I left my drag tightened down on my two Shimano metaniums over winter so about 4 months I’m now worried I messed up the drag when I tighten them down all the way I can pull the line and get the spool to turn but I have to pull hard is this bad ? How do I know if I messed up the drag ? 

Mets have about 10 ponds of drag.

 

Are you pulling more than 10 pounds? If so, it should be turning the spool.

 

If you’re locked down and barely pulling and the spool still turns....you’ve got an issue.

 

FWIW - My Mets have the drag tight year round as well and I haven’t had any issues. 

Awesome thank you a bunch just was checking I’m pulling pretty hard and line digs into the spool before letting it out so I mean I’m assuming it’s okay 

1 minute ago, MichiganMikee said:

Awesome thank you a bunch just was checking I’m pulling pretty hard and line digs into the spool before letting it out so I mean I’m assuming it’s okay 

It's fine.

 

Backing off the drag is just a form of preventative maintenance. It's like turning a TV off when nobody is watching so it doesn't burn out. The truth is, it's almost always fine to keep the TV on. 

No harm, no foul.

 

Karl

It's less of an issue with these new carbon fiber drag discs.  They're hard, and they're not really gonna deform under pressure.  

Ditto the above - I fish year round, so my drags rarely ever get the chance to be backed off. Never had any issues, but I don't overly rely on them either, so there's that -  (how's that for subtle, @A-Jay ?).

I bet I have a few reels that I left the drag set over several winters.  It's not as devastating as some make it out to be.  I'd compare it to not making the bed when you get up in the morning.  Not really a big deal if no one knows.

25 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Ditto the above - I fish year round, so my drags rarely ever get the chance to be backed off. Never had any issues, but I don't overly rely on them either, so there's that -  (how's that for subtle, @A-Jay ?).

 

Well, I rely on the drag big time, but most of mine are one and done. That means I 

set them up when I first mounted the reel, one, five or ten years ago. None have ever

been backed off.

Drags are extremely important when using line #test less then the fish weigh. I back my drags off every trip when I put the outfit away, always have. I reset my drags every time getting the combo ready to use, tie on lures, hooks or re tie, set or check the drag for break away force and smoothness. 

Ever year when professionally cleaned the drags get replaced if needed. 

My suggestion is back off the drag and service it if left tightened down. You only need a drag when a big fish can over power the line, then a faulty drag is too late to fix.

Tom

I’m like roadwarrior on the drag.  I only back mine off when cleaning the reels.  I carry too many setups to go messing with the drags.

Not braggin by no means at all, but I have had reels sit for 2 years or more while I was working on the road with the drags set as I left them. And have no issues at all.

 

  (I rarely tighten drag all the way down unless in the middle of a fight or if I'm punching on occasions, even then it's not cranked all the way down) 

 

I'm pretty sure there's a right way to do it, but I fish enough now that it's not been an issue.

 

And I dont like to have to mess with the drag everytime I put it in the truck or the boat

Drags should never be set and have need to achieve full lockdown. I doubt there’s any permanent damage. If they don’t have carbon drags it’s an easy and affordable upgrade. 

Should be fine plenty guys fish year round and don’t loosen the drags on their reels.

On 2/16/2021 at 2:48 PM, WRB said:

Drags are extremely important when using line #test less then the fish weigh. I back my drags off every trip when I put the outfit away, always have. I reset my drags every time getting the combo ready to use, tie on lures, hooks or re tie, set or check the drag for break away force and smoothness. 

Ever year when professionally cleaned the drags get replaced if needed. 

My suggestion is back off the drag and service it if left tightened down. You only need a drag when a big fish can over power the line, then a faulty drag is too late to fix.

Tom

I used to do that too back when everyone was using oiled felt for drag because the felt would get permanently compressed. It's not an issue with the new carbon fiber drags.