Yesterday I was out fishing a drop shot and caught into a nice pickeril.  I was using an Abu Orra SX-20 so it was a small reel.  Well this pickeril took that drop shot and took a ton of drag on my reel along with it.

 

I finally get it in and release it but when I went to cast and wind again it felt sluggish (harder to reel, not smooth like it was just before) and almost as if something was "grinding" ever so subtly.   Aside from having the drag set to high I wasn't sure if this is a sign of a reel which is now messed up.

 

{Sidebar - kudos to Seaguar 6lb InvizX) 

 

Thoughts?

Did you check to be sure your line wasnt wrapped around the tip of your rod?  I'm sure that it wasn't as I'm sure you checked... but I've had this happen before and didnt realize it was wrapped around. 

Um, I don't think your drag stacks are in question, but I wonder about about your spool shaft? Maybe it is now out of spec. Idk, but I hate working on spinners.. Maybe DVT will see this soon, or JF...

Felix,

 

It's hard to say without looking into it. seeing as the drag worked, I doubt anything was hurt. I'll look into it if you want. You know where to find me. 

Felix,

It's hard to say without looking into it. seeing as the drag worked, I doubt anything was hurt. I'll look into it if you want. You know where to find me.

DVT ... definitely will be looking you up. In an effort to diagnose on the kayak I removed the drag knob and of course lost it down one of my scupper holes. A replacement is on its way.

Even good quality reels wear from usage that's a good thing that means your using it.

When I first got into bass fishing I had a $7 UL Spinning reel from Wal-Mart made by a large well known reel manufacturer. Fishing for trout it was fine

But when we went bass fishing between the heavy usage and the larger bass over the wimpy trout the reel was worn out.

The first thing to wear out was the bail housing bearing.

Fish can take it's toll on equipment that's my point.

With saltwater blue fish I can understand a reel wearing out in time. I never thought that heavy usage with lmb could do it. My next move up in reel quality was the Wal-Mart quantum. One caught my pb#10. I still have that setup today. I retired it.

Funny we never talk about how we set the drag. I don't like it too loose where I hear it on the hook set. Nor do I set it too tight where a violent strike could snap the line before it gives. I don't horse a fish in. I keep the line tight and try to not tire it out too much. My drag is set on the tight side but not too tight. I hardly ever hear it.

You are not going to damage any reel with the drag a 6 pound line can take.  Keep looking.