Fathom 40 SDP drag issue

[Jaimelruiz951]

What's up everyone. Just picked up a new Penn fathom 40 star drag and loaded it up with 80 lb j braid. I used a spring tensioner to put the line on nice and solid. I noticed afterwards when testing drag that I couldn't achieve 15 lb of drag even when cinched down all the way.

My question is: could I have potentially burned out my drag washers with too much tension on the drag when putting on the line? Rookie move...

[Bryan Young]

Try letting your drags cools down and retest.

[alantani]

any chance that you have braid that is slipping on the spool?

[johndtuttle]

15# at the top of a full spool is PLENTY. It increases significantly as line comes off the reel.

As you lose line to the fish it will be 25# or more close to the end of the spool.

Other than the reality of having to jam a thumb in the spool to break off as needed or stop a fish from structure that 15# is all most can handle.