Poll Lockdown Drags?
Lockdown Drags?
OptionResults
Locked Tight23 Votes - [26.74%]
Able to pull line with a strong tug by hand.62 Votes - [72.09%]
No drag, I am a real man.1 Votes - [1.16%]

Slamr
Posted 3/15/2018 11:54 AM (#898893)
Subject: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 7049


Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs
Yes or no when casting?!
Jeremy
Posted 3/15/2018 12:18 PM (#898896 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?




Posts: 1144


Location: Minnesota.
No lockdown here. I have her set fairly tight, so a strong yank gets her to slip but not easily!!

Then it's a wee bit of backing off for a nice fight and runs etc. Simple w/a star drag.
Lundbob
Posted 3/15/2018 12:37 PM (#898898 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 443


Location: Duluth, MN
My son had about a 46 hit a topraider boat side with his drag locked down. It went full airborne heading away from the boat and the rod snapped and the break in the rod caught the line and cut it. Feel sick about it to this day thinking of that fish swimming away with a bait stuck in it's mouth.
esoxaddict
Posted 3/15/2018 1:29 PM (#898907 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 8792


Locked down drags have cost me some good boatside fish.
IGotTheFeverBIG
Posted 3/15/2018 1:48 PM (#898909 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 43


Location: S. Wisconsin
Why lock tight? Hookset? That's what thumbs are for...and when in doubt, REPEAT.

I Bass fished with spinning gear before I ever picked up a baitcaster. I bought all "left hand" reels, so my right thumb is ALWAYS ready in place, I've seen fish catch the bait BEFORE it hit the water, and anticipate that. I think switching hands is asking for trouble...
supertrollr
Posted 3/15/2018 2:00 PM (#898911 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?


good question.no lockdown for trolling,no for casting.if someone act like a reel for drag,buy a zebco lol then no need to pay 400 bux for a reel with premium drag

Edited by supertrollr 3/15/2018 2:04 PM
chasintails
Posted 3/15/2018 2:05 PM (#898912 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?




Posts: 461


Depends on the reel, some reels don't have very high max drags. I would rather it doesn't slip on a hook set at distance.
jlong
Posted 3/15/2018 2:13 PM (#898913 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 1937


Location: Black Creek, WI
Back in the day when 36# Dacron was the standard for line... I locked my drag down tight. With today's no stretch super baids, I keep it tight... but not locked down tight. I want it to slip a little on a power hookset on a big fish. After the hookset... I freespool whenever I'm not cranking (old habit?).
VMS
Posted 3/15/2018 2:18 PM (#898914 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 3486


Location: Elk River, Minnesota
Hiya,

I used to lock them down tight as well, but have since backed off on that. Line can now be pulled out by hand, but not easily... easy enough to pull but good resistance on the pull..

My reasoning is a boatside hit. I've had two fish hit in the 8 at boatside within a two week period roll up in the line, snapping the tip of my rod like nothing...

Steve
Tommis
Posted 3/15/2018 2:27 PM (#898915 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 841


Location: Southwest PA
I've been taught that drag is there for a reason. I have mine set where I can pull line by hand with a little bit of muscle applied for that reason.
esoxaddict
Posted 3/15/2018 3:28 PM (#898922 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 8792


I tighten mine to where I have to wrap the line around my hand and pull pretty hard to get line off. That basically amounts to "any harder and I'm going to get cut."
Dan111
Posted 3/15/2018 3:49 PM (#898923 - in reply to #898909)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?




Location: ontario
“Able to pull line with a strong tug by hand” will vary depending on the person. For me even when the drag is locked down i can still pull it with a “strong tug”. However with most of my reels (star drag) being rated from 20-25lbs drag, when casting i like to tighten the drag all the way down and then back about half a turn.
ToddM
Posted 3/15/2018 5:13 PM (#898929 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 20230


Location: oswego, il
Tight but not locked. It can also vary some by what you are using for a bait, hook size, rod and reel.
Fishysam
Posted 3/15/2018 6:21 PM (#898937 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?




Posts: 1209


Mine is locked tight but isn't locked so it cant be pulled, this is in order to spare the reel, even with gloves you cant pull line because it will cut you, but a big enough fish can pull 5' if need be
VMS
Posted 3/15/2018 9:06 PM (#898952 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 3486


Location: Elk River, Minnesota
Fishysam,

Can you clarify by what you mean when you say spare the reel? I'm not sure I follow you there...

Steve
Larry Ramsell
Posted 3/16/2018 6:56 AM (#898965 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?




Posts: 1293


Location: Hayward, Wisconsin
Absolutely not! Recipe for disaster!!
Andy Myers Lodge
Posted 3/16/2018 8:15 AM (#898983 - in reply to #898965)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Location: Eagle Lake Vermilion Bay, Ontario
as in everything in musky fishing there are many variables that go into this equation but at boatside especially or when trolling if using dacron or a composite of, mono, or straight floro ya i agree on a fairly tight drag then back off as needed,lots more forgiveness..but with todays no stretch super lines, rods that are on avg. much heavier in the butt with quicker tips vs a parabolic bend i've seen way way more BIG fish ( you can gorilla fight and muscle fish 36-45" usually without any worry regardless) fish lost especially at boat side because of adrenaline, no forgiveness, and real tight drags than not especially with new and inexpereinced anglers or even seasoned anglers who get caught with their pants down. things sometime happen real fast, a drag locks up, a line gets jammed in the edge of the spool,or under pressure the spool can't be released,etc,etc, with super lines,modern heavy actions on up, and sharp hooks all that is needed is a good snug not locked down drag,and one good solid hookset unless the fish is coming at you or you just didnt get/feel a solid set and always remember too when you go to set up your drag tension at what degree you can or can't pull drag out of the reel by hand is nothing like what you (or can't) pull at 30-70'.
tight lines,
steve herbeck

Edited by Andy Myers Lodge 3/16/2018 8:18 AM
T3clay
Posted 3/16/2018 11:00 AM (#899004 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?





Posts: 770


Man sounds like I need to tighten my drag....
mnmusky
Posted 3/16/2018 6:57 PM (#899084 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: RE: Lockdown Drags?




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Fishysam
Posted 3/17/2018 7:15 PM (#899172 - in reply to #898893)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?




Posts: 1209


Spare the reel as in there is a couple spring washers that have to flatten as you tighten, locked down means they are flat as well as if you lock it down just a little to much it is possible to break the threads on the drag and that equals broken, i think that you can actually pull that shaft out as well

Edited by Fishysam 3/17/2018 7:16 PM
Sidejack
Posted 3/17/2018 8:28 PM (#899179 - in reply to #899172)
Subject: Re: Lockdown Drags?




Posts: 1084


Location: Aurora
Jest my opinion but i think drag setting is a moot point beyond 30 feet.
Super line, super rod, super sharp hooks, super tight drag, etc. Beyond 30 feet or more, even superman isn't moving the bait enough to significantly drill a fish. Again, my opinion but i feel the best thing you can do at strike is to start power reeling and let those sticky hooks drill during the battle. Oh, and never ever set the hook twice unless it's a tuna, shark or, marlin.