Hot rodding the Newell 3 stack drag

[thinkwahoo]

Everyone wants more drag out of their Newell reels.  Carl knew ahead of time the reels he built had their limitations, so by stamping the stainless drag discs there would be a concave/convect surface preventing the operator from "buttoning" down the drags.  Smoooth Drags has offered ground flat ss drag discs for the 200 - 400 series reels which really achieve more drag, and they should of made them for the 500 - 600 series as well.

I've found if you eliminated the top drag disc, and let the belleville sit on the top drag material like Carbontex, or HT00 material you can almost double the amount of drag out of these reels. Be aware if you do this you'll have add at least one P3-18 slotted washer on top of the drag spacer (why, because you've removed a drag disc).

This is a practical application for the 300 & 400 series, and under normal circumstances not practical for the 200 series.

If you're fishing 15 or 20# you should also apply a small amount of grease to the drag material to smooth them out.

If you're fishing 25#, and up you can leave the drags dry.  This will make the fish earn every inch of line off the reel.  Yes, they'll feel scuffy, but it'll wear the fish out sooner.