How high do you like to have your drag set for strike mode and why? I have done about every level and can't find a preference. If sailfishing I want it loose as possible for easy dropback, but some days it seems like full strike is better for dolphin/wahoo because it gets a better hook set in when they hit. What do you prefer and why?
14#s strike on my tld 30s cause thats about all I can get out of them with a smooth freespool That puts me pretty close to 33% break on my topshots of 50# mono and i rarely get pulled to the backing usually only on big wahoo Everytime someone new fishes with my gear they leave the lever short of strike which shows most people over estimate thier drag #s alot I test my stuff all the time on the scale and id use more if the reels could handle it Long fights loose fish
I've always set my strike at 12# for my 50 internationals and tiagras and 8# for my 30s. I have always trolled with drags at full strike and then if a fish pops a line and doesn't hook up immediately free-spool for 5-7 seconds and then reel as fast as I can 5-7 seconds, repeat this two or three times and a lot of times you'll pick that fish back up.
This past trip we had wahoo piling on our lines and straightening hooks so I dropped the drag lever about half way and then increased to stike after the fish had settled in towards the end of the first run. This worked well for this day. Every day is a little bit different.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish. - More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
Opinions - strike level
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 11:17:28 AM
