how do you measure your drag?

sharkslayer45 · 01-16-2009, 04:43 PM

heard this from different people and wana know whos right!

When measureing your drag do you measure pulling the line straight out the reel OR from the rod tip being bent?

because if set drag at reel will be different when rod tip bent!

Thanx in advance!

Tuna Devil · 01-16-2009, 05:12 PM

Off the tip on a scale. Remember the more line off the reel the more the drag increases.

novomarine · 01-16-2009, 05:32 PM

I agree......

Uncle Buck · 01-16-2009, 05:41 PM

Rod in the holder on the opposite gunnel. Get about 1/2 a bend in the rod, so the line is coming off the tip at about 60° compared to the foregrip.

sharkslayer45 · 01-16-2009, 06:02 PM

Ok with that said whats a good drag for swordies! ive been using 16lbs coming off the reel not the tip! ive pulled hooks of the the strike!

Uncle Buck · 01-16-2009, 06:40 PM

I have my Tiagra 50's set at 25lb strike, measured at the swivel, from the rod tip. (all line on the spool) I'm using 130lb hollowcore, so line failure is not really an issue.

weekley rehab · 01-16-2009, 06:48 PM

Wow I have been doing it wrong also, Good Tip thanks

sharkslayer45 · 01-16-2009, 06:56 PM

just checked drag off tip with rod in holder 19.5 lbs with set at 16 lbs set off reel! i guess this is still ok?

Harry Klauber · 01-16-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekley rehab

Wow I have been doing it wrong also, Good Tip thanks

Patrick,
Tuna Devil and Uncle Buck have explained exactly how. The drag should be exercised a few times before setting with the scale as once warm and dry it will be a bit different than when cool and moist. Don't be afraid of too much drag when swording as I buoy fish on occasion and we hang on as hard as we can and hardly ever pull any hooks. If you are going to lose one better early on than after a long fight. It gives you more time to catch another one. Just my take on it. Harry

Tuna Devil · 01-16-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Klauber

Patrick,
The drag should be exercised a few times before setting with the scale as once warm and dry it will be a bit different than when cool and moist. Don't be afraid of too much drag when swording as I buoy fish on occasion and we hang on as hard as we can and hardly ever pull any hooks. If you are going to lose one better early on than after a long fight. It gives you more time to catch another one. Just my take on it. Harry

Words to live by.

Disco Lady · 01-16-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Klauber

Patrick,
Tuna Devil and Uncle Buck have explained exactly how. The drag should be exercised a few times before setting with the scale as once warm and dry it will be a bit different than when cool and moist. Don't be afraid of too much drag when swording as I buoy fish on occasion and we hang on as hard as we can and hardly ever pull any hooks. If you are going to lose one better early on than after a long fight. It gives you more time to catch another one. Just my take on it. Harry

Mr. Old school....Harry, i was just going to say don't forget to warm those drags first COÑO!!!!!!!!!!!

DL,

novomarine · 01-16-2009, 08:53 PM

sharkslayer45 · 01-16-2009, 08:58 PM

:reel ing:

Uncle Buck · 01-16-2009, 09:00 PM

"Pull the line off at a speed approximating the target species' speed."

I immediately thought of wahoo. You'd need to snag a passing motorcycle to get an accurate drag reading!

jvtuna · 01-16-2009, 10:54 PM

Or a Volkswagon for Bluefin Tuna

ameristrat · 01-17-2009, 10:03 AM

I usually set mine light. I am fishing 50 lb test mono, and I like 12 pounds at strike and I'll bump it up to 15ish if I need more heat during the fight. Is this setting too light?

bajakian · 01-17-2009, 10:16 AM

I know people that fish with 8 to 10 lbs of drag and fight them from the gunnel so that they dont pull hooks. I typically put heat on a fish knowing that it will shorten the fight but sometimes pop one off. 20 to 25 lbs of drag fishing at night, more like 35 to 40 during the day.

Harry Klauber · 01-17-2009, 07:27 PM

Richard's numbers are exactly what I use on 80# mono at night and 150 braid during the day. Harry

01-16-2009, 04:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
sharkslayer45 Hooked Up Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Boat: Reel Stubborn, 221 mako cc Best Catch: blue marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon, snook Occupation: contractor Posts: 190	how do you measure your drag? heard this from different people and wana know whos right! When measureing your drag do you measure pulling the line straight out the reel OR from the rod tip being bent? because if set drag at reel will be different when rod tip bent! Thanx in advance!

01-16-2009, 05:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tuna Devil Grander Join Date: Nov 2005 Occupation: Pirate Posts: 2,229	Off the tip on a scale. Remember the more line off the reel the more the drag increases. __________________ What do you mean I'm not kind? I'm just not your kind.

01-16-2009, 05:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
novomarine Hooked Up Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Upper West Side Boat: Pro Sports 2200 BW Best Catch: Fat chick 350 lbs Occupation: Porn Star Posts: 600	I agree...... __________________ www.joenovo.com proud member of "THE LIST"

01-16-2009, 05:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Uncle Buck Grander Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mouth of the Rat Boat: Sailfish 218CC Best Catch: First fish ever = 3ft sand tiger on kite string Occupation: Graphic Designer Posts: 3,309	Rod in the holder on the opposite gunnel. Get about 1/2 a bend in the rod, so the line is coming off the tip at about 60° compared to the foregrip. __________________ Wahoo = Fast Food

01-16-2009, 06:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
Uncle Buck Grander Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mouth of the Rat Boat: Sailfish 218CC Best Catch: First fish ever = 3ft sand tiger on kite string Occupation: Graphic Designer Posts: 3,309	I have my Tiagra 50's set at 25lb strike, measured at the swivel, from the rod tip. (all line on the spool) I'm using 130lb hollowcore, so line failure is not really an issue. __________________ Wahoo = Fast Food

01-16-2009, 06:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
sharkslayer45 Hooked Up Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Boat: Reel Stubborn, 221 mako cc Best Catch: blue marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon, snook Occupation: contractor Posts: 190	Ok with that said whats a good drag for swordies! ive been using 16lbs coming off the reel not the tip! ive pulled hooks of the the strike!

01-16-2009, 06:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
weekley rehab Grander Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Deerfield Beach Boat: Weekley Rehab contender 33T Best Catch: 450 lb sword , 20lb mutton, 18lb black grouper Occupation: General Manager Posts: 1,209	Wow I have been doing it wrong also, Good Tip thanks

01-16-2009, 06:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
sharkslayer45 Hooked Up Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Boat: Reel Stubborn, 221 mako cc Best Catch: blue marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon, snook Occupation: contractor Posts: 190	just checked drag off tip with rod in holder 19.5 lbs with set at 16 lbs set off reel! i guess this is still ok?

01-16-2009, 08:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
novomarine Hooked Up Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Upper West Side Boat: Pro Sports 2200 BW Best Catch: Fat chick 350 lbs Occupation: Porn Star Posts: 600	__________________ www.joenovo.com proud member of "THE LIST"

01-16-2009, 08:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
sharkslayer45 Hooked Up Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Boat: Reel Stubborn, 221 mako cc Best Catch: blue marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon, snook Occupation: contractor Posts: 190	:reel ing:

01-16-2009, 09:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
Uncle Buck Grander Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mouth of the Rat Boat: Sailfish 218CC Best Catch: First fish ever = 3ft sand tiger on kite string Occupation: Graphic Designer Posts: 3,309	"Pull the line off at a speed approximating the target species' speed." I immediately thought of wahoo. You'd need to snag a passing motorcycle to get an accurate drag reading! __________________ Wahoo = Fast Food

01-16-2009, 10:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
jvtuna Lines In Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando,Fl Boat: Mako Best Catch: Blue Marlin from Daytona,500+Released.We were in a 21 Wellcraft . Occupation: Electrician Posts: 86	Or a Volkswagon for Bluefin Tuna

01-17-2009, 10:03 AM	#16 (permalink)
ameristrat Grander Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Delray Beach Boat: Grady White Sailfish 28 Best Catch: Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish Occupation: A Student at Wake Forest University Posts: 1,055	I usually set mine light. I am fishing 50 lb test mono, and I like 12 pounds at strike and I'll bump it up to 15ish if I need more heat during the fight. Is this setting too light? __________________ "Laughter is my soul's release, but we're not smiling anymore. And can't we try to win this peace? Cause' we're never gonna win this war."

01-17-2009, 10:16 AM	#17 (permalink)
bajakian Grander Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ocean Ridge, Fl Boat: Venture 34 Best Catch: 300 lb Yellow fin Tuna, Blue Marlin 240 lbs on 30 lb test, 423 lb Swordfish Occupation: MD Posts: 2,425	I know people that fish with 8 to 10 lbs of drag and fight them from the gunnel so that they dont pull hooks. I typically put heat on a fish knowing that it will shorten the fight but sometimes pop one off. 20 to 25 lbs of drag fishing at night, more like 35 to 40 during the day. __________________ My friend has a trophy wife, but apparently it wasn't first place. In High School, I went out with two girls. The first was like the girl next door, if you lived next door to a whore house. My doctor said I shouldn't work out until I'm in better shape. I said "Ok, dont send me a bill until I pay you". Steven Wright

01-17-2009, 07:27 PM	#18 (permalink)
Harry Klauber Grander Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Miami Best Catch: Blue Fin Tuna - 1049 Pounds Occupation: Retired USCG Unlimited HP Chief Engineer Posts: 1,470	Richard's numbers are exactly what I use on 80# mono at night and 150 braid during the day. Harry

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