RussH

Some of my reels have developed jerky drags so I did some research to see what causes it. Now I have been fishing for 40+ years and I never knew you should completely loosen the drag on your reels to avoid getting flat spots on your drag washers. The flat spots are what causes your drag to be jerky.

How many of you guys do this? How many were ignorant to this procedure to avoid jerky drags on your reels like me?

Now that I know this I will be sure to loosen all of my drags from now on.


Russ

Beefer

One of the first things I learned from my Dad back in the 70's about fishing was BOYD - Back Off Your Drags. So, yes, I loosen my drags when not in use.

alantani

if you upgrade your drag system to carbon fiber and teflon grease, you will never have to worry about it. which reels do you have?

JOEKEN

Don't feel bad, I just learned recently also. I just purchased 4 Avets and I store them with the drag off. Does it apply to spinning reels also?

cooterscrazy

Tighten all the drags when you wash them off. Then when they are dry loosen drag and put the reel in free spool with the clicker on to stop it from unwinding. Spining reel can just be loosened whrn its dry. No need to make the drag work out when the rods are not bieng used.

Dentman

Same as Cooter, Wash the rods and reels with the drag on and when dry totally back off the drag. I did learn the hard way a few years back. I also do the same for my spinning gear.

Carolina Pavers

What Cooter & dentman said.

RussH

I am a freshwater guy, keep my boat in Lake Erie. I have over 40 rods/reels so I have all of the major brands. I usually use Shimano spinning and bait casting reels. I also have several Diawa combo's and some 10 bearing private labeled Bass Pro bait casting reels that I like a lot. I don't know who makes these reels but I really like them. I will be sure to notice if the drag washers are carbon fiber when I buy new reels.

I just can't believe that after 40 years of fishing I NEVER heard about loosening the drags. None of the guys I fish with do it either so it's not as common knowledge as most of you guys act like it is.

Russ

Jack Hexter

I've been backing drags off for over 30 years. It was more important when drags were made of cork or felt. Drags work by compressing these materials and leaving the drags tightened, took the compressability out of this material. The jerky drag was caused by the inconstant density of the cork or felt with the more dense areas not compressing as much as the lesser dense areas. Like Alan says, with the current carbon fiber drag washers, it's not as important because carbon fiber does not compress, but it's hard to break old habits and I still back them off, it can't hurt

beachnut53

Wash with drag on tight and then loosen all the way off when storing; every time.

PtJudeRI

Alan, do you have a tutorial on the maintenance of older International 130's??

auguste

Mine are new Simano Tiagras

I tighten the dags when washing and loosen them (but not freespin) for storage

alantani

sorry, no. the 50 is as large as it goes, but the 80 is basically the same. alan

jawz

back 'em all the way off,when stored...

1000g paper on a piece of cardboard-pull the drag,and lightly,run the drag washer on the paper-this usually ends the "jerky" drag...

jerrybark

Russ,

I personally do not buy into the back off your drags or they will get sticky claim. Based on my experience either dirt or corrosion causes sticky drags.

I would suggest that you read a couple of Alan Tani's tutorials on reel servicing. the ones dealing with a penn 4/0 or jigmaster would be good choices. if you feel up to it do the same thing on your reels as needed. being that we fish fresh water the complete strip down and lube is perhaps not called for, but the handles, main gears, drags and whatnot should be done. I do the complete Tani Treatment on my saltwater reels each winter if I used them that summer.

I like to use cal Sheets' drag grease on my drags, you can buy that at smoothdrags.com along with many different drags. the other thing you might consider is getting a few hollow ground screwdriver bits to use on your reels, that way you are less likely to ding up a screw.

Good luck
Jerry

RussH

Thanks for the leads on the drag sheets and grease. I will be investing in both.

Russ

John_Madison CT

We tighten down our Lever drags to full before spraying with fresh water after a offshore fishing trip.

I shake them dry and make sure to store them with the drain holes facing downward.

Afterward, we loosen the drags all the way.

A_Salt_Weapon

Just curious as to why you tighten the drag when washing them off.

BACKTOTHESEA

So you don't get water in them. Should also be engaged when heading to the fishing grounds to keep splashing water from wetting the drag. I keep hats on when traveling as well. A wet drag is an unhappy drag.

coores14

wash with drags engaged. store with them backed off.