When buying a baitcaster reel what's the minimum drag I need 

If you're using it for bass, most if not all baitcasters will have enough drag. 

1/3rd the minimum equal to mono line you use. Ie; 8 lb test about  2”1/2 to 3 lbs.

Tom

Ok what difference does it make? You can back off any reels drag to 0. 

It's a fair question and deserves a straight answer. 

Most every reel you look at will have more drag that you could ever need. 

Five lbs was about all you could get out of a baitcaster drag a generation ago, and it's really all you need.  If you go to the trouble to set your drag with a spring scale, you'll find 3-4 lbs is a huge amount of drag.  Seven pounds is enough for offshore. 

 

Most reels are rated 20 lbs drag now - you won't need that much, but the large drag capacity will probably make the drag smoother and more reproducible in the range you really do need.

As far as actual drag set, it should be at 1/4th of your weakest link, leader, line, or rod max line rating.  The reason for this is shock loading, which typically has a 4x multiplier.  With the leverage of the rod, setting the hook at the same time the fish is making a hard turn may still break something, and you hope it's not the rod. 

There isn’t a fresh water bass rod that can lift 20 lbs, few can lift 8 lbs.

Lift pounds for fresh water bass casting/ spinning  rods before bottoming out;

Light or 1 power = 1 lb.

Medium light or 2 power = 2 lbs.

Medium or 3 power = 3 lbs.

Medium Heavy or power = 4 lbs.

Heavy or 5 power = 5 lbs.

Heavy or 6 power = 6 pounds.

Swimbait Rods 

Mediun Heavy = 6 lbs

Heavy = 7 lbs.

XHeavy = 8 lbs.

Don’t believe the weights try dead lifting pints of water = 1 lb per pint.

3 to 5 lbs of drag is all you need for bass fishing. You have a thumb to add more if needed.

 

 

 

16 minutes ago, WRB said:

 

Don’t believe the weights try dead lifting pints of water = 1 lb per pint.

3 to 5 lbs of drag is all you need for bass fishing. You have a thumb to add more if needed.

 

 

As you can see what FrankN209 said above and WRB explained almost all of today’s bait casters would be good. 

17 hours ago, FrankN209 said:

If you're using it for bass, most if not all baitcasters will have enough drag. 

Thank you very helpful most I see at basspro all the name brands have anywhere 10 to 12 lb drag  my abu revo sx has a 24 lb drag