How often do you use them? Do you try to never use them? Or do you always keep at least some of them on? Latley the longer I go between using them and not using them the worse it is when I turn them off or grab a reel without them. I am starting to think its a crutch and I am loosing my touch at fishing without them.

I turn two or three on my Chronarchs, and forget them. My Calcutta has four on. The rest of my reels are Daiwa, and use Mag - Z/V brakes. All my spools are pretty much set to completely free, no tension on the cap. I could care less if someone thinks they are a crutch, so long as I can cast without backlashing, and keep catching.

I set two and forget them. Only time I open the hatch is to show someone what the brakes look like or unspool

Shimano, the majic 2. Set 2 brakes on, and use the tension knob to fine tune it.

I have noticed I am not as good as i used to be when using a reel with out them. From not jig fishing all year I have become dependent on brakes doing a lot of the work.

i use 2 brakes on both my curado E's.(201/51)

Yup i leave 2 or 3 on all of them all of the time.

i use the brakes

It takes 2 to make the thing cast right........

you see what I did there?

It takes 2 to make it cast out of sight.....

Do you flip with the brakes on still? I find it way easier being completely free spool and turning them off.

Would you disable thre anti-lock brakes on your truck to show how good a driver you are without them? Of course not. The feartures of the reel you choose to fish are there to make fishing more productive and enjoyable. You paid for them so use them. It says nothing about how good of an angler you are or aren't.

2 brakes/pins & forget it works on all my centrifugal brake(dual brakes too) reels. Only time I've ever had to go above 2 pins is when I start throwing in monsoons.

Would you disable thre anti-lock brakes on your truck to show how good a driver you are without them? Of course not. The feartures of the reel you choose to fish are there to make fishing more productive and enjoyable. You paid for them so use them. It says nothing about how good of an angler you are or aren't.

Right on!!!

Mike