How To Set The Drag On Your Spinning Reel (With Or Without a Scale)
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- Опубліковано 16 сер 2020
- If the drag isn’t set correctly on your fishing reel, you could be missing out on fish.
If it’s set too high, a strong run or head shake from a fish could break it because there’s no give.
Also, some fish like trout and snook have thin mouths, and the pressure from the line may rip the hook out of it’s set too high.
On the other hand, if your drag is too light, you could get spooled, or get a weak hook set (which makes it easy for a fish to spit your hook).
So how do you set the drag just right?
In this video, I’ll show you two ways to set it correctly:
- With a scale
- Without a scale
Have any questions about setting your drag?
Let us know in the comments below!
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So far, this is the tutorial that gets directly to the point without lot of bs. Thanks man!
You're welcome!
I agree as someone new to fishing I just need the info. As i get more advanced I'd be happy to watch a more extensive video. This is perfect for what I needed thank brother badly fishin
This video was exactly what I was looking for. Im a beginner fisherman trying to figure out all the basics
You know what, I watched so many videos about drag on UA-cam, and yours my man was TOP! Everyone was mentioning the 20% rule but you actually put that theory into work and visual and add extra benefit on how to do it manually so thank you for a brilliant video!
Been fishing since I was 7 and now returning however I was always taught keep the drag tight and now because of your video more trout will survive. Anyway we live and learn I blame my teacher can't blame the student. Thank you u made my day!!!!
Wow ! great video. Having started fishing aged 71 here the other side of the pond I need all the help I can get and you have made setting the drag so much easier for me. Thank you. You now have another Sub.
Good luck!
This is the best video explanation on drag!! Thanks!!
I like to set my drag with 10' of line through my guides because I believe they add drag also
That's pretty cool to use a scale. I start off for redfish with a little bit of a tight drag for the hook set, then loosen it enough so he can run and pull drag. kinda the same for trout but I loosen the drag a lot after the hook set because of (like you said) really soft mouth will tear and lose the trout. Great video man !!
If you aren’t already, you would enjoy the benefits of a saltwater baitcaster or you could try turning your anti-reverse switch off instead of messing with the drag mid-fight.
I used to do the same thing you do when using a rod with extra fast action or if I hooked into a slob no matter the rod action.
I lost a few too many trophy fish from the drag slipping during adjustment and even lost a drag cap that was a pita to replace.
I mostly fish Daiwa’s but do have a stradic, Sedona, and a battle II that have all given me similar problems
This was really useful and simple to follow, thanks! 🙂
Cool, very thorough! Thanks for sharing 👍
This is the best video on how to set my drag without using a scale. Thanks!
If you leave that 3.06 pound setting on your reel and then run the line through the guides, tie the scale on the end of the line and impart a 45 degree bend in your rod as if fighting a fish; ill bet the scale will read well over 4 pounds before slipping. The pressure of the line against the guides can add considerable additional resistance along the line between the reel and the fish.
I agree. When testing equipment it's always best to mimick the way it's used as much as possible.
Brilliant Ty 👌
Thank you for your short videos!
This was helpful thank you.
Very nice video. Great explanation.
Very informative video thank you brother
Exactly what I needed!!! Thanks! 🎣
No problem 👍
Thanks mate this was helpful
Nice short video keep them coming
Thanks a ton guys! I just lost a nice snook two days ago. I figured he shook me loose, but now I think my drag was a just a little too tight for it. I went back yesterday and saw an even bigger one at the same spot. Now I'm glad that I wasn't able to hook up with that bigger one because the same might have happened. We'll see what happens when I get back there again!
Thanks for the support!
I can’t wrap my head around how you passed up casting at a snook, or any game fish for that matter, in fear of losing it 🤯😵💫 I’d cast at a slob snook or bull red on a 3ft Mickey Mouse rod if that’s all I had 😆
@@nategustafson1588 😆🤣😆 Well I did try, but it just didn't want my spoon that I was presenting. I feel you though. I would have been right there beside you and your Mickey Mouse rod, hand-lining a freaking spool of line with a pencil stuck through the middle of it while trying to get that sucker to bite 😆🤣
He answered the exact question I had
This is great info thanks very much. I have a question though if I’m running 10lbs braid with a 6lbs leader is it the main braid line that I use for the measurement ?
I measure drag with my heart, not a scale 👌🏻❤️
I set it around 20% if I test from the reel. 30% if it test it through all the guides on the rod. Then adjust if needed while the line is tight.
i have a mitchell 300 c new model spinning reel and it is rated for 10 to 14lb test mono and 20lb test braid and the max drag is 14lb so does this mean i should be able to dead lift up to 14 lbs of weight directly from the reel without any problems or can i most likely expect that either it will start slipping way before i reach 14lb or that the line roller or the bail arm holding the roller will break?
Thanks Man i just got into fishing and my rod kept tangling up because my rods drag was set to low thanks for helping me out!
No problem!
What is the brand of the fishing rod used in the video?
Can you tell me what drag scale you have and the model and where you bought it. If you have a link I would appreciate it
What about 8lb of mono? What the percentage to know that the drag is set properly? And what’s the name of the scale you’re using?
That 20-30 pct is that. The same for mono and braid
would the correct way to calibrate be by taking your line coming off the tip of the rod and attaching it to a weight on the floor that is equivalent to whatever the 25% comes to then raise the tip of the rod lightly as if you are pulling the weight up but just enough to remove the slack on the line and put a bit of tension and keep adjusting the drag till the line starts getting pulled by the weight right?and once the drag is set right the weight should be able to pull the line when you try to lift it correct?
yup because you need to adjust drag setting by using the whole rod with the line going through all the guides as it will be much different force than doing it with a straight line pull off the spool , also there will be a difference between a 90 deg dead lift and say a 45 deg pulling as if fighting a fish further away and the distance the fish is from also makes a change in the force being applied to the line and rod
Yes, a lot of people use that method. A good hack is take a plastic water bottle and fill it up to various levels so you get an idea how much weight is at say a quarter full, half full and so on. Then when you're out fishing no need to bring anything special to check your drag, assuming you drink water. But I guess if you could figure a way to tie in to a beer bottle it too would work 😁
@@pakde8002 good idea but the problem with my method is that some rods are not able to dead lift more than 1/2lb even as it will over bend , actually this light rod 5'5" i bought brand new snapped in half when i tried lifting 3lbs on a 4lb test line but even trying to lift 1/2lb was difficult enough yet for some reason out on the water i am able to flip 3/4lb fish with the same rod ,go figure ,,anyways the best way is to tie the weight directly from the line coming off the reel through the first guide with a 90 deg straight up lift so that the line is straight from the weight on the floor to your reel line roller ,do not bother using the guides doing this unless the rod can handle it but i think this is the correct method
Riddle me this? I have 20# braid (6# test) and 10# flouro leader. What the drag setting % for that?
Always the weakest link
I hate the saying "you set your drag at 20-30% of the line your using". That's not true. You even said in this video that you adjust the drag based on the fish you're trying to catch (specks light drag so you don't rip a hole in their mouth, tarpon higher drag so you don't get spooled). It doesn't matter whether I'm fishing with 8lb mono or 30lb braid.... if I'm fishing for speckled trout my drag will be set around 2-3lbs (by feel)... I think a better statement would be "Set your drag at or below 20-30% of your line. Anything below 30% of what your line your using and you are safe. I fish up to 50% of my line size offshore without issue.
I just do it by feel since as mentioned different fish, conditions or rod action will dictate different drag levels. Trout on an open flat with a light rod = very light versus snook under docks with a heavy rod - then you’ll need a way higher percentage. Over time as you fight fish you’ll learn what is too tight or too loose and then be able to return to that level by just pulling with your hand. If you were going for a record catch and using a specific test line then get a scale, but otherwise gotta feel it out and adjust as needed. If you have a boat your not getting spooled unless you are seriously under gunned. That only really happens to me with sharks and tarpon since there can be 100 lbs difference between a small or big one. The other exception might be jacks, those things can dump tons of line.
What the device scale name is?
My experience has always been, set your drag to max, then loosen it by a turn and a half. Usually perfect for most fish.
I always loosen my drag when I'm done fishing. Someone once told me it was bad to store your reels with the drag tight. Anyone else do this?
no thanks for the advice
Me....
Yes this is true
Yes I do this too. The drag is just a series of washers, if you don’t loosen the drag it will crush / flatten the washers over time.
what you do if you tight the drag to the last point and still keep moving
Buy a new reel
Let’s take a good look. Do you know the scale name and model number?...
Not sure I understand why the 2 to 3 lbs of drag wouldn’t work on any line weight. Of course, this would bet set for the type of fish your hunting for.
Thanks for the feedback!
No mention of adjusting the drag based upon the fish being targeted??
I think he mentioned that you have to make adjustments based on fish with soft mouths. Or maybe my common sense just kicked in and edited the video.
The scale name is: JOOKKI Digital Luggage Scale, Suitcase Weight Scale (idk why they aren't telling anyone)
Thank you!
Wow. Doesn’t ANYONE read the freakin manuals for setting drag? This is stupidity….