I have a Pflueger Patriach spinning reel with 30lb braid. When I get caught to a log or a rock fishing river,  my reel would let the line out even when I set my drag at maximum.

I don't have this problem with my other spinning reel spooled with mono line, the line would just snap.

 

Do you have any backing on the reel, or is it full braid? If it's full braid you might be getting some slippage of the braid on the spool.

My guess is you don't have any backing under the braid and the line is slipping. 

First off, I wouldn't use my reel to snap a line.  A few bad things can happen.  If I can't get my lure loose and I have to snap it I would rather give the line slack, wrap it around my hands (with glove) or around my arm with something to protect my skin from getting sliced from the line and pull the line until it is free or snaps.  Doing it this way avoids damage to my equipment.

 

As for the original question, I agree with the previous posters. 

As always, I learn so much from this forum. Thank you much for the info and advice

I've got a rod tip that sits in my tackle box of a very expensive gloomis rod to remind me if it takes more than a pop or a pull to get free, a new bait is between 5 and 13 dollars. A new rod will most likely leave me in tears. With that said, use backing for your braid.

This should be pretty easy to figure out. If the line is slipping it will be rotating relative to the spool while the spool does not move relative to the rest of the reel.  Let's hope that is the problem, very easy to fix.  When I don't want backing under my braid I just tape the spool with masking tape and it provides friction so that a good knot will hold without slipping.

If the drag is not working (spool is rotating relative to the reel at full drag adjustment) maybe the drag is failed, but I've never seen that. I don't know how a drag fails unless a very strong saltwater fish burns it up.   It is simply a few washers, half fixed to the spool and half to the shaft, that when pinched (by the adjustment knob), produce friction, or drag.  If the reel is assembled properly it should work.

I doubt that reel has 30 pounds of drag to begin with, I've got a Pfluger president and it will pull drag if I get caught up on something. 

Good point, Frosty.  Most reels only can hold about 15 pounds max.  I interpreted the original post to mean the reel "easily" gave line.  Even 15 pounds feels like a lot of force.  Sean, are you talking about giving the line easily or with a lot of effort?  And did you find if the line is slipping on the spool?