Quiet drags

[traveler]

I've been fishing spinning reels all my life, reeling against the drag has always been a well known no-no. Is it just my hearing, or do more and more reels have drags that are pretty quiet? During many fights it's nott too tough to watch the spool, feel what the fish is doing, etc...but oft times theres motor noise, wind, any # of other things happening and it seems I find myself cranking against the drag on occasion. Not a lot, like I said, I grew up on spinners, but I don't like it.

I found myself at Gander yesterday with too much time on my hands and went down the line spinning spools on various reels and pretty much confirmed my suspicions that almost all the drags were pretty quiet. Thoughts?

[Northlander]

If your looking for louder drags try some of the Shimano rear drag reels. Mine were so loud they got other boats attention so I got rid of all but 1 that I use for loopers.

[mainbutter]

My guess is that it is your hearing. I have a half dozen different brands of spinning reels, and I never have issues hearing drag.

I'm also able to "feel" pretty well when they're taking drag.

If reeling against drag is a constant problem for someone, I recommend tightening the drag and if needed bumping up to a stronger line to compensate.

[Nick Kuhn]

I always sense the drag going out by feel anyway. I know all my baitcasters are completely silent with the drag, and I always know when it's going out without ever looking at it.

[traveler]

I "sense" it for the most part too, but even a couple errent cranks against the drag are bad for line twist. I'd still like a ilttle more "zzzzzzz" out of it.

Baitcasters, or convential reels, don't compare...you can safely reel against the rell all day with them, we do often with heavier saltwater reels. Pretty much just a spinning reel issue...

[BobT]

I agree with the original post. If I could complain about one thing with regard to my Pflueger Trion it is how quiet the drag is. I am a back-reeler and rarely rely on drag while fighting fish. Drags can heat up and this reduces their ability to do their job. I prefer to only rely on the drag as a backup to my back-reeling and I need to hear when that drag is slipping so I know when and how fast to back-reel. My hearing didn't suddenly go bad the same day I bought my reel so I know it is the reel.