Drag setting

remember that if you are fishing with mono line and have any kinks or crimps the line will break there first.....so if you set your drag at the breaking strength of the line it may break sooner at a kink or crimp....

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluethunder

When the depth that I'm fishing is less than half the length of my rod, I set a medium drag. That way if I don't have time to choke up on the rod, I can take my hand and pull out enough line to net the fish. This is whether I'm rigging or single poling. Anything past the length of my pole, channel at darbonne or caney or Claiborne, I set a tight drag because the hook is basically set once you notice a strike IMO. I kinda wanted to get some other opinions just to see if I have been doing it right. I'm really anxious to get back out on the water. My problem is that I've got too many other hobbies. Deer hunting, duck hunting, trail riding its hard to find the time to do them all and one always overlaps the other. Hunting season is pretty much over for me this year so the next couple weeks will be getting everything in order. Btw I've got a HB 570 DI in the for sale section if anyone is interested. I'd love to sell it local instead of dealing with shipping.

BT Good rule of thumb, I may start using that tactic as well. What lb line are you running and brand? I'm constantly experimenting with that to find what will give me the most strength but not cause much lag either when making a slight turn spider rigging. Just ordered some 3/8 oz heads hoping that will help with it. Friend of mine uses 30lb on everything and catches more than most people. His theory is he isn't going to waste time with being hung up, bends the hook out and keeps rolling. Never breaks off and basically horses or lifts every fish in the boat regardless of where he is. Fished professionally for 20 years. I don't like that big of line but I guess just goes to show it doesn't matter provided the water isn't extremely clear. I'm currently experimenting with different 10lb lines, up from 6lb fluorocarbon.

I'm more of an 8lb test man myself. P line in hi vis is my favorite biting rather fond of vanish fluorocarbon also. Mr bobby at the honey hole sold me a spool of vanish many years ago and I've bought a lot more since then. I try to keep it on at least one of my rigging rods. Last year I experimented with braid. I tied it straight to the hook but with my overly excited hook set and no stretch line, I yanked some fish out of the water and yanked the hook out of the mouth of some. On my last few trips I used a hi vis leader in 8lb and I liked it much better. Not really sold on braid I'm not too sure I will use it anymore but it all depends on how I feel that day.