[616708]

Hi Pros:
Does the gear ratio affect the amount of drag a reel will give?

Example: If you have two identical star drag reels one with 3:1 and one with 5:1 will either one of the reels give more drag power? My guess would be "no" because technically the drag washers would be the same size.

The other question arises when it comes to lever drag single speed reels. Will the drag power be affected in the same situation as described above?

Last question. In the case of lever drags, will the maximum drag setting make it harder to crank the handle(less free spool)

Thanks in advance for the help.

Rockin

 

[skatemaster]

Gear ratio doesn't effect maximum drag. Answer is no.

Lever drags - Put the lever into freespool and turn up the drag adjustment. Eventually the spool will lose freespool. So the answer is yes. Here's a trick. Want to set your lever drag to the maximum drag? Figure out what your lever throw is. Probably 90 degrees (quarter turn). Once you find where you lose freespool, back the knob off a quarter turn (or whatever is appropriate for your reel. So now you can put the reel into full without losing freespool, and that is the maximum strike drag setting too. Measure it at strike with scale, multiple by 4 (or 3 or whatever you believe is right) and that is the maximum line test that your reel should be rated to fish. Like others have said, run heavier line for abrasion resistance or to take up room, but it won't buy much more pulling power.

Will it effect the ease of cranking? Too many other factors to consider.

 

[619627]

Skatemaster....great reply! And thats a good tip to remember. I mark my drag preset to remember what my starting point is for setting my drag.

Gear ratio and the amount of drag are two different elements within a reel. Many reel companies like newell, make one or two gears set for their reels. They may have a 3.6 and a 5 to 1 ratios to offer for their reels, but they both have the same 3/0 size drag surface.

Lever drags use a different mechanical system to apply pressure to the spool. When you slide the lever up towards the strike position, the change along the 'cam ramp' applies pressure on the pressure plate to the drag material on the spool. On a star drag reel, by turning the star wheel, you put more pressure against a drag spacer which puts pressure against your drag washers which sit within your main gear.

Companies such as Accurate have come out with twin drags where they have pressure plates on both the left and right side of the reel. In theory this is suppossed to give you more consistent drag settings,, and it does give you a greater drag surface, which allows one to apply more drag pressure.

When you increase the drag preset to a point that goes beyond the max pound test rating, yes you do lose freespool or what can be defined as diminishing the spools ability to turn freely due to the high drag setting. Most reel companies will tell you what their reels STRIKE and MAX drag settings are. Specialty reel enhancers such as CALS, COFEs, and KERRYs, do mechancial enhancements to stock Penns, Shimanos, and other big game reels, to increase the reels ability to fish higher drag settings. But be forewarned, that reels that are made to max out way beyond their rated line class will need more frequent maintenance and care after EVERY trip. Their are fishermen on the west coast who make long range trips, and use tricked out Penn 12-2 speed reels to 60 lb test and 16s reels that are pushed up 80-100 lb test, which need to be serviced after every trip.

So, as a rule lever drags reels can be dialed in to have more sensitive drag pressure adjustments.

EC NEWELL MAN*