John F's DIY: Adjusting the drag (on lever drag reels) on your own!

[John F]

Setting the drag of lever drag reels can be a bit frustrating if you have no one round to help you.

Here's how I do it.

What you need:

- Digital or spring scales (either in Lb or Kg; preferably both);

- About 1 m of 3 mm nylon rope;

- 1 x plastic or metal pulley block with about 20 cm of nylon thread.

Hang the scales about 1.5-1.8 m high. Use about 0.80 cm of nylon rope and tie two loops. One end connects to the lower hook of the scale, the other goes through the pulley and will connect to the snap swivel attached to the main rod line.

The pulley should be firmly attached to the ground. Check the the simple diagram below. I did this on my backyard using the water deposit piping and my work bench. It will also work with a gate or anywhere were you can secure (firmly) both the pulley and the scales.

Once the snap swivel is connected, lift the rod tip up in a firm and continuous movement and check the drag force as the line starts to come out the reel. Adjust the setting (Strike and Full) according to the setup being used (the rule of thumb is Strike = 1/3 and Full = 3/4 of the line capacity).

Hope it makes sense?

Will try and post some pics, when the wife gets home!

[tkei]

John,
Interesting method.
One question, slow even pull is one thing giving you the drag pressure. now take up the strain and then strike back, as if a wahoo hit going away from you at 300km/h and boat going 10km/h the other way. you get a spike in drag due to start up enertia.
is it not better to test the drag at the highest rating?
I put my rods in the gunnel holders of the boat, put hand held spring scale with a marker on it to shaow max drag acheived. walk back approx distance to where my lures woyuld be and take up strain and then give a full arm arc fast pull. walk back to boat to fine tune if you dont have a helper. you get to know a rought feeling pullin off the reel so doesnt take too long.
The guys that know physics (i never concentrated at varsity, there was a hot pharmacy student in front of me all year, I failed that subject) hows my reasoning?

[John F]

Yes, good point tkei.

The scales I used are actually not that accurate anyway. What I do is, I usually set the drag conservatively. Say, 30 lb line I use 7 lb strike. 50 Lb, about 15 lb (strike).... just trying to compensate...

But you're right... it is something one should have in mind...

[TUNAMAN]

Thanks John and Tkei....personally I just need to know where my FULL is at. The rest I manage on feel by adjusting the lever drag itself. If I target wahoo I set it light to my feel. Plastics on Marlin I would pull the line and it should run of the reel just before the mono stretches.

In short I cannot comment as I do it on feel.

[Tsutsuma]

Thanks John and Tkei....personally I just need to know where my FULL is at. The rest I manage on feel by adjusting the lever drag itself. If I target wahoo I set it light to my feel. Plastics on Marlin I would pull the line and it should run of the reel just before the mono stretches.

In short I cannot comment as I do it on feel.

I agree with you TUNAMAN
"On Feel" is much better because there are lots of factors
in play here.
Sea conditions & Current - just to mention two.
There can not be a "Cast in Stone" rule setting drags and that is that =
not on a boat I feel.
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[tkei]

i ALSO DO SOME BY FEEL. sOMETIMES THE 1/3 AT STRIKE JUST FEELS TOO MUCH, AND  i then adjust to feel. on 50lb 1/3 at strike feels grazy heavy when pulling by hand off the spool.
I guess a lot has to do with experience, trust in your tackle and its mantenance, age of line etc. if i am unsure about the line age etc if reel isnt mine, then i will use much less drag etc.
i do however like to know what drag settings are where.

[benniejordaan]

That is why you only set it 1/3 of the breaking strain, to compensate for the "spikes" ans when the spool runs low on line. I have always set my drag 1/3 and have never had a failure. Maybe I need to catch bigger faster fish????

Nice one John!

[John F]

@ Tunaman and Tsutsuma,

There are no "cast in stone rules" in angling...

Hence the expression rule of thumb... By adjusting the drag at a certain level (be it Strike = 1/3; Full = 3/4 or whatever), one is simply setting a reference limit in order to hook/fight the fish with confidence that you're below the breaking limits of your line... it doesn't mean you HAVE to set lever drag to those positions ALL the time...

Once I'm fighting the fish, it really helps to know that if a push my drag to "Strike" I'll be at 1/3 of the break point and it I set it to full then I'm 75% there...

Remember the Everol reels (www.everol.com)? Well these reels tell you, whatever the position of the lever, which drag force is being applied... tell me that's not cool? 

Hope it's less muddy now?!

[TUNAMAN]

That is why you only set it 1/3 of the breaking strain, to compensate for the "spikes" ans when the spool runs low on line. I have always set my drag 1/3 and have never had a failure. Maybe I need to catch bigger faster fish????

Nice one John!

Soon Bennie Soon!

[TUNAMAN]

@ Tunaman and Tsutsuma,

There are no "cast in stone rules" in angling...

Hence the expression rule of thumb... By adjusting the drag at a certain level (be it Strike = 1/3; Full = 3/4 or whatever), one is simply setting a reference limit in order to hook/fight the fish with confidence that you're below the breaking limits of your line... it doesn't mean you HAVE to set lever drag to those positions ALL the time...

Once I'm fighting the fish, it really helps to know that if a push my drag to "Strike" I'll be at 1/3 of the break point and it I set it to full then I'm 75% there...

Remember the Everol reels (www.everol.com)? Well these reels tell you, whatever the position of the lever, which drag force is being applied... tell me that's not cool? 

Hope it's less muddy now?!

Less muddy now JOHN. As an example I do a lot of competitions on 20 pound line. Here I actually thumb the line while fishing as I know where my break is only by feel. When they run the thumb is off and they run against the drag. On lighter lines I only go on feel. Heavier lines become more difficult and there I always set the full drag but this i do at 99% of the breaking strain. When the time arises and the fish is not running I can use maximum example to get it past a shark etc.

[John F]

Ok Tunaman, got it...

Just remember that the line capacity written on the label of the spool rarely is the real one!!!!! So, 99% of the breaking strain is pushing your luck!

[TUNAMAN]

JOHN I purchase specific line and I guarantee it. I do appreciate what you mean in in some cases most definitely agree. I will demonstrate when in Maputo. We are talking Mono now and not braid.

[Tsutsuma]

Less muddy now JOHN. As an example I do a lot of competitions on 20 pound line. Here I actually thumb the line while fishing as I know where my break is only by feel. When they run the thumb is off and they run against the drag. On lighter lines I only go on feel. Heavier lines become more difficult and there I always set the full drag but this i do at 99% of the breaking strain. When the time arises and the fish is not running I can use maximum example to get it past a shark etc.

TUNAMAN
It is no use Buddy = to go to this extent
I am not any "Expert & have never claimed to be"
But what I can tell you is that my Fishing Results "Speak Louder than Words"

As certain experts should know by now
lol
We are going to do this together on your Team visit to my Paradise
I can not wait Buddy
Carlos
}<(((*>

[Tsutsuma]

Soon Bennie Soon!

Very Very soon Bennie
Believe me Sir
Carlos
}<(((*>

[tkei]

Tunaman,
at 99% you also have zero margin for error wrt slight abraison, hitting weed ont he surface, a crossed line etc. even a few days on the boat int he sun can do a bit of damage. gr8 if it works for you, but I am not that brave.
Take the winnign marlin at OET last year, caught on 80lb igfa rated line. I am sure the guys dont use junk. on testing it broke consistently int he 50lb bracket. at 99% you would be fishing on your old boat, not the new one on offer int hat comp.

[TUNAMAN]

Must have been ANDE. Tkei something must be wrong for sure. If 80LB breaks at 50PD it should not even be on the market.

[Tsutsuma]

Must have been ANDE. Tkei something must be wrong for sure. If 80LB breaks at 50PD it should not even be on the market.

TUNAMAN
Is there something I should know about ANDE line??
Please let me know??
}<(((*>

[shagnrelease]

The importance of setting a drag with a scale cannot be over emphasised, also I agree with Tkei I only scale my drags from the gunnels or from the flat positions, as I know where each rod is positioned it easy to know which is which. There is a substanyial difference between holding the rod and lifting into it than from the gunnels, up to 15%!!! I am not brave or confident enoough to trust my feel, I prefer to be completly sure.

[shagnrelease]

Must have been ANDE. Tkei something must be wrong for sure. If 80LB breaks at 50PD it should not even be on the market.

I agree with that, but whats with the ANDE we have used it for years with no problems?? I cant say I have tested where it breaks but have luckily not had it fail.

spill the beans what do you know?????

[Tsutsuma]

shagnrelease
Thanks
That makes all the sence in the world =
setting drags from the gunnels in the boat.
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