Drag not tightening

[--G--]

Hey,

I am sure this is a simple enough question - my abu garcia reel that I have started acting strange.
Normally the drag is set pretty tight, but today while out fishing, i got caught on a snag and when since pulling that free the drag on my reel appears to not tighten, even if i screw it right in, i can still pull the line with relative ease.
Is there anything I should try to fix this? I have try adjusting all the way out, and then all the way in, and altough it certainly is a little tighter, it is by no means a tight drag.

Any ideas welcome. I hope I explained this well...

 

[efka]

you might be missing a washer under the spool or
try putting some oil into the drag knob and see if that helps.
might need a new drag knob if the reel is older.
good luck

 

[salmotrutta]

What about the on/off switch for pulling line out to facilitate pulling it through the guides? Is that engaged?

During my first steelheading season, I must have pressed it at some point, because I stopped being able to land them and they became impossible to tire out. Eventually I discovered this on/off switch.

 

[--G--]

Thanks guys...

Its a brand new reel, so i dont expect any washers to be missing, and like i said it was tight at the start of the session, just went slack after pulling out a snag.

I dont see any on/off switch on the reel.
I will try oil it up and see, thanks guys

 

[manitoubass2]

What kind of reel is it?

and the on/off switch is probably located underneath the reel towards the back end. I'm guessing this isn't the issue however, because if its off you can backreel.

and don't over oil it, that might cause more issues. It needs grease morethanlikely, not oil

 

[NADO]

is it the Abu Garcia specialist combo from Canadian Tire - Regular price 80 bucks? If so I had the same problem with the drag, they are just low quality reels despite what some may tell you. The one I have now that I used to use a few years ago has the same problem and the drag seems to only work when it feels like it.

 

[--G--]

is it the Abu Garcia specialist combo from Canadian Tire - Regular price 80 bucks? If so I had the same problem with the drag, they are just low quality reels despite what some may tell you. The one I have now that I used to use a few years ago has the same problem and the drag seems to only work when it feels like it.

Yea, its the specialist.

So best advise would be to replace this with a decent one?

 

[efka]

Well you get what you pay. I've only seen a handful of good reels and only at some ct locations, most of them are knockoffs. Even quantum models that are at the store don't exist on official quantum website.
Get a quality reel from bps, they have good sales every week. Spinning reels are not as expensive as baitcasters. The new Johny Morris CarbonLite reel looks really good. 7 ball bearings and mag spool only $60.

 

[manitoubass2]

If your gonna replace your reel, look at the Okuma Avenger A.

I have some great reels, but for the price, this one takes the cake.

Okuma gets looked over alot of the time, but IMO, their reels are unreal top notch. Never had an issue with them.

 

[hightechdecks]

shimano stradic or symetre! symetre is more cost effective and still has a worm drive instead of a hypoid gear, worm drive never fails and hypoid gears is crap just like in skill saws. also all components are metal, with many lower end spinning reels the internal components are plastic. with spinning gear i can truely advocate spending top dollar as there are many moving parts unlike a float reel where the bearings and handles are the only moving parts.

 

[NADO]

+1 on the Symetre I had one before I lost it to lake erie at turkey point last year and I liked it. I recently bought the saros which is between the symetry and the stradic and I expect it to be a quality reel as well.

 

[salmotrutta]

I dont see any on/off switch on the reel.

Most spinning reels will have this button or switch, look near the bottom.

 

[point defiance]

Hey are you using braided line? Because it can slip.

 

[--G--]

Hey are you using braided line? Because it can slip.

Yea its new braided line, is that by design, or did I maybe do something wrong (keep in mind I am kinda new to fishing...mostly I had the guidence of a good friend back home)

Thanks for all the input so far guys, its really appreciated.

Edit: ran a little google searching, and it seems to be that people reccomend running some mono on the reel, the tieing on the braided line. Seems that this is a common issue with braid.

That would explain the issue, given that it works sometimes then completely lets go. I will re-do that spool with some mono on the base. Unless anyone has any other/better ideas?

Thanks again fellas.

 

[point defiance]

No prob. Give us a shout after you changed the setup. Sometimes its something so simple that solves the problem.
Its not always the because of the Fishing Gear

 

[manitoubass2]

Yea its new braided line, is that by design, or did I maybe do something wrong (keep in mind I am kinda new to fishing...mostly I had the guidence of a good friend back home)

Thanks for all the input so far guys, its really appreciated.

Edit: ran a little google searching, and it seems to be that people reccomend running some mono on the reel, the tieing on the braided line. Seems that this is a common issue with braid.

That would explain the issue, given that it works sometimes then completely lets go. I will re-do that spool with some mono on the base. Unless anyone has any other/better ideas?

Thanks again fellas.

You can use mono backing, tied to the braid with a uni-uni knot.

Or, you can tie the braid to the spool as normal, then put a small piece of electrical tape over the knot.

Or, you can wrap the braid around the spool a few times while tying to your spool.

Either one of these methods work well, its just a matter of preference. If you use mono backing though, it will save you some money.