HOW TO MANAGE YOUR DRAG

[CFYB Admin]

TO LAND BIG FISH, YOU CAN’T JUST SET IT AND FORGET IT
by GEORGE POVEROMO

http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/how-to-manage-your-drag

The many variables that increase the drag tension during a battle include the resistance of the line, which steadily increases as a fish pulls more and more line during a long run; the diminishing diameter of a spool as the line peels out of the reel; and even the degree of bend in your rod.

The initial drag setting should buy you enough time to give chase and ­reclaim lost line. However, when fighting a fish from a stationary boat or when a fish won’t slow down, begin backing off the drag to compensate for the increasing pressure on the line. As the fish settles down and you regain a safe amount of line, start tightening the drag little by little, without exceeding the original setting.

[annefmoreno]

The drag is simply a pair of friction plates inside of fishing reels. If the fish pulls on the line hard enough, the friction is overcome, and the reel rotates backwards, letting line out, preventing the line from breaking. You want to set the drag on a fishing reel before your first cast of the day. Adjusting it while fighting a fish can be difficult. Also fishing reels are not designed to be adjusted while fishing, so doing so could cause damage.