Setting the drag....???

[Carrot_Stix]

I am FINALLY getting enough time on the water to notice and get used to my reels/rods/line/techniques more and more.

BASICALLY...when setting the drag...

You want it to be LIGHT enough so a HOOKSET does not break your line/rod

AND/BUT

TIGHT enough where your HOOKSET will bury the hook GOOD.

I also know that setting the drag also depends on what technique your using at the time too.

1) Am I right/on the right theory?

2) Who sets their drag ALL the way TIGHT no matter how soft/light your line/rod is OR technique your using?

I know this is a REALLY DUMB/RHETORICAL post but BARE with me as I am a BEGINNER BASS ANGLER with BARELY ANY experience who just needs REASSURANCE.

Thanks.

[BASSclary]

As a general rule of thumb, for all purpose, I like to set my drag at 2/3 the lines breaking strength. So if your using say 12# line set it at 8#.

The only exception I make really is when jig fishing with braid. I lock the drag down as far as I can get it without damaging my reel.

If your really really finessy fishing with say... 6# line, even 4#'s of pressure will usually set the hook good IMO.

And if your using a BC you can always use your thumb so hold the spool while you swing away.

But remember drag is to tire the fish while he runs. It in most cases is not for hooksets and won't affest them IMO 8-)

[Grey Wolf]

Set your drag at either 1/4 or 1/3 0f your line rating.

Example----------12 lb , set your drag at 3 or 4 lb.

6 LB , SET AT 2 LBS.

[SirSnookalot]

The proper drag setting is not 2/3 of your line strength.  The proper setting is 25-30% of the weakest link, ie: 12lb main line and 8# leader would be 2-2.5 lbs of drag.

Another method, a bit more complicated is basing the drag setting on the line strength of the rod,I'm not crazy for this method.

Not saying you can't crank it down but if I do I wait till I have a fish on that requires it, then I'm leery about line breakage although it never happens to me with braid.

[CFFF 1.5]

I lock all my baitcast reels down as tight they can go without hurting the reel or breaking the star drag. On my spinning reels I keep the drag set not as tight but generally the drag on all my reels are pretty tight. Keep in mind the lowest pound test I use is 12lb test big game.

[fishfordollars]

i tighten mine down. If i stick a large fish I just back off it after the hookset and the fish has cleared the cover. 

[Hammer 4]

  Quote

I lock all my baitcast reels down as tight they can go without hurting the reel or breaking the star drag. On my spinning reels I keep the drag set not as tight but generally the drag on all my reels are pretty tight. Keep in mind the lowest pound test I use is 12lb test big game.

I do the same..

[Chris W.]

It's 33% or 1/3 the test (same things).

[MMan16]

I set mine depending on cover and line. I have some with 50lb braid so I tighten them down pretty much as far as I can without damage to reel. These are also fished In heavy cover so I don't like to play around with the fish just hook em and drag em out. The lighter line I set pretty loose but this is also when I'm in open water. Also I primarily use baitcasters and I find them pretty easy to back off or lock down when I have a fish on. Find what's comfortable for you but it doesn't hurt to try different methods.

[I.rar]

i use the tighten the drag and pull the line with my hand method. hasnt failed me yet.

[BobP]

If you want to lock down the drag, be prepared and competent enough to know when to put the reel in free spool and use your thumb as the drag system.  I prefer to set drag at 5-8 lbs and let the reel work the fish.  If you can't service a drag system properly, that may not be the best option.  But I can.  If necessary, I can add drag with my thumb to get a fish out of heavy cover.  I've lost more fish to heavy hook sets, tearing a hole in the fish's mouth that let the fish to spit the bait, than not getting a hook buried.  It's a balance.  How you like to set hook, the size of the fish, the cover, your bait, hook sharpness, your rod, and your line.  Getting the mix that works best for you is what counts, not what other guys may do.