Kevin Van Dam Forums

Maybe they have been doing it a while, BUT I just recently started noticing reel specs showing what the Max Drag measurement is.  Should that be a “deal breaker” in the decision of purchasing a reel? I see a lot that are 12lb or 14lb. Is that a bad thing? I read in CincySids thread that he bought a Revo that had 24lb Max Drag. Obviously its important and the higher the better, but how important? Thanks in advance!

Other than fishing in heavy cover, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal for LMB fishing. It’s nice to know you have the extra muscle, but it’s not necessary for most applications & you can always use “thumb drag” while using your rod to get them moving if necessary. Plus, most reel companies have got their drag up to 10lbs or better, which is plenty to do just about anything bass fishing. I have an MGX which is only rated at 12lbs by Abu, but it’s been tested by a lot of people at half that & it’s not been an issue for me fishing jigs/t-rigs at all.

It is not important at all IMO, unless maybe you are salt water fishing or flathead catfishing. I have never seen a fish take drag on a 12# system tightened all the way down. And for the guys that will step in here and say “its for when you are fishing in weeds”, if you have a bass dive down into the weeds, wouldnt it be just as easy to put your thumb on the spool to pull him out? I dont see where it would be necessary for a 20lb+ drag system.
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Watch a pro frog fishing and you will see the first thing he does when that fish turns its head, after getting the wrath of satin hook set, is to put his thumb on the spool to turn his head and get him coming the right way.

To me as long as there is atleast 10-12lbs of drag then I am perfectly fine. If you have a fish on that takes 20+lbs of drag pressure to get out, more than likely your line will either snap or your rod will break. There have been times that I was afraid that I was going to snap my rod when winching a couple 4 and 5lbrs out of heavy cover.

i just like to have it, with 50 lb braid i can set the drag pretty high then i don’t have to mess with it. i feel more comfortable with reels with heavier drag, just me. and i’m not a pro and never will be and when i’m fighting a fish in heavy weeds, i don’t instinctively put my thumb on the spool, yet. i don’t catch a lot of fish so it makes it harder to get the feel for, just starting to get comfortable with different hooksets. i do make it a point of knowing what the drag is before i consider buying a reel.

Unless you hook a catfish, striper, pike or tuna….......then 10-12lbs will get the job done.

twitch - 17 June 2012 10:57 PM

Unless you hook a catfish, striper, pike or tuna….......then 10-12lbs will get the job done.

If I hook a tuna in the Mississippi river, drag power would be the last thing on my mind.

i’ve had fish in the slop and the drag cranked down max and was still stripping line with 12 lb drag. if i drop my thumb on the reel i lose some power i can apply to the rod to get her out. so me personally i like a heavier drag on my reels