Setting drag

[FishbyNite]

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right. Have a shimano drag scale and hook it to something solid. Put the swivel on the hook end set to strike and rip the rod back till the line pulls off/clicker sounds. Go check scale and wherever the little marker is, that's how much drag I have at strike.

sound right?

[Capt Ted]

make sure you keep the rod tip up and bend the rod so you get the resistance drag of the rod into the setting.

Get a good feel of what 15 pounds and such feels like and then you won't have to use the scale anymore, you can feel it out.

Good Luck

[Islander]

Your close. To set the drag properly it takes two people, one maning the rod and the other holding the scale. Try and place the Outfit in a rod holder or held so that rod can be loaded (bent) and reeled.

1. Warm the drag up first, take a couple of raps of line in hand so you can pull some line off the reel with some drag pressure applied

2. With the reeler ready pull line off the reel as fast as you can and reeling thie line back on just as quickly.Working to geather it should be seemles, like some sort or strange dance. Do this a number of times

Note: Option B, You also can also take the line and run with it, but I would not recommend this way and DEFINITELY not on the dock its dangerous and looks awfull silly to. Laugh if you want I've seen it done :lol:

3. Attach scale, pull drag and set as needed. Once you get your strike position ajusted pull drag at other setting's such as 1/4, 1/2, strike, 3/4 and full to get an idea what your range is.

Hope this helps

[FishbyNite]

Islander,

the 2nd step is just to warm up the drag, correct? Step 3, I attach the scale and pull the rod back (like setting the hook) then check to see what the scale market says...repeat as necessary...

Correct?

[Islander]

FishbyNight,

That's correct, step 2 is just to loosen the reel up and warm the drag plates a bit.

In step 3, I did omit a rather important point. As Capt Ted said keep the rod tip high enough so it will load under drag pressure.
:!: When pulling drag with the scale the line should be pulled off the reel in a smooth and steady motion, make sure to take all the slack out of the line before you begin. Hard jerking pull's will give you an inaccurate (much higher) drag reading's due to sudden loading of the rod and the reel start-up inertia.

I personaly like to have the rod in a holder or held so I can see whats the scale is reading as I am pulling drag because the scale marker ring will normaly if not always read a bit higher because of the inertia (can't get away from the little sucker) start-up.

I dont mean to imply that you can't set the drag alone its just easier with help. The method you useing will work, I've used it for years to test how a rod will feel under differant drag pressure especially light tackle and fly rods