Sorry guys...got a drag setting question.

[kllrbee]

Well, after reading an earlier post today about drag setting, I decided to properly set my drag instead of just winging it.

I would like to go ahead and follow the rule of thumb about 25-33% of line strength. I dont want to tighten all the way down and free spool, use thumb/finger, etc. as I am not a very experienced fisherman yet and I believe that it takes some time to learn the feel for that.

I was winging it by setting the drag all the way tight, then backing off 1 full turn. I dont know why or where I got this idea, I just felt like it was a good starting point.

So I picked up a spring scale and tried to set my med light with 8 lb to b/w 2-2.5. This is where I am getting confused. According to the scale, the drag is letting out line at 2.5, but I am only 5 "clicks" away from fully tight (roughly 1/4 of 1 full turn). Does that sound right? It seems like that would still be awfully tight. Or was my half *** attempt at winging it WAAYYYY off and I was loose as all heck? I felt like when I caught some bass, they would run pretty good and it would take alot of line, but thought that was just normal. Im a newbie, I really wouldnt know the difference.

BTW, its a Pflueger Pres spin.

I want to do all my reels but I started with this one cuz it was right there and I dont want to get to the other ones until I know Im doing this right.

Thanks alot. Any help is appreciated.

[BASSclary]

It's that the reel doesn't have a very powerful drag system, maybe 8 lbs at max. While say a Revo has 22lbs of drag barely turning it would give you 2.5-3 lbs drag.

I don't own a Pres., so I don't know. But above ^^ is my best guess

So your not doing anything wrong. But always make sure to turn your drag all the way off before not using it for extended periods , because if you leave it hammered down it will ruin your drag washers.

[SirSnookalot]

The type of reel is incidental.  What I would do is get a plastic grocery bag, put your designated weight into that bag, ie: 8# test=2-2.5 lbs of drag.  Leave bag on the ground and raise your rod to about the 10 o'clock and set your drag as the line is barely pulling out.  Quite simple and in no time you have the feel just to set it by memory, it does not have to be perfect.

Don't get yourself confused about the max drag setting for your reels.

[Micro]

You plannng on doing the bag and scale thing each time you go fishing?  Just wing it.  Loosen your drags when your rods are sitting around unused.  Tighten them a bit so the line pulls out with a little force then fish.  The fish you catch will tell you how much drag you need.  I only get my drags adjusted where I want them while I am actually fishing. 

[northern basser]

You plannng on doing the bag and scale thing each time you go fishing? Just wing it. Loosen your drags when your rods are sitting around unused. Tighten them a bit so the line pulls out with a little force then fish. The fish you catch will tell you how much drag you need. I only get my drags adjusted where I want them while I am actually fishing.

X2

[kllrbee]

Thanks guys,

Sir snook, thats a good idea, but I know I am right on with the scale so Ill just keep using that.

Micro, I agree with you that I will not be "properly" setting the drag every time I fish.  I will be winging it and letting the fish tell me how to set it.

But, being new to fishing, if I wing it, how do I know if I am playing the fish right with the drag settings if I dont know what the proper drag setting should be?  I realize that just sounded like a bunch of mumbo jumbo.   ;D

What I mean is, Id like to set the drag properly at least once so I "know" where I need to be.  Just to have a more accurate starting point.  Then I can loosen when not in use, and return to roughly the same spot when I use again.  A more accurate way of winging it.  Does that make sense?

I guess what Im asking is not "how" to set it, but if the proper setting is that close to being fully tight.  Like I said, Im only 1/4 turn away from being fully tightened.  Im sure there are a bunch of guys on the forum who set their drag at the 25-33%.  Would you guys just let me know if when you are at that setting, whether or not you are that close to being fully tight?  Im sure it changes by setup, but Id like to get an idea of if Im in the ballpark.

I can be sort of obsessive with stuff like this.  Comes from doing machine work on engine blocks where close clearances and perfection is a must. 

Thanks fellas.   

[bilgerat]

I think what Micro was trying to tell you is to initially set the drag so that a little force is needed to pull line from the spool, then the fish you hook up with will either require more or less drag, which can be adjusted during the fight with usually a few clicks one way or the other.

If anything, be hair on the loose side initially so if your bait gets freightrained the line will not snap.

Think of a properly set drag as a controlled slippage of a clutch. A drag is nothing more than a simple clutch pack. In a car clutch slippage is bad, in a reel a little is good.

[K_Mac]

I think what Micro was trying to tell you is to initially set the drag so that a little force is needed to pull line from the spool, then the fish you hook up with will either require more or less drag, which can be adjusted during the fight with usually a few clicks one way or the other.

If anything, be hair on the loose side initially so if your bait gets freightrained the line will not snap.

Think of a properly set drag as a controlled slippage of a clutch. A drag is nothing more than a simple clutch pack. In a car clutch slippage is bad, in a reel a little is good.

Excellent post. 8-)

I have a couple of 6730 President reels that I use all the time. Tightened down to within 4 or 5 clicks of max is way tighter than I set mine. With 6 or 8# line that tight of drag setting will result in broken line and lost fish. It is easy to tighten up a bit while fighting a fish. Too tight and you may lose a fish before you can back-off.

Don't over-think it. With a little practice you will be able to set the drag without much thought. The first thing I do when picking up a combo as I take it out of the box is set the drag. This is important if you forgot to loosen the drag at the end of fishing. After setting for a while the drag will often stick a bit until exercised. This is esp. critical with light line. Good luck.

[roadwarrior]

The type of reel is incidental. What I would do is get a plastic grocery bag, put your designated weight into that bag, ie: 8# test=2-2.5 lbs of drag. Leave bag on the ground and raise your rod to about the 10 o'clock and set your drag as the line is barely pulling out. Quite simple and in no time you have the feel just to set it by memory, it does not have to be perfect.

Don't get yourself confused about the max drag setting for your reels.

Exactly!

[kllrbee]

Yeah, Im overthinking it.  I tend to do that sometimes. 

Bilgerat, thats what I was doing at first, but then i heard that it wasnt good to adjust your drag while in midfight.  Forgot where I heard that, but I cant see how a few clicks here or there could hurt.

Kmac, I also thought that 5 clicks from max is too tight, but when using the scale, thats where it barely pulls out at 2lbs.  Thats what got me thinking I was doing something wrong.  But, really, how could I be?  Its not rocket science.  Im holding the rod at 45deg angle and letting my buddy pull with scale. 

Also, I agree to be looser than tighter as I have already lost a 3lb on too tight of line.  Live and learn.

Im just gonna fish and set as I go. 

Thanks

[BobP]

Drag is different from one reel to the next, one brand to the next, and one day to the next - so there is no 'formula' of clicks, etc that's going to give constant performance.  Drags change due to the amount and kind of lubrication in them, wear on the drag's friction disks, condition of the spring washers, etc.  I just pull line off and estimate if it will be high enough to set the hook but low enough to allow a fish to take drag before the line breaks.  Where you fish is also a big consideration.  Open water?  2-3 lbs will wear them out no matter how big they are.  Grass mat?  Better lock it down 'cause you can't afford to let them run at all.  Treble hooks?  Maybe a little less drag.  Single hook?  Medium to heavy drag. 

[K_Mac]

kllrbee I had to test to make sure. I was wrong. :-[ I took 2 lbs 8 ozs and put it in a plastic bag. With the bag on the floor and lifting with the rod parallel to the floor (9 o'clock) it takes exactly what you said to get the drag to start slipping as the bag comes off the floor. You are not doing anything wrong. I then found my typical drag setting is right at 2 lbs. I will continue to use the lighter setting. It has worked well for many years.

Edit: I am using 6# line on my spinning reels this year. In the past 8#. My drag setting is pretty much the same for both.

[kllrbee]

Hey Kmac, thanks alot for double checking that for me.  good to know that I am setting it properly. 

BobP, thanks to you too for your response.  I didnt really put much thought into that.  I knew that setups were different but I guess I thought that setting 2.5 lbs on one spinning reel would be about the same for another spinning reel.  That should have been obvious, but thats why Im here to ask you guys.

Thanks very much for all the help guys.

Learn something new everyday on this forum.   ;D

[fmoore]

I keep the drags on my baitcasters locked down. If the fish needs to run, I hit freespool real quick and thumb the spool. Works for me.

[NateFollmer]

I keep the drags on my baitcasters locked down. If the fish needs to run, I hit freespool real quick and thumb the spool. Works for me.

I don't like to hit my freespool button when my line is on tension (especially if its a big fish). I broke a reel that way, I hit the freelspool button and it never would engage again. Probably an easy fix, but I would much rather use the drag than do that.