Drag questions...

[Board4life]

1. What is the best way to measure drag?

2. Are you just using fish scales or do you have some magic device?

I am usually one of those people who pulls on his line and says, "that feels good." Instead of feeling good, I wanna know it's good. When I catch a monster and it takes me 1 hour to get it in, I want to be sure it wasn't because my drag was too lose. Although, that would make a more interesting story.

Just a thought... is there a limit to how many question I can ask in one day? I don't want to exceed my max. If there is a max, can I pay the full membership to ask all I want?

[redsetta]

G'day,
There are a number of ways to put pressure on the line in such a way as to measure drag effectively - some use a bucket of water (measured to a specific weight), while others use a scale set.
I fasten down a pull scale, choose an ideal drag for the combo I'm fishing with (ie line, reel and drag capacity, rod etc), and test the drag setting until it's right.
There are also variables to consider such as rod flex and angle etc.
There's a heap of info from Alan on setting drag - here's a selection to kick things off:
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=299.0
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=1149.0
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=1469.0
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=461.0
The rod, reel, line and drag configuration will all have a specific/ideal drag range, and each should compliment the other.
This is an excellent overview of how they all work together, from a friend of Alan's: http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=733.0
Hope that's of some assistance.
All the best, Justin

[Board4life]

Good stuff... Thanks

[Norcal Pescador]

Just a thought... is there a limit to how many question I can ask in one day? I don't want to exceed my max. If there is a max, can I pay the full membership to ask all I want?

There's no max on the number of questions you can ask. Just be ready for all of the replies you might get. You can always ask multiple questions in the same post about the same reel.
But you can still send me $1,000,000 if you want to.

[Pescachaser]

But you can still send me $1,000,000 if you want to.

It looks like the man owes you a penny for that comment .  Dominick

[mackereljoe]

I normally try to guess with just pulling, but with a scale sometimes it's way off (normally too light).  Last time i changed line in an AVET MXL it started at around 6 and by halfway it's around 15, and at close to the bitter end it's way over 20.  If there's time to kill or once in a while, I place the rod in a pvc pipe pounded deep into the ground at certain angle and pull with a scale.  With my slow reaction, i can't seem to back-down on tight drag fast enough to prevent snapping line so i keep it a 20% pulled directly from my reel.   

[alantani]

shimano makes a nice scale.  i have both the 20 pound and the 50 pound versions.  it is important to calibrate them and then tape them up so that no one monkeys with them.