How hard to pull

[Raven]

[eelman]

I use a pair of pump pliers to tighten my drag as much as possible then, I tos the rod over my shoulder and just walk away from the water, if my truck is close at hand I may just tie off to the bumper and drive the fish out

[Raven]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I use a pair of pump pliers to tighten my drag as much as possible then, I tos the rod over my shoulder and just walk away from the water, if my truck is close at hand I may just tie off to the bumper and drive the fish out

Nah Nah Nah ....you already have your truck up on the jack
with the tire taken off....then ya just wrap your line a few times
around the Van Stal polished rim .....then ya shift into low !

[snake slinger]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I use a pair of pump pliers to tighten my drag as much as possible then, I tos the rod over my shoulder and just walk away from the water, if my truck is close at hand I may just tie off to the bumper and drive the fish out

thats why hes my hero

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I use a pair of pump pliers to tighten my drag as much as possible then, I tos the rod over my shoulder and just walk away from the water, if my truck is close at hand I may just tie off to the bumper and drive the fish out

Pump Pliars are for hacks. I Arc weld my spool to the reel shaft. It has yet to loosen up.

[vanstaal]

I use 50 #Cortland Braid and a five foot shock leader 40# mono with a Alberto knot the drag no to tight I love it when it sings !!and with all the years of experience every fish is different I use fineness the fish wiil get tired first don't horse it in ..

[t.orlando]

As lite a drag as possible, especially since I only use braid. The drag is there for a reason..........use it. And I always loosen it when a fish is close to being landed. Cranked drags = lost fish and bent hooks

[cow tamer]

There are times that you have to incrementally increase the drag to try turn a fish. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

[Mike P]

It really depends on where I'm fishing.

Most of the time, I'll use a stout parabolic rod--something like an Arra 126 or 1205--and a moderate drag. Even in some places in the Canal where I know it's fairly clean downcurrent. If I'm using braid, and plugs with treble hooks, I rarely try to horse a fish.

In some places, you have to put the boots to a fish. There's just too many things in the way that will cost you if the fish can use them. That's where the All Star 1209, the Saltiga with 12 lbs of drag and 65# braid get used. With jigs. If the jig hook is buried, you can't pull hard enough to damage the hook. If it isn't, they fish will throw it eventually--even when it's running. It's only with plugs and trebles that the hook is your weakest link. Unless you're foolish enough to be fishing with a cheap-assed snap like a Duolock or old fashioned safety pin snap.

I still like to use mono for plugging and for eels. It really depends on the lure style. I have problems with darters, especially, when it comes to pulling trebles loose with braid. And you don't need the sensitivity of braid when fishing eels. It might even be a disadvantage--the fish might feel you as well as you can feel it And the repeated casts with no-stretch line seem to result in the hook tearing loose on the cast faster.

[Rappin Mikey]

It all depends if I think I have a good chance of catching seal.

[goosefish]

Depends how much lobster gear I've got in front of me.

[luds]

The rod your using is an important consideration as well as whether you're fishing plugs or eels. I use a much tighter drag when I'm eeling with a single hook. I lighten up with plugs because vmc's bend so easily.