Backreel vs Drag

[ragdaddy]

I have friends who believe both ways are best but my opinion is a good drag set loose enough to give as needed is better. I once landed a 20# carp on 6# line ,which by the way ate a shiner while I was fishing for smallies ,using my drag. I also quit reeling when the drag is slipping and point my rod at the fish when he is making a strong run. Pump and reel pump and reel just not both at the same time. I believe the backreeling method was used by older folks with older equipment that did not have the smooth drags we find on quality reels we have to choose from today. My friends that beleive in backreeling still land a lot of fish with their skill. I kind of look at it as learning to use the drag correctly is easier. Our modern cars have antilock brakes which makes stopping in a straight line fast and easy, a really skilled driver might be able to stop quicker with standard brakes most of the time. One time making a braking mistake may be your last. One time making a mistake backreeling may lose your trophy fish. I belive drags and antilock brakes are more dependable in the long run.
Mike

[kc]

Another thing to be said on this thought are line and knot quality. The lines are much better today also and I use strictly a palomar knot which has eliminated knot failures for me. The point being when you use your drag exclusively you tend to put a bit more stress on the knot and line during a hot run but again these improvements have enabled us to not have to back reel. The one variable to that thought is that anytime you use light line you've got to watch it close for abrasion. It you have a bad place in your line you might do better back reeling on a hot run but again I opt to watch my line close and re-tie often. I rarely break off fish these days and I fish a lot of light line. About the heaviest line I use for bass is 12 lb -- even on my casting reels. Shows my faith in the line, knots, and drags that I use.

kc

[dpage70]

i personally use when fighting a bigger fish. i like to keep my drag just slightly on the to tight side just for the tension on the fish. so when i hook a bigger fish i back reel to make up the difference basically. if i'm going to lose a fish i want to be because i did something wrong rather than my equipment screwing up. also i'm just not coordianted enough to work the drag while i'm fighting a fish. everyone is exactly right about the newer equipment having so much better of a drag system than the ones in the past. my opinion is its just a matter of personal taste. my advice would be to try it and give it enough time to see if you like it. if not you can always go back to what you were doing.

[kc]

It's easy to see everyone has their preferences in fighting fish. I like back cranking too but just haven't felt the need to use it much anymore with the tackle I currently have. I also don't like to mess with my drag while fighting a fish. My dad messed up that way a couple of years ago fighting a huge smallmouth on KY. He hooked that fish on medium spinning tackle and had his drag set a touch on the light side and this fish really took off on him running under the boat and by the motor and when he tried to tighten up a bit to gain control -- pop -- and she was gone. As hot as that fish was I don't know if back cranking would have helped or not running up under the boat like that fish did but tightening that drag sure ended it quick.

I say do what feels right. If what you are doing is putting fish in the boat then you must be doing something right. If not, it may be time to re-consider. Tight lines all (just not too tight)!!!

kc

[eatsleepfish]

The art of backreeling is an art in itself. It does take coordination and quick reflexes to have the confidence to use it during a long battle with a fish of a lifetime. It does not apply to all species of fish; for instance try to backreel fast enough during the first surge of a 20lb. striper and you might loose a knuckle or two. It does however help in the control of line stretch at a critical time when a fish takes off. Another thing to think about is that a smallmouths surge in 44 degree water temp is dramaticaly slower than 80 degree. Add a 10ft. FNF rod to the picture and this backreeling can be a great asset to not only keep the 4 or 6lb line from breaking but also help from straighting out the light wire hook. (Which HAS happened to elnutsmalljaws a few times in the past)

Elnut, have I ever steered you wrong before?
Dont you trust me?!

Try it on some trash fish this spring.
Get confident with it first, if you dont like it then it will always give me something to rib you good with when we are on the water and you break one off.


Remember...eat sleep fish!