Drag??

[Mike L]

HiYa

I notice here most of the time when you guys talk about drag it's always in term's of a specific amount of "pounds"...

Case in point..I'm thinking of buying the Ardent F700 flipp/pitch reel.

It's advertised that the line leveler is fixed [which makes sence] and the drag is pre set at 22# lbs and cannot be changed.

If you have a star drag on your reel which they all have, how do you know how many pounds you're set at?

I guess just adjusting by pulling, based on how I'm fishing, is showing my age...now we have number's!

Thanks

Mike

[Marty]

Drag pressure can be measured by attaching the line to a scale's hook and pulling out line steadily against the drag, while reading the scale.

[Mike L]

Well I didn't say it was an intelligent question...

Thanks Marty

Mike

[RoLo]

The drag pressure that's specified represents the reel's "Max Drag" rather than a preset drag.

The recommended drag setting is 1/4 to 1/3 of line-test, so 14-lb line would use a drag-setting of about 4-lbs.

Instead of setting the drag mechanically, many anglers set the reel-drag instinctively, based on feel

(not as hard as it might sound).

Roger

[SirSnookalot]

The drag pressure that's specified represents the reel's "Max Drag" rather than a preset drag.

The recommended drag setting is 1/4 to 1/3 of line-test, so 14-lb line would use a drag-setting of about 4-lbs.

Instead of setting the drag mechanically, many anglers set the reel-drag instinctively, based on feel

(not as hard as it might sound).

Roger

60 years of fishing I have never met anyone tthat sets a drag with a scale. Many guys set a very light drag, the tighten it with a fish on, almost like freelining if not using a bbaitrunner.

[J Francho]

60 years of fishing I have never met anyone tthat sets a drag with a scale.

I use a scale, especially when using lighter lines, like 6# fluorocarbon, that actually breaks at 6#.

After a few times measuring this way, you can often go by feel, but it helps to check once in a while.

For anyone looking to set a line class record, the devil can be in the details....

Many guys set a very light drag, the tighten it with a fish on, almost like freelining if not using a bbaitrunner.

In more than 30 years of bass fishing, I never met anyone that bass fishes like that.

[SirSnookalot]

I use a scale, especially when using lighter lines, like 6# fluorocarbon, that actually breaks at 6#.

After a few times measuring this way, you can often go by feel, but it helps to check once in a while.

For anyone looking to set a line class record, the devil can be in the details....

In more than 30 years of bass fishing, I never met anyone that bass fishes like that.

With live bait I may leave the bail open or on free spool.

As far as drag everyone I know sets it by feel regardless of the target species. I've read here on BR that some crank that drag hard and others fish it light, sounds like " feel" to me. I set a light drag and control it by palming the spool.

[J Francho]

Lighter is always better than too tight. You can always add by feathering or thumbing the spool, but you can't go back once the line broke.

[clayton86]

Hmmm iv always cranked mine down well up I guess in terms of poundage. Iv lost missed hook sets to many times to count cuz I forget to tighten the drag when I get my rods out sense I back the drags off for storage. Same with if I loosen it to pull out a nest and its not all the way tight I go for hook set just to have the drag let line out and guess what no fishy so mines always all the way up or close to it and never had a issue

[Mike L]

OK

I'm just an old fashioned kind of guy who sets by feel.

Glad to see I'm not alone!

Thanks

Mike

[NBR]

Mike,

We more experienced (term for older guys) don't seem to relate to drag settings like our younger brothern. I couldn't care less at the pound level where my drag is set. For bait casters mine is set rather light for the pound test line I'm using.

Since I've done this since long before star drags were on freshwater reels on the hook set my thumb goes right on the line on the reel spool and assures a good hook set. During the landing of the fish if I need a little more pressure my thumb on the line provides that in an instant and eases off just as fast. With spinning gear I use a heavy drag and back reel if I need to let the fish run.

[Marty]

Even though I'm the guy who answered that the drag can be measured with a scale, I don't do that, rather I go by feel, like most everyone else. I've used a scale a couple of times, not to establish the setting, but just to satisfy my curiosity as to what it actually was.

[RoLo]

I've used both the mechanical method and the instinctive method for setting drag tension,

so I guess no one can truly say they've never known anyone to use either one or the other

Here's The Deal: once you make ONE drag adjusment in-the-field, you are left to your own resources.

About 2 or 3 years ago, Fish Chris was the first member I heard mention setting the drag by feel.

Since that time, it has become my method of choice, and like anything else, the more often you indulge,

the better you become. Setting the drag instinctively allows me to back-off on a big fish that's lightly hooked,

without fretting over the loss of some mechanically preset number. Consider also, that you always have the option to add or subtract drag tension throughout the fight, an option you do not have

if your worried about losing your mechanical setting.

Roger

[clayton86]

I set it by feel on my spinning gear but not bc gear bc I crank all the way tight spinning gear iv always done by feel sense I was a kid

[Fish Chris]

I've never heard of a reel in which you could not adjust the drag ! That seems ludicris to me. I'd never buy such a reel. Drag setting is SOOO important to me. It's one of those things (like hook sharpness) I check over, and over again. For myself, I do it by feel, and with 40 years of experience.

Checking the drag is almost like a nervous twitch for me.... I literally check my drag probably every second or third cast throughout the day.

And like J F said, "If it's too light, you can always feather on some additional pressure by hand, or even adjust the drag tighter during the fight"..... but once your snapped off, it's a done deal !

Peace,

Fish

[tipptruck1]

Ok I set it so lose that I have to use my thumb to set the hook. I even battle fish that way. If I have to I will adjust the main drag. Muskies and and pike are the only ones were I use drag.

[J Francho]

Wow, it's not like stepping on the handle of a spring scale and pulling on the rod while the line is hooked to the scale is rocket science.

Like I said, you get accustomed to what is "close" to right with experience. If you feel intuition and feel give you confidence, go for it. I do that too. And I often check it by hand. After a some time, it never hurts to measure how much you're using. I bet the number would surprise many that think they need 24 lb. of drag, LOL. I can pretty much guarantee you cannot pickup 24 lb. on the end of a 7' rod with one hand.