Drag setting

[fishaholic18]

How do you guys set your drag? I do it by feel, but I want to try to be more acurate this season. Any ideas?

[MakoMike]

Use a scale. Pull the drag a couple of time to heat it up, then measure the drag by pulling with a scale.

[Mr. Sandman]

They actually make a drag scales. IMO if you are going for an IGFA record and have class line, you should get the scale...if not, I do it by feel for the light stuff (< less then 50#)

For real big game (tuna) I would use a scale to set the heavy stuff cause it is tough to gauge it by hand when you are pulling with all your might.

[ragfly]

By feel. I carry enough stuff with me as it is.

[Nebe]

So if I'm using 50 lb power pro with 40 lb leader material, should the drag be set at 30??? I always keep mine a bit loose..say about 15 lbs. Is that wrong or just a preferance thing.

[JPowers]

I need a welder to set my drag.

Slipknot assaulted me last year when he yanked my line.

[Saltheart]

Drag is usually set to a third of the weak link rating.

Why use a leader that is lower strength than your running line?

At the canal , i set my drag as tight as it will go but still be smooth. i use my thumb on big fish. on the beach , I set the drag to where i think its safe not to rip hooks out of fishes mouths.

I have never (best as i can remember) used a drag scale.

[Nebe]

Saltheart, I use a weaker leader so that in the rare occasion that i might get hung up in some rocks, the leader will let go instead of somewhere in my main line. I fish a lot of rocky places, loose a lot of plugs, and went the whole season on one spool of line.

[hooked]

I set my drag rather light because I enjoy the sound. Someday I'll get spooled by a monster and change my view. For now, having a ~15-20# fish run 30 or so yards is worth an occasional drop or rub into the rocks.

[beachwalker]

2-3 lbs.

[Pete_G]

Not that it was a very scientific test, but using a Boga Grip I found that most reels we use in the surf aren't capable of creating more then 10lbs of drag (without palming the spool)

Most don't even get near 10lbs. Casting reels excluded.

And you'd be surprised how hard you have to pull to create 10lbs of drag if the reel you're testing is mounted on a rod with the line run thru the guides while you're pulling on it.

For surf fishing though I just go by feel.

[Bawana]

Also go by feel for surf just set drag so line comes off spool with moderate pull and adjust up or down depending on how running fish is taking line.As the spool goes down drag increases and sometimes have to back off when fish pulls out a lot of line on a run.------ Tried setting drags on 130*s with scale and setting at 1/4 breaking strength of 200 lb line but at 50 lbs of drag cant get free spool even with levers backed all the way back so dropped to about 35 lbs.

[jettyjockey18]

Originally posted by JPowers
I need a welder to set my drag.

Slipknot assaulted me last year when he yanked my line.

drag??...whats that??... ...i prefer Plan X...

[striperjerk1]

Shouldn,t DRAG settings also be based upon ACTION of the rod.
fast action.... low drag
medium fast.......... slightly more drag
medium slow........even more drag.
The more parabolic the rod is, the more drag should be used?

[macojoe]

I take my Q from Mr. Ronco, I set it and forget it!! Just by feel.

[maddog2020]

I set my spinning drags 1/4 breaking strength of line (read that out of a Trilene brochure as a kid) and conventional up at about 1/3. I have a 100 lb scale at home for setting up compound bows. I use a small hand scale for my freshwater stuff. Larger stuff I use the bow scale. Its annoying to be backing your drags off and back on when you fish.

Two yrs ago I hooked a nice fish in a bay - using 10 lb mono I straighted the hooks on my Yo-zuri mini mag minnow (thats a mouthfull huh?!). I was PO'ed. I wouldn't have thought I could do that but I was trying to slow the fish down from spooling me. I since changed to 4X hooks and larger capacity spool reel.

I was talking to a reputable CA offshore outfitter and he told me he sets 1/3 for spinning and may be he knows something I don't know. You gotta hurt the fish early or you are doomed !

I set my drags much less than I am suppose to fishing braid in spinners. If you set it like you are suppose to I can see you breaking the rod or if not you will be tearing the hooks out of the fishs mouth.

JPowers - I've heard of your gorilla jiggin techniques from MAC/NewellGuy & Stroth. I gotta see you some time w/ a large on.

[t.orlando]

I adjust mine by hand also.Where I am fishing and what stage of tide lets me know how tight. I will say this year have been using a much lighter setting than before, esp on my braided line reels.Let the drag and your rod do what they are supposed too.

[justplugit]

Usually set it by feel,smooth peel off,and loosen it after each trip.
Gives longer life to the washers.

[chris L]

stockings , garter , high heeled shoes . oops

Did I just say that out loud .

I set my drag by hand and usually tighter than needed .