Drag settings. - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

t.orlando · 03-31-2008, 07:43 PM

Anyone ever actually measure what they use for stripers? After always just doing the pull until it felt right method, I was curious what my drag really was set for. So I tied up to a scale to get an accurate reading. Was kind of suprised to see I only fish with 4.5-5lbs of drag. So, how much is everyone else using? Even with that light drag, I've only had 3 bass take a very substantial run, 2 in heavy current.

Gunpowder · 03-31-2008, 07:49 PM

I honestly have no idea what my drag is set to.... I just do the same "pull until it feels just about right" method and it has not failed me. I readjust so many times, I just dont have time to properly "reset" using a method of accurate reading. If it works, I'll just keep on doing it

BigFish · 03-31-2008, 07:50 PM

I set mine the same way TO! Never had an issue....I am sure mine is set too tight though......gonna try and ease up a bit this season! Great question though!

Mike P · 03-31-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t.orlando

Anyone ever actually measure what they use for stripers? After always just doing the pull until it felt right method, I was curious what my drag really was set for. So I tied up to a scale to get an accurate reading. Was kind of suprised to see I only fish with 4.5-5lbs of drag. So, how much is everyone else using? Even with that light drag, I've only had 3 bass take a very substantial run, 2 in heavy current.

Yp--that's why I always roll my eyes and bite my tongue when I read posts on other sites about guys fishing 20+ pounds of drag.

Raider Ronnie · 03-31-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike P

Yp--that's why I always roll my eyes and bite my tongue when I read posts on other sites about guys fishing 20+ pounds of drag.

20lbs will land a school tuna !
Most guys set their tuna reels (50s) around 26-28lbs

Slingah · 03-31-2008, 08:32 PM

I always wondered how/why people set or measured their drag for striped bass...since you usually change it during outings to adjust for different size fish...and how would you know what your gonna get ??
Im still confused on this...

WadingWill · 03-31-2008, 08:38 PM

I'm always light on my drag. Never measured I use the same method you guys do though. Isn't there an equation to set your drag to 20% of the line strength? Thought I read that somewhere.

Raven · 04-01-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WadingWill

. Isn't there an equation to set your drag to 20% of the line strength? Thought I read that somewhere.

Pete_G · 03-31-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike P

Yp--that's why I always roll my eyes and bite my tongue when I read posts on other sites about guys fishing 20+ pounds of drag.

Same here. The drag numbers make me laugh.

Even mid teens will promptly land school tuna between 50 and 100 pounds on spin gear.

When some spin reel companies start talking about 40 pounds it starts getting really ridiculous.

I always advise people put their reel on a rod, make a loop in your line, and then have someone hold the scale and then pull HARD and find out when their drag starts slipping. It's almost always educational.

Redsoxticket · 03-31-2008, 09:34 PM

lets say that you have your drag set at 5 pds at the reel.

Now, how many pounds will it take (more or less) if the measurement was taken with with the rod flexing at about 4 ft from the rod given the same criteria above, that is 5 pds at the reel ?

BigBo · 03-31-2008, 09:43 PM

Never measured.

spence · 03-31-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redsoxticket

lets say that you have your drag set at 5 pds at the reel.

Now, how many pounds will it take (more or less) if the measurement was taken with with the rod flexing at about 4 ft from the rod given the same criteria above, that is 5 pds at the reel ?

Even less I'd imagine. Unless the drag numbers at the reel assumed some flex from the rod.

-spence

Redsoxticket · 03-31-2008, 09:56 PM

I say more because there will be a Force vectors (Fx and Fy) at each guide which absorb the high loads.

thortum · 04-01-2008, 05:50 AM

I use the same "pull test" that most of you are using, BUT: nobody has said what pound test line your using! Since the drag is used to protect your line first, and your rod second, I don't know how the question can be answered with anything other than "IT VARIES!!"
You wouldn't put as much tension on 20lb. test line as you would on 40lb test. Why would anyone use very heavy line [cuts down on casting distance] if you weren't going to put more pressure on the fish? Also, if you use a 60lb test braid on a rod that's rated for up to 30lbs test line, and you tighten down on the drag, there's a danger of snapping your rod. My 2 cents.

Steve K · 04-01-2008, 12:49 PM

[QUOTE=thortum;578605] Why would anyone use very heavy line [cuts down on casting distance] if you weren't going to put more pressure on the fish? QUOTE]

You are ingnoring the fact that heavier line has better abbrasion resistance.

The Iceman 6 · 04-01-2008, 02:10 PM

Pretty much same as everybody else, by feel, may lighten drag up a click @ end of a fight...

thortum · 04-01-2008, 05:55 AM

Sorry double post.

wheresmy50 · 04-01-2008, 06:58 AM

I measure mine. The change I made last year was to use way less drag on my spinners with braid, and I think I landed a lot more fish. I went from 8 to 5 when I fish plugs. So far so good.
Last year's other numbers: Mono spinners and eels = 8. Inlet convench = 10, sometimes 12 depending.

fish4striper · 04-01-2008, 07:08 AM

I only measure mine for tuna fishing, 12-15 lbs spinning, 20 lb conventional

Clogston29 · 04-01-2008, 07:26 AM

i just set it by feel. i'd say about 5 lbs sounds right. I fish mostly 30-50 lb braid on a VS, and find that if I try to set my drag much tighter than that, the braid tends to dig in on larger fish and cause issues - especially when fishing eels.

RIROCKHOUND · 04-01-2008, 07:26 AM

TO...
funny you mention that..
I checked my drag last fall while waiting for my partner in crime to arrive and found my 'tight' drag on my jig rod was ~9lbs, with 65lb braid and a 1089 .. and 6lb for my mono surf sticks (20lb with a 1201M), although I bet you can get away with more using mono before pulling hooks... certainly surprised me; I figured it would have been higher than that...

I 'maxed' my CABO 60 2 weeks ago while fighting a shark off a dock down south... 50lb cortland and still couldn't pop the 40lb top shot.... had to cup the spool before he cut me off... There is a charter out of newport that uses spin gear for sharks, and likes to brag how much drag his reels can do; most people (myself included) couldnt keep 40lb of drag pressure on a fish using stand-up spinning gear...

Rockfish9 · 04-01-2008, 07:34 AM

1/4 the breaking strength of the line( or leader/weakest link)...measured with a scale.

crash · 04-01-2008, 08:27 PM

Usually ~5#, I'll go 8 to 10 for the canal, to be honest, I don't think I could stay perched on the rip rap with much more drag, especially on a slow night when you're off in la la land and you get whacked.

BassDawg · 04-02-2008, 09:32 PM

SAME, same as all have said. i go by feel, and it feels like it's between 4#-6#. 4lbs to let her take the eeeeeel, and 6-10lbs to land our prey depending on the size and the fight. while chunking, my drag is tighter than with eeeeeeels and sluggos. and for pluggin' my drag is inbetween where i set it for chunking and eeeels.

Eeeels/Sluggos.........4 to 4.5
Plugs........................4.5 to 5.5
Chunks/Jigs..............5.5 to 6.5+

just rough guesstimates, and i don't think it varies much with line weight. for me, it's more about the place and the method. kinda hard to feel the ghost bumps, if yer drag is set to bring down a tuna. the best part is that you can always adjust the drag during the fight. while that may be considered taboo by many, it has yet to be a problem for me.

Great question, TO, and even better responses ~gents!!