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| Jason,
Finally figured out how this things work again. Your probably wondering where the heck I have been? Well I have been pursuing my first love, HUNTING. After many many trips including three Canadian providences I am about done for the year. Sad in a way that it's over but actually starting to think about those toothy critters. Why, well maybe it's because I caught a 32" ice fishing this past weekend, or the couple new lures I got for Christmas or the trips I'm already planning. What ever it is it's time to switch gears.
Topic Question:
When you hook up do you use your drag to fight the fish or your thumb and the free spool?
I set my drag as tight as it goes and when I hook up I reduce the drag a little but rely on my thumb and free spool.
Tim |
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| Lot's of different ways to do it.
I choose to crank my drag down as tight as possible and then freespool with my thumb to feed the fish as much line as it wants while still keeping a tight line. If my reel handle is not forward cranking, then my reel is in freespool ready for that unexpected run. 100% freespool if the reel handle ain't turnin'. I NEVER consider reducing my drag setting since that would be a major distraction from the more important business occurring on the other end of the line.
For most people, however, some lesser setting of the drag is probably better... but I like the direct contact with my lure for other reasons not related to the hookset. And if you are a troller.... this is the last thing you want to do.
It works for me... and seems to work well for those that have learned from me too. Am I open to change? Maybe [:halo:] But I'll be a stubborn bull about it [:p]
jlong |
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| I feel there is one setting for your drag, and that is as tight as it can go!
I have had the line slip once to often on a hook set. I keep it as tight as it will go and thumb and free spool when the fish runs.
I have some reels (6500C"s) done up by Chuck at the Sportsmanns Repair with a anti reverse added to them. This is GREAT!!!! |
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| I guess I have to be against the norm here again.
Definatly a somewhat lose drag ready for the fight as even a mid 30s fish can pull line out if it wants too.
Use the thumb to lock down the spool on hooksets ( will never slip that way ) and to tighten the drag as you fight the fish if need be.
I stronly believe that a locked down drag will pull hooks out of fish as well as some slipage on the hookset ( not many reels can actualy be locked down so that it will not move setting into a 20+ lbs fish ) and thirdly cause you to lose fish that hit close to the boat a la In-Fisherman. One more problem with a locked down drag is that you lose control for that split second or two when you have to hit your freespool. That can be hard when you have a big fish pulling on your line at the time.
I have an extremely high percentage of fish landed to fish hooked, like I lose just a few fish a year.
Oh ya I actualy like the same lose drag setting for my trolling outfits as well for many of the same reasons.[:sun:] |
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| It's hard to believe but a musky guy agrees with a muskie guy. I agree with trophymuskie. My drag is not locked down but is somewhat tight. I will adjust it to fight a fish if I have to and if I want to increase pressure I will put my thumb on the spool when I don't want much line out. It has worked well for me.[:)] |
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| I'm With Trophymuskie & ToddM as I would rather trust my thumb than some small parts in a reel because you know as well as I do that your drag will fail when that fish of a lifetime hits
See Ya At The Shows
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| I use the drag to do the immediate control after hook set, IF the reel free spools easily. I do not have my drag set all the way tight, because I was tearing a HUGE hole in the fish's mouth setting the hook, resulting in quite a few lost fish.
When I have the fish pinned up pretty well, I then use the free spool alot to 'free line' any runs. |
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| Tim,
Good to see you finally back on the web. BOY HAVE I GOT SOME DEALS FOR YOU!!!! just kidding![:bigsmile:] [:bigsmile:] [:bigsmile:]
As for free spooling? Heck, I dunno, when I'm in the boat with you, you're the only one hooking up with fish.
Rob
www.thankyousantaformyann.com[:praise:] [:praise:] [:praise:] [:praise:] [:praise:] |
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Rob,
You always say you have good deals for me!!!, and you usually do. I've been meaning to stop in and say hi and have you give me a sneak peek of what's new. I'll stop in after the new year. Did you get the 8'6'' built yet?
Tim |
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| Tim,
Jason already has you beat.... He wants a 9'one. You'll be able to cast to the Chip from Butternut Lake with something like either one you guys want. If you check out the chat archive, you'll see I mentioned your "Fig rig".
Still interested in the Calcutta 400's?
Rob
www.thankyousantaformyann.com[:praise:] |
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| Free Spool it all the way.
I have more confidence and control free spooling fish. When a fish hits boatside, you are in control if you are in free spool. You control the tension and you can let the fish go out and not continue to thrash boatside. When the fish is way outside the boat I watch the line and the fish and go where he goes.
Exsample: My last fish I had on this year was on Lake X with Slamr. I did not bring any sucker rods so I used one of Slamr's rods. I set the hook on a very fat 46 to 47" fish and five seconds latter I was yelling...NO FREE SPOOL!!!! WHERE IS THE FREE SPOOL!!!. The reel was a piece of junk and I had to use the drag which was not the greatest also. I then pushed the limits too hard and the quick set came out when I forced the fish into the net. He did the gater death roll and that was that. I believe that if I could have "played" the fish my way...I would have got him.
If I could have played the fish with ease..he would not have thrashed and went nuts like he did multiple times. Most of the fish I put in the net..dont really know whats going on until they are in the net. If you keep a muskie calm, it will come in with ease and you will keep the hooks in.[;)] |
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| Yes...Rob... a nine footer would be great for free spooling fish. When are you coming out with one.
Long rods give you all the control in the world and keep tension on fish way out with ease. |
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| I believe in using my drag and free spool. Having your drag tight as it can go when a fish hits 20 ft or more from the boat is okay, but a boat side strike can mean straightened hooks and split rings. There is no time or have I seen anyone with the ability to hit freespool with a 25lb+ fish on with only 6ft of line out. Something always breaks including hearts. If I keep my drag loose all the time for freespooling I always get blind sided by a fish who just rips out line and gets off before I can react.
So, I keep my drag at what I would call a moderate setting. I can pull line out by hand with moderate resistance. With my drag set this way a fish that hits way out does not pull line out on the strike immediately and the one that sneaks up on me by boatside gets the line she needs. I put my thumb down on the spool for all hook sets. If they hit at boatside I let them get away from the boat before setting the hook. I will pull line out by hand and/or loosen my drag if necessary during the fight. And sometimes after doing everything right I still lose them and sometimes when I do everything wrong I get them.
Most importantly, it is what you feel comfortable with that matters. From my experience, I just found after keeping my drag tight I lost a lot of fish and when it was to loose I lost a lot of fish. Keeping my drag with moderate setting has put a lot more big fish in my boat.
Dave S. |
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| SORRY FOLKS ....IT MIGHT BE SATURDAY...BUT WE NEED AT LEAST ONE FLASHBACK FRIDAY SINCE I FORGOT YESTERDAY!!
THIS IS SOME GOOD STUFF FOLKS!![:bigsmile:] |
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