Setting Proper Drag
 

Any drag setting experts out there? I usually just give my line a pull and think "yeah, thats about right". This season I bought a 50# Shimano scale and want to use it to set my drags. If I have 20 lb test, should I set the drag at 20 lbs of pressure? This is probably a no-brainer, but I've never done it this way and I want to do it right. Thanks...

Hey Scotch, I found this link. It should explain.....

http://www.pacificsites.com/~kjcapfsh/old/tips/

Hope this helps....

Ahh ha, Thanks Homer.........

Set it with 6 to 7 pounds of pull. That's all. Rule of thumb is that the drag should be at about 1/3 your lines strength.

I pull my line to set my drag and times I've checked that setting put me at about 7-8 lbs, which is about right. I sometimes adjust it lighter or heavier depending on the conditions. If I'm fishing in tough spots and need to work a fish out of the cover fast, then I will tighten it up some. The reverse might be true off a nice clean sandy beach, where I just want it tight enough to get a good hookset.

Another thing to remember if you use a spring scale to set the drag is to load the rod at 45 degrees for the pull test. Don't high stick it to get the load.