Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Rear Drag, or Front Drag?

I've always like rear drag, but was wondering which one works best.

Front drag = big washers, rear drag = small washers.
Big fish? Front drag. Small fish? No matter.

Front drag is also less prone to being bumped against something and knocked off its setting or even broken.

Front drag = bigger drag washers, but more prone to contaminatition from the enviorment.

Rear drag = smaller drag washers, but sealed for the elements.

Center drag = larger drag washers that a front drag, and sealed from the elements. Abu-Garcia is the only company that makes a center drag.

Rear drag....kinda hard to set front drag with fish playing out line? Smaller washers, yes, but gets the job done! Better
sealed components too .

Moot question on very big fish...baitcasting more powerful!

I've never found it a problem to reset the tension on a front drag while a fish is taking line. The center piece thingy isn't turning and the bail is stationary. When walleye fishing we usually set the drags heavier for hooksets and back them off for playing fish. On practically every other species I run heavier drags than a lot of people and land fish quickly.
Front drags are a lot smoother than rear due to the bigger washers. The bigger washers translate to hugely increased surface area. I have managed to fry rear drags in short order, albeit using small reels on big pike. Those needed a trip back to the factory to fix. Though I have never burned out a front drag, the fix is changing to your spare spool.

280don,
You are flat out right about the baitcasters being the best choice for big fish! I'll add big hooks and trolling to that too. The comfort level on hand and wrists after a day of fishing is significant. It took many years for my Shimano rep buddy to make me see the light on that one. I hated those reels for years, getting and dumping reel after reel, usually with the last backlash still in it! One day though it changed and I have 1/2 dozen of them now. Wouldn't be without 'em. Now if I could only wipe the smirk off of buddy's face. Course, if I was actually paying for those reels the story would have ended differently.
Model70guy

Front drag...infinite adjustments, larger drag surface, smoother operation...Rear drag.....easier to mess with when fishing, operator friendly, lass reliable on big fish....

I can't really argue the point about front/rear drags, but
my fingers aways get caught in the line somehow. I
never considered others could do it right! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

As for the baitcasters, I used to hate them too. Backlash
city! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> However many of the newer ones have magnets
to reduce/eliminate the backlashes. Some have thumb
brakes to prevent finger burn too. They're greatly improved! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Anybody smart enought to use a Shimano doesn't need my
advice! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

280don,
The turning point for me was when I started thumbing the side of the spool instead the line. Up to that point I think that I was making things worse by thumbing loose line, because of loose line. The end result was stripping even more line resulting in the hated backlashes.
Since then life got good! Now my centrifugal brake weights are usually locked back in the inactive position, and I've learned a lot about using different oil weights to control spool speed. From that there it was only a short jump to bearing swapping to Abec 5's and 7's. If I could only have left well enough alone at that point life would have been great, with hot-rodded Shimanos on G. Loomis rods. A few Shimano V-rods snuck in too after Shimano bought Loomis. Then I had to start wondering if the handle was on the wrong side and tried a left handed reel. I'm right handed. Big, big mistake! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> Now I have left and right handed baitcasters. Should have known, I have never met a left handed fisherman using a left handed reel, but there are a lot righthanded people using them.
All in all a strange situation for a person who actually prefers spinning gear for 3/4s of my fishing time.
Model70guy

Life was definitely simplier when I hated baitcasters! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

280don - agree with you on both counts. I just am more comfortable with a rear dragger. Never have been in a situation where it cost me a fish due to inferior drag performance. For a big fish, a baitcaster is definitely a more comfortable friend to have in your corner. This is such a nice civilized thread. If it were in the shooting threads, there would be someone who would righteously declare those who "have never put in the time and effort" to learn to use baitcasters as lesser human beings. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Back reel. Less line twist.

I have both spinning and baitcasting reels but truth be told I'm a spinning reel kinda guy. I have found that with todays spinning reels the difference between them regarding big fish and high line capacity is nil.

I have a couple Shimano thunnus reels which hold 300 yards of 30 pound braided line. They also have bait clickers so the bail can be closed and the line can be pulled by a fish taking bait. These reels also have both front and rear drags to meet your needs! Although spscific to each function

I have a Finnor Ahab 12a likely the finest spinning reel ever made. Likely the reason it's not made anylonger, way to expensive! It has a drag that will rival any baitcasting reel. What it comes down to is cost. getting a high end spinning reel with the capability of a decent bait caster will cost 4 times as much.

I must admit the character flaw I have in the desire for a spinning reel in my hands. they just feel better. I also like the line under the rod then over but it's just a mental flaw I suppose!

Finnor Ahab,

Right you are JJ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Haven't seen to many in use though?

I'm just inches from a deal on another one. Now that the Zebco corporation has purchased the rights to the Finnor product line they will be produced again some time this winter.

Hard to beleive the Zebco company with such a poor reputation for so long now owns the elite Reel companies in the world especially where spinning reels are concerned.

They own Quantum which makes arguably the best day in day out spinning reel for salt water made today. The Cabo.

They own VanStaal which is very likely the highest qualtiy must durable fishing reel period, much less it's also a spinning reel.

They now own Finnor which has likely got the best reputation for heavy use of any spinning reel ever made.

Who would think that Zebco would have ended up with such a great stable of horses like this?

To me that would be like K mart owning Porsche and Mercedes along with Ferrari.

True, very true, JJ!

By the way, buddy, I like your posts. They are quite
informative, and best of all come from experience!

I'm going sight fishing for black tip sharks with buddy Lapointe in December. I'll be in islamorada for 10 days and I have several fishing trips booked. The blacktips are the one I'm dreaming of though.

I have been going crazy trying to match a perfect rod to the Ahab and I just cannot find what I want in a 2 piece design. Gloomis makes plenty but they are all one piece and I can't travel with a one piece. I called St. Croix and G Loomis and both said they could make one into a 2 piece as a custom. However the price is steep, especially Gloomis

A friend of mine told me to call biscyane custom rods. I did and spent an hour on the phone with the owner! anyhow these guys are going to build me a custom two piece for the Ahab for about 70 bucks less then the Gloomis. The Rod they are making me is 7.5 foot made on a Billy Baroo blank and will have some beautiful custom wrap and they even mold in "custom made for" and your name!

Now I'm getting excited just typing this to you!

Enjoy buddy, enjoy! You only live once unless
you are James Bond! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />