Setting the drag

[Kasim Baluch]

So I just purchased my rod a couple of weeks ago and I understand the concept of the playing with the drag but what is the general consensus of how tight I just set my drag for my spinning real? I don't fish for big fish, usually just bass and once in a while pike but I just never really understood how much I should set it on my spinning real AND not how to adjust it but how do I know how much its set on, is it based on the position of the knob.. so like in unison with my rod (so straight vertically)?

Sorry if that was confusing but kinda hard to explain!

Thanks in advance!

 

[fisher12]

So I just purchased my rod a couple of weeks ago and I understand the concept of the playing with the drag but what is the general consensus of how tight I just set my drag for my spinning real? I don't fish for big fish, usually just bass and once in a while pike but I just never really understood how much I should set it on my spinning real AND not how to adjust it but how do I know how much its set on, is it based on the position of the knob.. so like in unison with my rod (so straight vertically)?

Sorry if that was confusing but kinda hard to explain!

Thanks in advance!

Set it tight enough that when a fish pulls hard line will come out but don't set the drag too much as the rod can break if too much tension is given. I believe people set it at 25% of the line's breaking strength.

 

[Joel52]

No straight answer IMO - really depends on what you're fishing for. I use drag for big fish, and usually set to tension before line snaps. If you're fishing catch and release, set it tight enough so that you can bring the fish in and let it go quickly. If you're fishing for bigger fish, drag will help you play them out so they're not as feisty when they get in close. But just set it so it protects your line from breaking. You should be able to rip line off the reel without a snap.

 

[Blair]

Set it tight enough that when a fish pulls hard line will come out but don't set the drag too much as the rod can break if too much tension is given. I believe people set it at 25% of the line's breaking strength.

Fisher, there are "Drag Settings" that suit everyone's own particular "feel" and needs... but i would certainly say that 25% is WAY TO LOW! lol
Depending on the weight of line you are using.... however, at 25% in general - you would NEVER BE ABLE to SET THE HOOK or Reel in the fish.

- If the Drag is too low, it's impossible to set the hook


I find in "General" I set it at approx: 70- 75% of the line break.



Best way to CHECK (with each "new line" and Rod and Reel - each unique SET UP) is:


Spool your reel normally.

Run the line right out the rod

Tie it to a tree or something (I just tie it too my door knob at home)



Now "Back up" allowing the line (DRAG) to spool out.

It's a COMBINATION of the Line, Reel and the Rod!



The exceotions to go "LOWER DRAG" would be if you have:

-Ultra light Rod

- Using very HEAVY WEIGHT LINE (ie: 50lb Braid)





My line that I use most is 6lb mono, so I'm pretty consistant.

About the only "Exception" is when I am SALMON FISHING or CARP FISHING.

- Longer Pole, Heavier action, Heavier line

* I adjust the drag accordingly



Hope this helps.

 

[grubman]

Setting the drag is critical if you want to land even the occasional big one. You never know what's on the end of the line. Some pike act like carp, they follow up to see what the hell has them by the mouth. Once they see you then they go ballistic, that's when you'll wish you had your drag set properly.

Here is what I do. At the end of every fishing trip I loosen my drag completely, why? I don't want to weaken the spring of the drag system in the spool. When I arrive at my fishing spot, I'll set up my rod, then tighten my drag and pull out line from the reel with the bail closed. I have to account for the friction of the guides, so when it feels like I'm at about 60-75% of the line's breaking strength then I know I can set the hook into any fish big or small. The guides offer very little friction so with a small fish no line will pay out, it's not strong enough to pull against the drag. With a large fish the rod tip will curve right down and then the drag will let out line to prevent the line or rod from breaking. Never ever point your rod tip at the fish b/c then you'll only be relying on the drag alone to fight the fish, you want the rod to absorb any shock the fish will impart on your line during the fight. Some times the if the fish is bigger then I expected then I have to adjust the drag tighter/looser, depends on how much energy the fish has.

Too loose a drag will cause line to go out for even small fish and that will twist it or let out line when you're trying to set the hook, the hook will not penetrate deep to keep a fish on (weak hook-set). Too tight and the line or rod could snap or a weak knot will break. It's always a good ideal to stop every 5-10 cast and check your knots and line for nicks.

Hope this helps.

 

[NADO]

Its really a feel thing. Its pretty hard to actually assign a percentage to how tight your drag should be. My advice would be to go into a local fishing store, maybe the store where you bought the rod and ask an employee to show you how tight it should be set.

After some time on the water and some fish caught and fish lost you will have a feel for where your drag should be set.

 

[grubman]

Ha ha Blair you beat me to the button.........lol.

As Blair and I said drag set too low will not get a good hook set. The tree idea is new to me and unique, good one Blair.

One other method I've read about is using a fish scale. Rig up your rod and at the end of the line tie it to a fish weighing scale and pull till you see the bend in your rod and the needle reaching close to 75% strength of your line. If the drag is too tight it won't pay out line, too loose and all you'll hear is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Tighten till you only get a little zzzz. For say 8lb line let the drag kick in at about 6lb. Always want under, most line is estimated to break at their rated strength it's no gurantee that 8lb will break at exactly 8lb, sometimes 7 sometimes 9 lb. With mono water, UV, age will all deteriorate the line so it will most likely be under 8 lb.

Also if you are casting a heavy lure and hear the drag paying out, get a bigger rod or smaller lure....lol. Rods and reels are made to handle specific line and lure weights you can exceed that only marginally, but you're taking chances.

Good luck and go for the big ones.

 

[Blair]

Its really a feel thing. Its pretty hard to actually assign a percentage to how tight your drag should be. My advice would be to go into a local fishing store, maybe the store where you bought the rod and ask an employee to show you how tight it should be set.

After some time on the water and some fish caught and fish lost you will have a feel for where your drag should be set.

Are you KIDDING ME!

Serously, not bad advice... but i guess i was thinking of your "typical employee's lack of knowledge" in the Box Stores

- and dare i say: Even some of the smaller ones.



*SMILES*



- Yes, at the good ones - the advice is sound



I'd ask a veteran on the river or lake - Anyday.

Then of course.. your own judgement

 

[NADO]

Ive never come across an employee in a local fishing store (by local I mean not a big box store) that knew so little about fishing that they didnt know how to set the drag. Its pretty basic stuff.

 

[Blair]

Ive never come across an employee in a local fishing store (by local I mean not a big box store) that knew so little about fishing that they didnt know how to set the drag. Its pretty basic stuff.

I agreee Nado!
you know i wasnt knocking your suggestion ....

I guess i just think about all the one's WHO DONT KNOW... and as you say: IT's SO BASIC, you gotta laugh at the one's who do not know



ps: I'm also not Knocking the OP or making fun of anyone who asks the question.



We cool? *SMILES*



OFF = nicest bunch of guys on any site! Info is shared with smiles on our faces. CHEERS!

 

[NADO]

lol we cool

 

[fisher12]

Fisher, there are "Drag Settings" that suit everyone's own particular "feel" and needs... but i would certainly say that 25% is WAY TO LOW! lol
Depending on the weight of line you are using.... however, at 25% in general - you would NEVER BE ABLE to SET THE HOOK or Reel in the fish.

- If the Drag is too low, it's impossible to set the hook


I find in "General" I set it at approx: 70- 75% of the line break.



Best way to CHECK (with each "new line" and Rod and Reel - each unique SET UP) is:


Spool your reel normally.

Run the line right out the rod

Tie it to a tree or something (I just tie it too my door knob at home)



Now "Back up" allowing the line (DRAG) to spool out.

It's a COMBINATION of the Line, Reel and the Rod!



The exceotions to go "LOWER DRAG" would be if you have:

-Ultra light Rod

- Using very HEAVY WEIGHT LINE (ie: 50lb Braid)





My line that I use most is 6lb mono, so I'm pretty consistant.

About the only "Exception" is when I am SALMON FISHING or CARP FISHING.

- Longer Pole, Heavier action, Heavier line

* I adjust the drag accordingly



Hope this helps.

Well I get lots of my answers from google, I remembered when I started fishing a while ago to set it at 25% https://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=settign+drag+to+breakign+line#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=pyCo-N2qHjPCXTQO4TCSww&pq=setting%20drag%20to%20breaking%20line&cp=12&gs_id=5&xhr=t&q=setting+drag+breaking+line&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=setting+drag+breaking+line&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=5850179e247cf9a0&biw=1680&bih=949
the first 4 links say you should set it to 25-33% of the line's breaking strength

 

[NADO]

Well I get lots of my answers from google, I remembered when I started fishing a while ago to set it at 25% https://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=settign+drag+to+breakign+line#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=pyCo-N2qHjPCXTQO4TCSww&pq=setting%20drag%20to%20breaking%20line&cp=12&gs_id=5&xhr=t&q=setting+drag+breaking+line&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=setting+drag+breaking+line&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=5850179e247cf9a0&biw=1680&bih=949
the first 4 links say you should set it to 25-33% of the line's breaking strength

Thats the problem, its a feel thing. Im sure some people set it at 25% and think they are setting it to 50%. We will all picture what 50% is differently, its all about feel.

 

[jlisk]

What I normally do is tighten it until it takes a good pull to get a constant amount of line to feed out. I probably set my drag a bit on the heavier side as I like to have a solid hookset. Nothing worse in my mind then hearing ZZZZZZZZZZZZ when you set the hook (or fail to set the hook).

 

[Blair]

Each line has actual DIFFERENT LINE BREAKING Strength than the manufactures stated weight on the Spool.

*It is usually higher (ie: 6 lb mono tests at 12-13 lbs)

Each rod has different sensitivities and flex to it (Length, guides, materials, IM8 vs IM6 etc)


90% of Spin reels DO NOT HAVE an "indicator" (Setting switch with numbers like a AMP or Volume Control) .... on their drag. You just either turn it up or down.

Some reels have BACK DRAGS and others are FRONT SET. I prefer the front drags, they seem to work better.

* However, I do own some nice Shimano's that have rear drag (Bottom of the reel)



Some drags are SEALED, Some have FELT.... Some are different!



So it IS ALL ABOUT THE FEEL! *SMILES*


Too light on the drag, and you can not set the hook properly ... or land a fish within a reasonable time

Too High on the drag and you will either Break the line, the rod or Pull the hook out the fishes mouth.


I learn "my" feel on each individual set up and it's parameters.

The "percentages" mentioned are simply a GENERALIZED GUIDE LINE. Doesnt make them RIGHT or WRONG.



Go with what you want.

I do ...



No problems with "Drag Settings" here (Thankfully lol)

 

[Kasim Baluch]

Are you KIDDING ME!

Serously, not bad advice... but i guess i was thinking of your "typical employee's lack of knowledge" in the Box Stores

- and dare i say: Even some of the smaller ones.



*SMILES*



- Yes, at the good ones - the advice is sound



I'd ask a veteran on the river or lake - Anyday.

Then of course.. your own judgement

Haha Yah I got it at CT so I thought I would ask the pros on this site Loving everything though! Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

 

[Kasim Baluch]

SO 25-50% and how I test it is just take a little pull on it when I have my set up done and ready to go! There is no indicator so since it'll be the first time using my rod this weekend I'll goof around and try and figure it out then, kinda like learning to read a new clock :/ Seems relatively simple though....


thanks guys! appreciate all the responses