Bassin' USA - Bass Fishing Forum Archives

I've been wanting to ask this for awile, do most pros rely on their reels drag to play large fish in tournament situations, or do they prefer to cautiously back reel (spinning) or free spool (baitcasting)large fish to the boat.
to me it seems most successful tournament anglers utilize the drag, with only an handful that prefer the other methods. I personally can go either way, I've spent at least two summers back reeling and freespooling and now I'm making a gradual transition back to using the drag out of convenience reasons.

I use the drag myself. I just can't get the hang of back reeling or freespooling a reel. I think its what ever you get used to doing that works the best. If you are good at it then by all means keep doing it. If not then rely on the drag to do its job.

Conley's right, go with the drag system, that's what it's for. One word of advice though, check it after any long-rough boat ride and before each outing. I once had one loosen so bad after a twenty mile-rough run that I set the hook and didn't have any drag, darn bass took half my line and then got off!!

I always use drag, but your post has me rethinking that. About a month ago we were sitting on a hump looking for white bass with light tackle. Well, the bass never showed up, but the catfish did. We had a ball catching cats on ultra lights with 4 or 6 lb. test. I was using drag and had a couple of brake offs. I think if I had free weeled I might not have had those brake offs. Now my point is, I will try free wheeling with my light action rods, since I'm down to 6 lb. leaders. Food for thought. Carl.

well now that I know you guys prefer using the drag, how do you guys have it set for worm fishing? say I was using 10-12 lb test for basic worm fishing around moderate cover, would the 20% "of line breaking strengh recommendation" be too lite? or do you guys have it locked down for the initial hook-set then back it down during the fight??

Poorboy, I have mine set so that when my line is tied to a solid object, it will slip ever so slightly when I set the hook, this usually is good enough. I never try to adjust the drag while fighting a fish unless it's absolutely necessary, too many things can go wrong. Johnnie

I set my drag to 1/3 breaking weight of the line. And then leave it alone, if I need some extra pressure I'll thumb the spool on a baitcaster, cup it on a spinning reel.

A couple of notes from experience, at the beginning of the day I'll strip out a few feet by hand to break the stick. Nearly all drag set-ups have after sitting for a while.

If you feel you absolutely have to fiddle with the drag during fighting an exceptionally large fish, never tighten, only loosen. I can assure you that unless you're very well experienced and extremely familair with your equipment, you'll break the fish off should you tighten the drag.

There are a number of ways to determine if the drag on a reel is good enough to withstand a long hard fight. For spinning reels, first remove it from the rod. Set the drag so that the weight of the reel will pull line very slowly when suspended. Hold it chest high and let it drop to the floor. It should drop evenly without any catches or sudden drop. Baitcasters are harder, but tying the line to a stationary object and applying sufficient pressure to slip the drag will show if it sticks.

Since I use Ambassaduers for the most part I'm well aware of the dangers of a sticking drag. The older ones are infamous for being sticky. I used to modify them quite a bit, the newer casting reels invariably have a fairly good setup.

I tangle with some fairly heavy fish quite often. Hybrids and Blue Catfish for the most part with an occasional monster flathead or immense garfish for an added giggle. I have managed to land 15+ Hybrids and 20+ blues on line as small as 6 lb. I have to admit, that was in open deep water. Had there been any structure at all, the catch would have been just another fish story.

But, I rely exclusively on the reel drag.

Richard

Good info Richard. I like to set mine up so when I set the hook it slips also. I also start my day out with each rod I pick up I test the drag to make sure its not sticking.

For my crankbait rods I like to set it just a little less so that it gives with the surge of the fish to keep from ripping the hooks out. For worm fishing I keep it just a bit tighter to keep the fish out of cover.

I use braid on almost all my reels so breaking line is pretty much a thing of the past but I sure have to watch that I dont rip hooks out of the fish's mouth so I go with a looser drag setting..

I also use drag. If your drag is sent right you should have no problem with the big fish even on 8 pound test.

BAckreeling came about because of the poor quality drags on most reels way back when! You know, the old coffee-grider sounding reels like the Mitchells, Garcia and zebco.

As a Guide, I have seen many a lost fish thanks to backreeling. When you'r ready to change out your line, click the 'anti-backreel' and yank on your line at the rod tip. The result is what folks end up with when backreeling gets the best of them.

Most modern drags, front and rear, are so smooth that when set even close to right, won't be noticed while fighting a fish.

You paid for the drag, use it.