "at the boat" is because of their drag and quite possibly bad fighting practices (allowing the fish to jump)....  Granted I do have some years under my belt on the technique but I personally don't feel there is one setting for all on a drag hence the reason I free spool.  If a fish surges to the right or left it expends X amount of pressure.  If a fish surges under the boat it's Y amount of pressure.   I even free spool the bigger fish that I get on the big swimbaits.  

Personally if you have your drag locked down on the hook set then loosen it a good bit or had a pre set switch of some type that would give you a fairly loose drag instantly.  That coupled with the aide of your thumb that would be ideal.  

I came upon the free spooling technique because back in the day drags were horrible.  So i started disengaging my reel using my thumb as the drag ie free spooling.  Works for Spots, Heads, Smallies, sharks, redfish, tarpon, snook, you name it.  I just lost too many big fish at the boat because of a drag and since using the free spooling technique I can't remember the last big fish I lost boat side.  

Mike

[Team9nine]

I take channel locks and lock my drag down as tight as I can get it. When I need to give line I use the free spool method.

Mike

Blessed are those who have mastered the art of thumb-barring; there are so few of us 8-)

-T9