on the technical side heere Colin. I have always set my drag by feel. Can't say that has let me down too often.

Thanks Colin - appreciate the input. I'm suprised I haven't had more input. I'm not after the perfect or right way - just peoples thoughts and input

Colin

coling the best easiest way to pre set drags is on the true lever drags, preset strike to 1/3rd of the breaking strain, given that i have on my beast master 30/50 a second strike drag position on this i can goa bit more without over doing it and know that i am within a safe drag setting, not alot of these reels have that set up, but as a rule, 1/3 on strike and anyover that you would do by feel and only a notch at a time, dont go slamming the lever full forward or we know theres going to be a bang somewhere and it may not be the line.

An inherent problem with mostlever drag reels is losing free spool at the upper end of the reels drag curve. Most lever drag game reels are named according to the line class that best suits them....e.g. Tiagra 50 is best suited to 50lb line. Setting your drag at 1/3 the lines breaking strain on a suitably matched reel should see you have no problems with loss of freespool when you push the lever up to sunset. The problem occurs when too heavy a line class is used.e.g. putting 50lb braid on a TLD25 which is really suited to 30lb or less.
Setting the drag on a reel with a star drag is really done more by feel once you gain some experience fishing with that partcular line class

Thanks Guys - all GREAT comments!

Matt er, what or who is coling? LOL I thought you were talking about line there for a moment.  I actually do what Matt mentioned - using the 1/3 rule and pre-set it using a spring scale - so I know what I'm working at. Sean - I think you've hit the nail on the head there. I suspect, to be honest that the line (braid) class recommended to me is actually too high. The gears in the shed - so I'll check that!

Colin

whats drag? Just lock it up what could happen ?

a - Fish gives in and comes to the surface

b- Rod gives in , oh well upgrade to a heavier model

c-Drag gives in oh well you need a bigger reel

d- swivel breaks oh well you should be using shogun terminal tackle

e-Line breaks oh well bigger braid is needed

Sorry dreamweaver ive always had my drags especially on my torque 300 set at just above one third of the line breaking strain but with a star drag system , just by feel is the best , if a fish is taking line well sometimes if you start to screw them down somethings got to give and theres nothing you can do , I have it set then apply gentle thumb pressure to the spool if needed

If you are taking the p*ss(?), too late - I've been to the toilet . Seriously, thanks for the input!

Yeah, when I started with OHs they were star drags and I went by feel, after moving to levers I went the 1/3 rule as mention by Matt, my previous post and yourself.

If I look at (say) a T-Curve 200 - that has a max line weight of 24Kg (that's just under 53 Lbs). If I say, match that to a Saltist 30/40/50 - from Sean's post - that a recommended line class of 30/40/50 Lbs (13.6/~18/22.6 Kg).

Let's take the Saltist 40. That means a line class of close to 18Kg. If we apply the 1/3 rule that's a drag of 6Kg set at strike. (Shit, where am I going with this? LOL).

Oh yeah - given that the T-Curve 200 is rated at 24Kg, would even allowing for the sudden impact of a strike (bearing a pressure greater than 7Kg before the drag presetting cuts in and releases line) warrant having a 17Kg difference between Rod and Drag. Then there's the sunset position (overstrike) to consider. Certainly you wouldn't want the drag at the reel to be anywhere close to the rod! That's not what I'm suggesting. Never broken a rod yet.

Hmmm might have to do some tests.

Colin

A 24kg rod is rated for 24kg line and therefore 8 kg of drag. 

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No Orange Hats Allowed

V8 twin turbo diesel....Ohh what a feeling!

Thanks Noha - yup 24Kg line. So if a rod rated at 24Kg is meant to have line up to 24Kg and therefore a 'preset' drag of 8Kg - does the extra pressure on a sudden strike and/or a drag setting past the strike postion on a lever drag - expose the rod to potential too much pressure?

Colin

well if you use like 13 or 14kg drag of course it will colin, its all about fine adjustments above the third, no huge increases , like the sabres we use for gamefish, they are rated 15-24kg so generally use say 24kg line with 8kg drag, maybe if you need to go over i would only go max 10kg no more, you can always use your thumb to apply a little extra pressure when needed too

Thanks Matt - sure! Yes, there is always the 'thumb method' - so whay have an overstrike capability then - isn't that risking your rods capacity? 

Colin

you will find theres not alot of reels that have an "overstrike" thats when you find some people i know used to set the first strike at just under the thirds and the overstrike at just over etc, if you can understand what i mean

The old saying of setting you lever drag reel to 1/3 rd of the lines breaking stain is wrong imo. The amount of presure exerted at this level will open up lure trebles and even H/D hooks for billfish will open. I personally stick with less than 1/3 ie 15kg mono i preset to 3kg and 24kg i preset to 5kg. The beauty about this level is that you can always increase after the vicious hit/strike but not the reverse. You will be suprised at how much the standard 1/3 pressure puts on the gear your using and i disagree with the 'old saying"........i've learnt the hard way also

L/D reels i preset the drag, star drags are a waist of time as you adjust them during the fight often so yeh go on feel.....that's what i do!

You shouldn't be loosing freespool at all on that reel!

* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *

Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682

Hmmm, I think so Matt - IF I use the 1/3 rule I'd be doing it at the strike setting - definately not pat that. That's what the enclosed literature that came with the reel recommends.

Ryan - appreciate the input. So you tend to take a different stance on what Diawa has on their enclosed literature. Sorry, what did you mean about loosing freespool 'at all' - you mean even if set too high? on the SLD30, I can get just over 6Kg of drag at 'strike' - any more than than and freespool is effected.

It appears that there is quite a weight of opinion on not to underestimating that first strike with the extra pressure it entails - even with a correct drag setting.  

Colin

The reel literature/old saying's aren't correct as far as i'm concerend!

With the drag settings i recommended you should get full free spool and plenty of drag!

Call me if you have more questions!

* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *

Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682

OK - thanks Ryan! 

Colin

PM sent Ryan!

Colin

My overhead runs 50lb line and has a max drag pressure of around 8-9kg and my baitcaster is 15lb with 3kg max drag. Works out to a bit over a third. So I just play with the drag depending on the fish, and if its taking way to much line, I crank the drag down without worry :D I.e. strike drag is much less than a third, but during a fight, about 40% max. Makes it easy for a noob like me.

 Bream setup I preset just because I dont really know the feel and dont want it pinging by setting it too high (quite easy to do on 4lb gear and reels that put 7kg+ max drag).

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Always interested in someone to go fishing with

Thanks guys - all great input and valuable info! 

Colin