Originally Posted by
PawPaw "gene"
Tal, another tip. Loosen your drag some so that you can pull the line straight off the reel easily. When you put a bow in the pole the friction of all those guides increases the load it takes to strip drag. If you're not careful you can pop you graphite rods on a hookset. To see what I'm talking about run your line through the eyes just like you're fishing and tie or hook the line onto something solid. With your pole pointed straight to what you tied you line to and walk slowly back. Set it where pull drag fairly easy. Then pick up the pole and make an arc with it and see how much harder it is to pull drag. When in use, if you catch a big fish you can point the pole at him and let him take line with worrying about popping something. When he tires you arc your pole and start cranking him in. By varying the amount of arc you put in your rod you vary the amount of pressure it takes to pull drag. I hope you understand what I'm saying.
"gene"