Setting Drag Properly

[fishin geek]

What are some of your thoughts on how to set your baitcasters drag the "right" way?  I've always heard to set it to 1/3 of the lb. test line you are using.  So, I normally grab the Rapala scale out of the boat, loosen the drag, hook it to the lure or hook I have tied on, and adjust it to the "right" weight with my son's help.  He holds the scale and tells me the reading while I back away and adjust the drag.  Anyone have better info or know a better way?  Thanks in adavance!

[Bane]

i do it by feel, for moving baits like crankbaits/spinnerbaits, and even on my worm rod I set mine alot looser then other people ive talk to it seems. Personally I think it helps alot with a crankbait and what not to not pull it completly out of the fishs mouth when I set the hook. Mines set to where line will spin out upon hook set. but for my frog or flippin rod with 65lb or better braid, those puppies get tightened all the way down.

All depends on what your comfortable with really, I wouldnt say there is a right or wrong way. Mines set loose but I still get a good enough hookset to not think twice about swinging a fish in the boat during tournament day.

[v1per]

I agree with Bane, it is all in how comfortable you are with it. If you like the fight then leave it a little looser so you can play the fish but if you are a power fisherman then tighten it up some so you can unhook the fish and get it back in the water as quick as possible. My buddy and I thought about this one night at his house so we got a scale out and a few rods and did some experiments. He held the rod and I had the scale, we hooked the lure to the scales hook and I got about 12 feet away from his rod tip with the line tight. He then pulled up on the rod and I watched the scale. At about 4-5 pounds pressure at the scale and the rod with a good bend in it (we used different rods with different actions for this) he was saying that there was a lot of pressure at his hands to hold it there. We found out that drag pressure at the hook feels a lot different than just by pulling it off at the reel like most of us do. So, once again, it just all comes down to personal preference and what type of fishing you are doing at the moment. Different techniques may require different drag settings. Hope this helps a little and tight lines to ya!