How To Set Your Drag On A Spinning Reel

Use a scale to set the verbal drag pressure level, measured in pounds, of your line-fishing reel. Bill Doster

Information technology's painful to lose a bays to a snapped line or pulled hook when some minor drag adjustments would have prevented the mishap. Applying just the right amount of pressure throughout the fight is paramount to consistently land quality fish on light tackle.

What is Drag on a Angling Reel?

When fish are too big to reel in speedily, drag is used to wear out the fish and prevent your fishing line from breaking. Drag serves two primary functions: Information technology exerts constant pressure on a fish to wear it down, and it acts equally a buffer to prevent tension from reaching the breaking point of the line-fishing line and last tackle, such as hooks, swivels, and the hardware on plugs and other lures. Many anglers judge their drag setting by pulling line off a reel to gauge the tension, but unless you've adult that special touch on over decades of fishing experience, y'all should play it safe and use a scale to achieve the desired drag setting before yous become on the water.

A fish-weighing scale can help measure the drag on low-cal-weight spinning reels. George Poveromo

Setting the Elevate for Monofilament Line

Before the advent of superbraids, nylon monofilament was far and away the near pop type of angling line. Therefore, drag-setting standards were adult around the use of monofilament, which stretches every bit much as 25 percentage. While that stretch somewhat hinders hook-setting and the detection of subtle bites, peculiarly when angling in deep water, information technology likewise cushions confronting the sudden spikes in drag tension that occur when a sizable fish pounces on a bait, charges away from the boat, or surges into the air.

As a full general dominion, the proper drag setting for nylon mono lines upwardly to twenty-pound test is 20 percent of the breaking strength of the line. For 30- through 50-pound mono, it'southward 25 percent of the breaking force, and for 80- through 130-pound mono, it's 30 percent. Of course, these are basic guidelines. The right drag setting varies according to the line-fishing scenario. A light drag is the correct call when fishing calorie-free lines in open h2o, just considerably heavier drag is required to proceed large striped bass, snook or grouper from breaking off on structure when fishing near bridge pilings, rocks or over a wreck.

When you really take to terminate a fish quickly, forget virtually touching the drag and grab the line against the rod. Detect this angler'south left mitt. Exist conscientious, braided line can cut into your hand, so this technique works ameliorate for monofilament fishing line. George Poveromo

Setting the Drag for Braided Line

Drag settings for braided lines, which lack the stretch of nylon, are dissimilar. Their virtually-zero stretch and smaller diameters result in better hook-sets, faster sink rates and a much better feel. But the absorber against sudden spikes in tension is nonexistent, so lighter drag settings are in social club.

With braided lines up to twenty-pound-examination, set the drag at fifteen per centum of the line's breaking force. With thirty- through 65-pound braid, set it at 20 percent. With braid that tests at more than 65 pounds, go with 25 pct. Once again, these are only basic guidelines, and you must increase or decrease elevate tension based on the location and the circumstances.

Add extra drag to a spinning reel when the fish is close and the fight is nearing its end by cupping the spool with your fingers. Bill Doster

With both lever-drag and star-drag reels, applying boosted drag is every bit simple as thumbing the spool to increment resistance. Bill Doster

Braided Lines Are Stronger Than What Their Label Says

Be aware that, unless information technology says IGFA or tournament on the characterization, most angling lines aren't classified by their actual breaking strengths. The difference between a line'due south weight classification and its real breaking force is usually greatest in braids. For instance, some thirty-pound braided lines break at more than twoscore pounds, so you may need to do a little digging (cheque manufacturer websites) to ensure y'all don't set up the drag unnecessarily low-cal.

Use Your Paw to Slow Down A Fighting Fish

Because of their inaccuracies, major elevate-setting adjustments in the heat of a fight often prove plush. If additional pressure is needed to stop or turn a fish, "plume" or "cup" the spool of your reel instead. You tin as well pull sideways, angle the rod a little more. Should that fish make a sudden run or jump, the extra pressure is instantly abated past merely removing your mitt from the spool and aiming the rod tip in the fish'due south direction. One time the fish settles downwardly, reapply the additional pressure level to shorten the battle.

Depending on the pound-test rating of the line y'all're using, gear up drags for nylon monofilament at 20 percent of the breaking force for lighter lines and up to xxx percent for heavier lines. With complect, because it lacks the forgiving stretch of mono, prepare drags from 15 percentage of the breaking strength for light lines, up to 25 percent for the heavier classes. Keilani Rodriguez

When to Dorsum off the Line-fishing Reel Drag Force per unit area

The many variables that increase the drag tension during a boxing include the resistance of the line, which steadily increases as a fish pulls more and more line during a long run; the diminishing bore of a spool as the line peels out of the reel; and even the caste of bend in your rod.

The initial drag setting should purchase you enough time to requite chase and reclaim lost line. Nevertheless, when fighting a fish from a stationary gunkhole or when a fish won't slow down, begin backing off the elevate to recoup for the increasing pressure on the line. Every bit the fish settles down and you regain a safe amount of line, first tightening the elevate little past petty, without exceeding the original setting.