Settin Drag

Rob 2006 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007, 18:36

Hi

Im havin abit of trouble.

I was wondering how you guys go about settin up the drag on your reels?

What method do you use?

The advice i have been given is to hold line in left hand and pull till rod looks at the right place for line to pull and adjust drag accordingly.. But im not finding this to work very well... I.e. I pull line to point that it looks like something will break (and line did today) then losen drag so that it releases before stuff breaks... Then i hook into someting over say 1.25 lb n then i start to have problems. The line either shoots off straight away... or shoots off as soon as i try to reel in... or the line doesnt let out at all..! I have lost a few fish these last two weeks cos of my poor drag/ratchet setting/handling either cos of snap offs or them slippin off during the slack bits..

Iv chatted with my dad, whos an old school fishermen who was self taught. He has given me some advice. But i was wondering what other people do. My dad thinks my main line might be at fault cos the mainline always snaps off and not the hooklink though i tie my own and use the same make/type line for both my hook link and mainline but use 3.2lb hooklink and 4lb mainline - Ultmia Pro-match singking. I chose this line cos of the diameter per bs.

But im certainly starting to aggree with my dad on the snap off things cos my mainline ALWAYS breaks before my hooklink..

Well i guess this has kinda turned into 3 questions.. A: is my mainline kinda knackered...? B: is my reel rubbish or C: do i just need to get my setup/drag sorted?

Thanx for your time..

#2 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007, 18:49

Rob - personally I set drag according the anticipated size of fish, type of fish, and where I am fishing (e.g. fishing close to snags v's open water). So what are you fishing for?

So, for example, I rarely have any drag set for chub fishing as I am confident I can cope using the rod. Barbel - I will always have some drag set.

As I am sure many on this site will agree, I am no expert, but given todays technology I think using drag on reels is over used and will I will only set my drag to kick off as a "last resort", especially if in a snaggy area.

I would be interested to hear other views, especially as I cannot recall this being asked before........so good question!

Rob 2006 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007, 18:56

Well.. I am fishing for whatever is there... (though id love to catch a massive chub), AS far as I understand it if i dont have the drag set right anything big will snap off (and HAS!)

Rob 2006 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007, 19:01

Anyway the question is how you adust the drag so as not to snap the line..

Graham Whatmore · #5 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007, 19:04

Best way to set your drag is to tie a weight on the line that is 10% lighter than the weakest part of the set up including the hooklink. Adjust the clutch so that it starts to slip when lifting that weight, job done and it is then safe to play the fish knowing that the clutch will slip before the line breaks.

You can do it by guessing of course, adjust the clutch so that a reasonable pull on the line will cause the clutch to slip.

Rob 2006 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 07:42

Sorry, didnt mean to sound rude there.. Long day yesterday.

#7 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 11:05

Most of my fixed spool reels have fighting drags fitted. I can adjust this quickly depending on the needs of the moment.

If I want to stop a fish reaching a snag, I will clamp down on the spool with either my forefinger or left hand.

#8 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 12:24

I do exactly what it says on the Ron "The Hat" Clay tin.

Trisantona · #9 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 18:36

Check your rod rings for any snags,cracks or grooves,these could be causing nicks in your mainline..run a piece of nylon stocking through each one and see if it snags.

Rob 2006 · #10 (**permalink**) 13-01-2007, 16:16

Cheers guys..