Ive always had my drag set pretty firm. When I set the hook and bring the fish in I don't like any slip. Is there anything damaging or risky having it set up that way? I use 15lb fluro and 50lb braid. Both baitcasters. Is there a rule of thumb on how tight it should be or is it personal preference? I also read on here that some people loosen the drag after your done fishing. Ive never heard of this so ive never done it. Ive recently bought 2 new combos and want to make sure im taking proper care of them. Whats the benefit to putting the poles away with the drag set loose? Is it necessary?

2 minutes ago, Indiana Bass Angler said:

When I set the hook and bring the fish in I don't like any slip. Is there anything damaging or risky having it set up that way?

Chance of breaking your line or straightening out the hook if it's a light-wire.

 

3 minutes ago, Indiana Bass Angler said:

Whats the benefit to putting the poles away with the drag set loose? Is it necessary?

If it's got Carbontex washers in the drag, it's not necessary. Oiled-felt, however, can compress and stay that way if under pressure long enough. Loosening the drag after an outing becomes necessary in that case so that you don't lose drag-power.

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Chance of breaking your line or straightening out the hook if it's a light-wire.

 

If it's got Carbontex washers in the drag, it's not necessary. Oiled-felt, however, can compress and stay that way if under pressure long enough. Loosening the drag after an outing becomes necessary in that case so that you don't lose drag-power.

Intresting. Ill have to do some research and see if my reel has carbontex washers. Thanks for the info on that. I had no idea

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Chance of breaking your line or straightening out the hook if it's a light-wire.

 

If it's got Carbontex washers in the drag, it's not necessary. Oiled-felt, however, can compress and stay that way if under pressure long enough. Loosening the drag after an outing becomes necessary in that case so that you don't lose drag-power.

Just looked and it says carbon fiber drag system. Id assume that's the same or close enough to carbontex

Another drag thread...

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Another drag thread...

Sorry I hate to be the guy who asks questions others have asked. I just wanted some info specifically on why to loosen the drag after fishing. I went through a few topics and only found people saying to do it but not saying why to do it

25 minutes ago, WRB said:

Another drag thread...

How do you fish a wacky rigged senko? Is it ok if I drag it?

12 minutes ago, Indiana Bass Angler said:

Sorry I hate to be the guy who asks questions others have asked. I just wanted some info specifically on why to loosen the drag after fishing. I went through a few topics and only found people saying to do it but not saying why to do it

The latest thread was last Saturday, 2 pages.

You are apparently using a baitcasting reel with a star drag adjuster, not a spinning reel.

My guess you have a MH/4 power rod that fully loads up with 4 lbs of force, less then 1/3rd your leader strength. 

No reason to set the drag any higher then 1/3rd of 15 lb test leader; 5 lbs could easily break your rod.

If you momentarily need more force use your thumb.

Locking a drag down on a bait casting reel with anti reverse can cause the drag to take a set and not work smoothly when needed.

Tom

 

 

59 minutes ago, WRB said:

Another drag thread...

I know, we just keep dragging this out...

I usually dress in drag when fishing.

Why do you take a drag from a cigarette, but a toke from a joint?...

4 hours ago, Deephaven said:

I usually dress in drag when fishing.

fishnets?

21 hours ago, WRB said:

The latest thread was last Saturday, 2 pages.

You are apparently using a baitcasting reel with a star drag adjuster, not a spinning reel.

My guess you have a MH/4 power rod that fully loads up with 4 lbs of force, less then 1/3rd your leader strength. 

No reason to set the drag any higher then 1/3rd of 15 lb test leader; 5 lbs could easily break your rod.

If you momentarily need more force use your thumb.

Locking a drag down on a bait casting reel with anti reverse can cause the drag to take a set and not work smoothly when needed.

Tom

 

 

Thats great information. Thank you!

Man, this whole thread is just a drag.

 

Anyway at the risk of being called a drag queen. I will say that there is really little benefit to setting your drag beyond around 4lbs on a MH rod. You're protecting your rod and your line by setting your drag properly. The only time I would really crank down on my drag more than that - and this is more for a heavy rod than a medium rod, would be if I'm flipping cover and I want to turn that fish's head quick before it can go deeper into cover.

11 hours ago, Boomstick said:

Man, this whole thread is just a drag.

 

Anyway at the risk of being called a drag queen. I will say that there is really little benefit to setting your drag beyond around 4lbs on a MH rod. You're protecting your rod and your line by setting your drag properly. The only time I would really crank down on my drag more than that - and this is more for a heavy rod than a medium rod, would be if I'm flipping cover and I want to turn that fish's head quick before it can go deeper into cover.

Is there a easy way to check what pound your drag is set to?

Tie a loop in the end of your line, hook a scale to it and pull...when the drag starts slipping - look at the scale.

1 hour ago, Indiana Bass Angler said:

Is there a easy way to check what pound your drag is set to?

I ideally you want to have someone hold the scale at a 45 degree angle. Measure the scale reading at which point the line just begins to slip and that is what your drag is set to.

 

If not, tie down your scale and pull up on it. If you do it this way, your drag might be slightly underset although I wouldn't try to compensate for it, but the hardest part is actually reading the scale. When I do it by scale, I usually have one of my kids read the scale while I pull up on the rod, it's just much easier that way.

 

After a while, you can figure it out by feel. On a medium heavy or stouter rod, your ideal point is somewhere around where the line begins to slightly dig into itself when you pull on it with .015in diameter line which makes it real easy but of course with .013in line that doesn't hold true.

1 hour ago, Indiana Bass Angler said:

Is there a easy way to check what pound your drag is set to?

There is no reason to set your drag with a scale for bass. Tuna yes, bass no. Set your drag by feel. It’s that simple 

1 minute ago, li_bass_hunter said:

There is no reason to set your drag with a scale for bass. Tuna yes, bass no. Set your drag by feel. It’s that simple 

If you are new to fishing, measuring the drag is important. THEN you can develop a feel for

the setting.

31 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I ideally you want to have someone hold the scale at a 45 degree angle. Measure the scale reading at which point the line just begins to slip and that is what your drag is set to.

 

If not, tie down your scale and pull up on it. If you do it this way, your drag might be slightly underset although I wouldn't try to compensate for it, but the hardest part is actually reading the scale. When I do it by scale, I usually have one of my kids read the scale while I pull up on the rod, it's just much easier that way.

 

After a while, you can figure it out by feel. On a medium heavy or stouter rod, your ideal point is somewhere around where the line begins to slightly dig into itself when you pull on it with .015in diameter line which makes it real easy but of course with .013in line that doesn't hold true.

1 pint of water 16 oz in a plastic bottle weighs 1 pound. Use a plastic grocery bag and put pint bottles in the bag, hook the bag by the handles and lift. Adjust the drag to slip for the number of bottle in the bag. 4 bottles = 4 lbs. Be careful lifting the do not high stick, keep no more the 90 degrees bend .

 When done hand pull the line off the reel to get a feel of set drag.

Tom

PS, it’s too late when a bass of your lifetime see’s you and turns to run...

6 hours ago, WRB said:

1 pint of water 16 oz in a plastic bottle weighs 1 pound. Use a plastic grocery bag and put pint bottles in the bag, hook the bag by the handles and lift. Adjust the drag to slip for the number of bottle in the bag. 4 bottles = 4 lbs. Be careful lifting the do not high stick, keep no more the 90 degrees bend .

 When done hand pull the line off the reel to get a feel of set drag.

Tom

PS, it’s too late when a bass of your lifetime see’s you and turns to run...

Oh that's a nice trick!

On 5/9/2021 at 12:16 PM, Boomstick said:

I ideally you want to have someone hold the scale at a 45 degree angle. Measure the scale reading at which point the line just begins to slip and that is what your drag is set to.

 

If not, tie down your scale and pull up on it. If you do it this way, your drag might be slightly underset although I wouldn't try to compensate for it, but the hardest part is actually reading the scale. When I do it by scale, I usually have one of my kids read the scale while I pull up on the rod, it's just much easier that way.

 

After a while, you can figure it out by feel. On a medium heavy or stouter rod, your ideal point is somewhere around where the line begins to slightly dig into itself when you pull on it with .015in diameter line which makes it real easy but of course with .013in line that doesn't hold true.

Ok thank you! Ill give this a go. I appreciate the info!

At the beginning of the season I tie a Lure like a spinnerbait, hook it to one end of my coffee table, walk down the hall, and with the line tight, do a few hard hook sets and set the drag to just slip a bit at the end power of a hook set. I leave it there. 

 

This protects the rod, reel, and line. 

On 5/6/2021 at 11:01 PM, Indiana Bass Angler said:

Sorry I hate to be the guy who asks questions others have asked. I just wanted some info specifically on why to loosen the drag after fishing. I went through a few topics and only found people saying to do it but not saying why to do it

 

Tyler the the reason for backing the drag off is to prevent it from taking a set or developing a flat spot in the drag washers. 

4 hours ago, LCG said:

At the beginning of the season I tie a Lure like a spinnerbait, hook it to one end of my coffee table, walk down the hall, and with the line tight, do a few hard hook sets and set the drag to just slip a bit at the end power of a hook set. I leave it there. 

 

This protects the rod, reel, and line. 

Good easy way to keep an eye on it. Thank you!

4 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

Tyler the the reason for backing the drag off is to prevent it from taking a set or developing a flat spot in the drag washers. 

Great thank you! I got a couple new combos and just wanted to make sure im taking proper care because I want these things to perform like new as long as possible!