How To Properly Set The Drag On A Fishing Reel [Tension Rule Explained] 

Thank you very much for your time and this vid. I just retired and am leaning (finally) how to fish. I just bought a Mr. Meter weight scale and as soon as I have a friend here in Oregon where I moved too, I'm going to test my reels. ;) Thank you again.

My method of drag setting is simple; I tie my line to a low, stationary object, then put the maximum bend I'm willing to allow for my ROD! At that point I adjust my drag to just begin slipping. Done deal

a lot of the guys i meet when i go fishing have the drag tight all the way people hardly uses it good info my men i learn something new today

Hiya , it took me a while , But thank God i found you , Massive Thanks , I have not been luring long and could not work out how to set it up , i fish on my own so no-one to ask , And it worked a treat . And also i have them exact same scales so Happy days all round , Thanks again , Baz , UK

I always thought it best to consider the drag of the line going through the guides rather than a straight pull. I'd be more comfortable with the method suggested by James J. because I think it is closer to real world when fighting a fish.

The idea behind the spool tension is twofold, you loosen the drag to feed line through the guides when setting up your rod, this helps to avoid tangles. Secondly, having some give in the drag might prevent your line from breaking when a hard fighting fish lunges. As to the correct tension, it depends on the line and how good your reel is.

Thanks for the info! I've been fishing for about 50 years and I didn't know. Most of the 470+ members of our club fish open marsh. As such, my advice has always been... "It's a lot easier to tighten the drag while you're fighting a fish than it is to re-tie the line after it breaks!" Tight lines!

Good info, thanks for posting

Okay so i know what to set it too. But like how do i set barely got my rod and reel today im also new. How would i twist the little thing on the reel.

Great beginner info. for beginners! one more use for the backpacking scale!

Thanks for the info !!

I teach Fishing merit badge to the Scouts... Yours is one of the RU-vid videos that I recommend they watch to learn about how to set the drag. Great video, keep up the good work... Aloha.

hi if i wana set a drag fr a 7kg barramundi how many punds should i keep the drag for

Great content. Very helpful

Wow this was extremely helpful

When measuring the weight on the drag, did you test just the reel, or was the rod bending into it?

Great video, I learned something! I I was thinking and you could probably just tie the line to 2 lb of weight if you have a water bottle or something

Thanks so much!!! This helped me a lot!

I have always set my drag based on the breaking strain of the line, light enough to allow line to be taken by a big fish but not so light that a small fish could take line. And always light enough to prevent the line from snapping. The one thing I don’t understand is why drag is now measured in pounds, when any drag is capable of being locked solid.

For certain techniques, I like more tension than usual. This is especially true when I Got-cha plug for Spanish. Having the drag set with more tension helps to set the hook, the Spanish will flash on the bait and any give in the drag can lead to a weak hook set and you won't catch as many. If it's tight, and I use braid to a fluorocarbon leader so there is no stretch either, the speed of the fish and no give in the line will set the hook deep for you. That way you don't have to set it like a Bass Pro, You'll hook up on way more Spanish and lose way less fish.

I keep my drag a little lighter when fishing for trout so i don't pull the hook through their lips and a little tighter with redfish so that I get a solid hook set through their tougher mouths. Do you adjust drag based on target species?

Is there a different reading when pulling line straight out and when you bend the rod as if there was a fish on? Thanks

great info, thanks for sharing... subbed

What happens on the hook set? Does it strip easy with digging the hook in the fish?

didnt know there was a proper way to set drag.

What scale is that?

Great video! Question, if using a leader would you set the 20-30% to whichever is the weaker...say you’re using a 30lb braid and a 15lb mono just as an example

Did you try braid with mono/fluoro leader?

good info, f-150 looks good in background also

big trout fisher, and prefer lighter than normal drag. I catch and release most often, so the less damage I do the better. (heavier drag can do a number on a trout's mouth).

Luke, I recently moved to Naples, Fl and I'm looking to do some inshore fishing from beaches/pier this spring/summer. I was wondering what a good set up (rod, reel, bait, tackle) would be to get things started for snook, reds, trout, etc. Any insight and advice would be awesome!

would another way to calibrate be by taking your line coming off the tip of the rod and attaching it to a weight on the floor that is equivalent to whatever the 25% comes to then raise the tip of the rod lightly as if you are pulling the weight up but just enough to remove the slack on the line and put a bit of tension and keep adjusting the drag till the line starts getting pulled by the weight right?and once the drag is set right the weight should be able to pull the line when you try to lift it correct?

does the drag differ from a baitcaster going straight off the real to the guides to a spinner that has to do a 90° angle before going in the guides and does it differ with a loaded rod vs pulling the line through a straight rod

Also you need a super smooth drag. even a slightly sticky drag will push those numbers way up on strike.

Good info, what pound test should you use for fishing for reds? Should you follow the recommended guides on the rod /8-17, 10-20? Will you be able to land a 28 inch redfish using 10-15 pound test line?

If ya need more drag grab the spool

What do you go by if you are using a leader I use 30# braid to a leader either fluorocarbon or mono do I set it to the leader or the 30# braid

Hi Luke...If I have 30lb braid in the reel and use either lighter or heavier leader line, which line should I base the 20-30% drag setting to? Great video!

Awesome. Thanks!

I've heard you should loosen your drag when the fish gets closer to the boat/shore. This is because you know have less line out which automatically creates more tension.

I'm trying to tension a penn warfare 20n. Got a floor model on a dumpster dive. Got the parts for the tension knob and can't get tension.

Hello I just subscribed to your channel and I would like to ask a question if i may. I have noticed when I catch carp the more I feel in it just seems lime its taking line out how can I set my reel to be better at reeling in big fish like carp because the smaller fish I have no problem its just with carp

Good tips...👍👍 And what is the fishing song name..

I just try to find something that’s about two to three pounds tie the line around and pull the pole above it and adjust as needed

Hey man thanks for the tip of how to set your drag where do you find that kind of scale or can it be any kind of scale to see what your Jack said is set on

Nice video and information. Seems I'm in agreement with most on here. :)

when you get down to half a spool your drag can double or triple due to less diameter of the spool, so when fighting a good fish and it takes half the spool dont lock up more drag, rather back it off a little

see i always made it that i have a 10kg rod put 11kg line on and set my drag at 9.5 so i can straight pull a fish unless it was to strong ( Australian tropical saltwater fisherman mainly king/spanish makeral and tuna)

Great video!!!! So if you have 8lbs line its the same 20%?? or less. thanks.

Hi, so I'm new to fishing myself, having problem on how to buy a spinning reel with a drag like, what should I look at to know that this reel have a drag because there is a reel that don't have a drag system. Is there a number or something on the box that show you that this reel have a drag?

I think there are plenty of times that a completely locked-down drag has its place, like pulling big snook out of a deep snaggy dock.

Thank for the tips from Raden Rothman Singapore

I was losing lots of fish on my frog lure, i had no idea drag was a thing untill recently thatnks for the video

Good video Luke. Like the your FG knot video, very informative. It's funny to me that some comments here turn this exercise into a scientific debate regarding loaded or unloaded rods. Go fish. Have fun. Get off digital media.

What if you're using A leader?

But would braided line dig into itself under normal drag tension

I have shimano speedmaster 11' Power pro:40 - 65lbs Power: medium heavy Action: moderate fast And a daiwa bg 5000 with 65lbs braid How much lbs do i set the drag?????? Pls help thanks

Legend thanks

I bought a 13 fishing spinning rod at walmart, and i put 15 pound braid on it, i went fishing yesterday evening and i dont know why my drag system doesnt lockup to tighten it. When i set the drag tight and pull on the line, the drag doesnt tighten the line. It just spinds freely as you pull. Need help!? Is it the reel or am i using heavy line!??

If you have a 30lb main line with a 15lb leader, should you set it based off the main line or leader line?

So is their a certain drag u need to set for certain fish? Or the bigger the fish,the tougher the drag? Im a noob fisher and today my line snapped on my first catch. It was a bass well over 10 pounds. The guy sold me the wrong line i think because he sold me 6 pound test. Do u think it was because the drag? Or the shitty line?

I am about to get a Daiwa Laguna Spinning Reel and using 8lb line so I got no idea who to set my drag right any tips Cheers

Why just 20-30% of the line’s breaking strain? Is this to compensate for aggressive hits and surges? Do you tighten the drag once you have a fish on and they’ve made their initial run?

thankx

I constantly adjust my drag while fighting big carp so this would be pointless for me.

Awesome video. That’s a luggage scale btw.

What can you do if you don't have a scale at the moment

I think that you're supposed to use the rod loaded with this equation, not pulling straight through the guides. I could be wrong though.

I am fishing for pike and I set my drag to 5lb,I am using 25lb braided line. Is this ok?

The rod has an effect on the drag as well. Just wondering why you don't pull line like a fish would which bends the rod? You never catch a fish the way you pulled it.

link to scale?

Wouldn’t it be a good tip to take a toothpick and place a small mark with 💦 waterproof paint 2 places for a quick reference..keeping in mind the revolutions

rather than pulling straight back you should hold your rod at a 45 degree angle, and you should pull the scale down.

If you are idling along in your boat... and you let 100 yards of 2# test line trail out behind your boat (no hook or anything, just the line). Just the friction of the water on the line is enough pressure to break your line.

What is wrong with having a drag at 70% of the line weight? I been using that forever now. Never seem to have a problem.

Why do I need to set the drag?

Could i catch a 40 pound fish with 20 lb drag

You failed to show which way to turn the dial on the real to obtain the drag you want How about the spinning reels with the drag at the rear of the reel. I picked up a pair of reels that have not been used for several years and there is no line coming off either reel. If there is no line when pulling almost to the point of breaking what the hell do I do to set the drag?

I believe I can use 50% of my knot strength at least and my knot strength is strong enough to keep my "10" lb line breaking above 10 lb.

I have 50 pound test braided so I have no clue

10lb line = 2-3lbs drag, 15lb line = 3-4.5lbs drag, 20lb line 4-6lbs drag, 30lb line = 6-9lbs, 40lb line = 8-12lbs drag, 50lb line = 10-15lbs drag (I can't imagine you'll need more for in-shore fishing and if you're doing deep sea you likely either know or are on a charter with a guy who's already prepared).

So if I had a reel with max drag at 40 lbs, if I wanted to be able to use the full 40 lbs drag I’d need to have a 200 lb line?😂 not sure if that’s how it works

hmm idk wont 1,1.5 or 2 lbs be too little to set the hook? it might be depending on what your hooking

Say your drag is set for 2 ½ pounds for your 10 # test line... when you first pull on the line (like when a fish strikes) you may put up to 5 # pounds of pressure on the line and then when it starts to peal line off the reel it will go back down to 2 ½ pounds of drag. This is with the line running straight through the guides and no bend in the rod... OK, the fish is on and you have the rod at a 45 degree angle and the fish is taking out drag... Check your scale, it may be showing 5 or 6 pounds of drag as the line is pulled through the bent rod. Now you have 50 to 100 yards of line out (common when fishing saltwater) so you have added the friction of the line going through the water to the line going through the rod held at a 45 degree angle... your scale might no be showing 7 or 8 pounds of drag. That is why you set the drag at 25% of the breaking strength of the line you are using. Set the drain and DO NOT Touch it while fighting the fish. The drag is to keep the fish from breaking the line... the drag is NOT a break to stop the fish from running... So before you go adjusting the drag while fighting a fish, "Pump the breaks there Bub", leave it alone.

.020x15= 3

Take a gallon milk jug. Fill with tap water. Should weigh 8.345 lbs. Connect the jug to your fish scale. Should read 8.345 lbs. If not your fish scales is not calibrated proper. Connect REEL ONLY to fish scale. Set drag at 1/3 of line strength.

Another way is to use a weight of some sort and have your drag loose all most all the way then reel in and adjust as soon as the drag start to click your set You don`t fish straight out from you since the fish are at an angel , Iv`e never caught a fish straight level with me so why set your drag that way as you state

You don't even need a scale to do that. 16 oz bottle of water is 1 lb.

Great, no powerful info! Your always thought to keep your lines tight, but I've lost beautiful fish do to a tight drag

Chwenty

3 pounds on 15 pound 6 pounds on 30

why don't you just attach the line to your scale at the reel an pull it yourself instead of having it go through the loops then? this makes no sense lol....

Jesus loves u

I disagree. Drag should be set by your estimate, as felt when pulled suddenly. You know the line's capability, your rod and reel, along with conditions. Set your drag to a comfortable level and tighten when you feel confident AND need to. Just my opinion...