HACKED BY CYBER-ATTACK - ALPERENBTN

[Guest]

When fishing the flats/bays/surf wade gut, I like to use a 6 1/2 foot spinning rod with 12lb test. It seems to work fine most of the time with such a set up. But on occassion something REALLY BIG swallows my bait and makes a mad dash and five seconds later my fishing line breaks. ....I've tried to keep my drag pretty loose when I'm expecting such fish. However, I wonder if I should flip my anti-reverse button when such a big fish gets on, thus saving my tackle plus landing the fish? By doing so would my reel bird-nest on me?

Or should I just keep my drag pretty loose, let the fish take lots and lots of line, then hopefully tighten the drag slowly and reel him in?...I'm confused and have lost so many fish because I'm not sure what to do.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Vern]

I dont use a spinning reel, but I guess it would be the same as a conventional, when in the bays I just set my drag to where I can pull out line confidently knowing it is going to take a run from a big fish. The only way I can describe it is dont make it to where you bearly pull and line peels off, and dont make it to where you pull and think your line might break before it starts coming off. Try to get somewhere in the middle to where a firm steady tug brings out line slowly. There is a technical way to do it and a rule of thumb for different test line but I cant remember how. The above method has always worked for me, kind of a gut instinct thing.

[snagged]

Try setting your drag to the point you have a 45degree arc in your rod. This only works with a properly balanced outfit.
_________________
Jerry

Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child.

[Big John]

My shimano has a fighting drag system as they call it. It is a dual drag system with an adjustment at the top and one at the base of the reel by the anti-reverse switch. When an unusually large fish bites, loosen the drag with your thumb.
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Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke and hungry the rest of his life!

John Sullivan
Native Corpus Christian
Currently Displaced in San Antonio

[mando]

my cousin was breaking off fish with his spinning reel while line was being taken because the roller had a sharp spot. that might be whats happening with u or:
the roller might be locked up,
ur using some cheap line,
the guides on ur rod might be broken making a sharp edge

check everything out on ur combo. if something looks messed up, get it fixed.

[am3]

my grandpa always told me to set the drag not from pulling straight out of the reel, but from the end of the pole. the guides on the pole make some resistance as compared to coming straight off the reel.

[GoinCoastal]

The way to actually set a drag is thru the rod using weights equal to the line strength. IE, tie a 10# weight to 10# test line. Set the drag so that the weight pulls line off the reel as your lift the rod. The idea is to set the drag to release line prior to the breaking strength of the line preventing break-offs.

I use my hand to pull line off the reel and set it where I can pull line without it pulling the line into the spool. I do not change my drag when I get a good fish on....

I fight the fish letting the rod do the work. I let them run the line on out fighting the rod tot tire them out. When the fish is very heavy or about to spool my reel, I cup the spool in my hand while I lift the rod effectively stopping the drag at that point and bringing the fish in. This is also where I lose really big fish. Sometimes it just happens.... But most of the time I can get teh fish in without any problems using this technique.
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GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet

[Torpedo]

http://www.weekend-sportsman.com/cols_depts/pfeiffer080301.html

[zanito]

Torpedo got it close, he said.....

"The way to actually set a drag is thru the rod using weights equal to the line strength. IE, tie a 10# weight to 10# test line. Set the drag so that the weight pulls line off the reel as your lift the rod. The idea is to set the drag to release line prior to the breaking strength of the line preventing break-offs".

For (my) best results & using his method above of lifting a weight off the floor using the whole rod/reel system is best, set your drag as follows. Factors include additional drag created by the line itself as it is pulled thru the water, or, has picked up weed, plastic, etc (a real drag!), and fishing weights, terminal tackle, etc....

1. expecting long runs (tarpon, bull reds, jack crevelle, etc) - set drag to be able to lift up a weight off the floor that weighs 35% of line strength.

2. throwing lures, or short bait fishing for trout, slot reds, etc - set drag to be able to pull up a weight that weighs 50% of line strength.

You can always adjust the drag for more resistance to turn a fish, gain line, etc, but I've never been able to adjust it down quick enough to prevent a break off.

Also, when you get a bigger fish in close and are about to boat/net it, back off the drag slightly. Often times they make a last ditch full power dash for freedom, and a hard drag can pull the hook out or cause a break off.

Eventually, you'll be able to get the feel of setting the drag by hand (right off the reel) by testing it each time after using the above method. Practice makes perfect. -Zano

[BigDaddy]

I set my drag light and use the rod and the palm of my hand as a second drag. I caught a 36" Black Drum swimming up current on 12 lb BigGame with Penn 5500ss on a 6.5' Ugly Stick on Matagorda one winter. What a blast!

Regards,
Paul
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BigDaddy
aka. Paul S. Perez
01 Trooper 4x4
82 Chev 4x4 "BigDaddy Surftruck"
05 Suzuki 700 KingQuad 4x4 ATV

[zanito]

I said Torpedo, meant GoinCoastal's reponse.
-Zano