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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | After close to 20 years chartering/guiding and chasing around fish species as big as King Salmon and as small as bluegills, I've seen many different people and observed many differnet fishing styles and mannerisms when doing so.
Even though I like to set the drags on my reels daily, I'll inevitably ask sometime during the trip "is that drag set right?" It never fails, that they will grab the line in front of the reel and pull it to check the drag.
This is the wrong way to check your drag if you want it set to a precise tollerence. Pulling/adjusting it from the front of the reel sets it to tight. The line and drag resistance will take on a whole new dimension when traveling through the added load of the line guides and the bow and flex of the rod itself.
I like to hold the lure or line about 3 to 5 feet away from the rod tip, and have the client pull back on the rod with enough force to make the drag work. If I'm alone, I hook the lure to something anchored and do it myself. This give you the true stress, tension, action on the rod, and force it's going to take by the fish to break the drag free.
Edited by walleye express 2/19/2004 9:31 AM
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Location: Lincoln Park, Mi | I've seen charters on TV and someone I know, set their drags on a fish scale. Down to the pound.
I do it the no-no way and just give it a little tug out of the spool. Works for me though. I've never(knock on wood) had a break off with a fish on from the boat.
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Originally written by terroreyes on 2004-02-19 10:26 AM
I've seen charters on TV and someone I know, set their drags on a fish scale. Down to the pound.
I do it the no-no way and just give it a little tug out of the spool. Works for me though. I've never(knock on wood) had a break off with a fish on from the boat.
Terror.
I never scientifically tested it. But I'll bet you an old (original) thunderstick, the drag tension when pulling from in front of the rod tip will be as much as 1/4 (pound per pound) more stress on the line than pulling it from the reel itself. So if your one of those guys who sets his drag on (the edge) of breaking the chosen line, you are living dangerously. Especially with the innitial strike and burning runs from any fish more savage than a walleye. 
Edited by walleye express 2/19/2004 10:20 PM
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Location: Lincoln Park, Mi | I have no doubt you're correct. I do alot of mutispecies fishing with my 2 main rods and keep them both loaded with 30# Stealth. I can't even get the drag tight enough to break the line purposely myself. When I got that big muskie in the fall though, I gave him lots of drag out of fear he was going to break my pole if I kept it too tight. First dive, I had that drag way too tight and it did just about break that pole.
I did learn an important "drag" lesson while carp fishing off shore though. After chasing my pole into the water twice in two days, and getting soaked up to my neck both times, I learned to leave the drag very loose on the dead pole! |
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That readds like a good technique and I'll have to try it. Otherwise, if I have a spinning reel, I always switch it to backreel and play the fish with it. When using a casting or line counter, I loosen the drag as the fish gets closer. This will account for that one last run once it sees the boat. |
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| I tend to do it the wrong way, and pull from the front of the reel. But, I have always understood the added resistance that comes from the line running thru those guides, and set a little on the soft side to compensate.
With that being said, I do things differently with my muskie gear. I use a channel lock plier and cinch the drag down as tight as is possible on those reels. 120lb. test line on those reels. When the fish hits, it's "Game on", we'll see what kind of man you really are!
Edited by JLDII 2/19/2004 10:28 AM
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Location: Annandale, MN | Jack,
I'm not sure how big a guy you are?? BUT a 50#er might take you body-surfing!! If it does I get the video rights to sell to "America's Funniest Home Video"!! Jon
www.naviguides.com |
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| I understand what you're saying, but even with my drags cinched down, you do get a little drag feeding out on the hook up, but not much, and not for long.
Check this one out! The man who taught me to tighten my drag that tight is responsible for that monster.
http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=424&pas...
Edited by JLDII 2/19/2004 1:25 PM
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Location: Annandale, MN | Nice fish Jack...actually I was kidding. |
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Location: Rockford MN | I use the old pull from the reel! I have always bought the best spinning reels with the best drags. My first spinning reel was a Zebco Cardianl 4, still have her 31years old. I have never found a problem with braking lines, always have them set where I seem to need them. I guess I got it embedded in my head from my Dad over 35 years ago.
Still seems to work for me, so I will just keep on doing the same. Never fix something that is not broken thats my motto. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Originally written by Gordy on 2004-02-19 6:22 PM
I use the old pull from the reel! I have always bought the best spinning reels with the best drags. My first spinning reel was a Zebco Cardianl 4, still have her 31years old. I have never found a problem with braking lines, always have them set where I seem to need them. I guess I got it embedded in my head from my Dad over 35 years ago.
Still seems to work for me, so I will just keep on doing the same. Never fix something that is not broken thats my motto.
Gordy.
I never heard of a Zebco Cardinal 4. I know Abu Garcia made cardinal 4's. Smoothest drag systems made for almost 20 years. I have 2 old ones I used for stellhead spinner and spawn fishing. Used another for walleyes, until it gave up the ghost.
Edited by walleye express 2/19/2004 10:27 PM
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Location: Rockford MN | express
Zebco was the org. before the reels got bought by Abu. The org. is the green and white and are on e-bay for around $100 for a good one. These reels put most reels to shame, simple and very smooth. The drags are great, used to fish spawn sacks under a bobber and catch samon up to 25lbs with them. The only set back is trying to find spools, they tend to break at the 10 year mark. Still the best reel I have ever owned! I use all Shimano Stradics now and they are very good. |
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Proper Way to set the Drag.