FS Digest

Just wondering because the vids I’ve seen on YouTube always say to leave the reel very loose due to the very light line being used for this rig. Every time I see the tip of my rod bending a bit & I try to set the the hook, I get nothing every-time except my reel screeching.

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by angrypnutbutter23

FS Digest

Grab the spool or use your thumb.

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by Fishtastrophe

FS Digest

No akways have your drag set and ready. Then slight adjustments after the fish in on

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by krrh1987

FS Digest

I personally do not because I make sure my line, reel and rod are all matched up. For bass, mostly I use a medium action rod with very thin diameter line with a break strength of about 12 lbs. I know we don't have any 12lbs bass in my area and even if we did, the rod probably would keep the line from snapping and the full weight of the fish isn't transferred to the rod tip while it's in the water. That's why boat flipping breaks rods and lines. As soon as the fish is out of the water, THEN gravity kicks in. So for my drag, I set it so I can just barely pull line out with my hand. Then if a fish is fighting hard or making runs, I'll turn it down, but that's pretty rare. In general, I don't play from drag much. I just reel them right in. It's a holdover habit from fly fishing. I've never played a fish from drag on a fly rod and I'm actually using fly fishing tippet as my main line on a spin rods because it's super high break strength with low diameters. A 4 pounder is a trophy around here though so if you're in Florida or someplace else with giant fish, this logic may not work as well.

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by DEDmeat

FS Digest

Just gotta find the right balance, where the drag is set light enough that the fish won't immeditaly break the line but you can still get a decent hook set

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by fishnducks

FS Digest

Your drag is too loose. You want it firm, but you don’t want the line to break. You should be able to hang a weight half of the line rating. If you like heavy drag, it should not slip. If you like it light, it should slip very slowly.

Follow this: https://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-to-catch-fish/how-to-set-the-drag/

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by leembarnes

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Sounds like this subject is being ‘ dragged‘ around some more.

jlb603

set the drag for the hook set, you can always adjust when fish is on

Jakestake83 Loc: Mooresville NC

I have found that changing the drag when the fish is on the line is dangerous and I never do it. The drag should be set a little loose to allow the fish to run if it wants. 2 or 3 runs will tire it out and make it easier to net. Too often if the fish feels the line tighten, it will pull harder or jump and often get off. My opinion.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Your drag should be set at 1/3 the breaking strength of your line, and left alone. If you need more to rip their lips off,put your index finger on the spool of a spinning reel, or your thumb on a casting reel. Ask any professional, they set their drags with a scale, and only touch them with a big fish at boatside (backing off in case the fish makes another run).

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

A professional knows that the more line a fish pulls off, the more drag is applied, so they know to slack off the drag when the reel is getting spooled.Also, if you are using mono in deep water or trolling way back, the stretch in the line makes i t almost impossible to get a hook set like you can at 30 feet or so. The big braid I use i'm not too worried about breaking the rod or the line, but I have straightened enough hooks to care about that.. :)

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Correct Waine, that's part of the 1/3 theory. When your spool gets low,your drag pressure doubles, 2x 1/3=2/3 of breaking strength, still a safety margin. That helps cover belly in the line, or other forces on the line. If you're GETTING spooled, and you back off the drag, YOU'RE SPOOLED,game over!

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

have your drag set before you start fishing. you can adjust on a big fish, but with your skills thats not going to be a problem.lol

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

I run 50 # braid on both my Fin-Nor and the level wind Penn. I set the drag on both to lift a 25 pound dumbell i got .the Fin can h o ld 400 yds and the Penn maybe 600.The drag on the Fin is much better and stronger up to maybe 40 pounds. The Penn uses felt washers not carbon fiber and tops out around 30. I use 3x size 8/0 mustad hooks with a 6 foot 85-100 pound mono leader because most of what i fish for has teeth. For me a big fish is anything over 100 pounds. Last 1 i hooked was a blue fin, it too k off on the Fin and ran off about 200 yards real fast as i tightened the drag to slow it down. I t dragged the boat around a bit ( 22 foot Starcraft 120 hp 4 cyl. chevy mercruiser) and I got back maybe 50 yards, slacked off the drag and it took off again maybe 100-150 yards .We played for 1 hour 20 minutes watching it lunge straight down,,then side to side,and rest before I got it to the boat. At some point it almost straightened the hook, prolly at the first jump and head shake. That fish figured to 140-160 pounds but felt like 1000. I'm no expert but I do love catching big sharks and tunas.

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

Did you mean yellow fin? Because 140 for a blue fin is a baby