Lever drag vs Star Drag - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FlyFishinYakr · 07-12-2015, 11:13 AM

Rather than assuming you need to upgrade your gear, here's something anglers sometimes forget.
How old is your gear, when was the last time the drag washers were serviced? Is your drag smooth or jerky?
How old is your line (if using mono), or top-shot? What kind of knots are you using (if you're consistently breaking off at the connections)? Do you check your line/top-shot after catching/hooking a fish (did it take you into the kelp)? If there's one thing I learned from my time at a tackle shop (Art's Tackle in Gardena) or on the boats was to check or change my line often (and buy bulk spools). At least every 5-6 trips or once a month I would change my line (mono).
Lastly (and this is just my opinion) maybe you should upsize your gear a little? I generally fish 40# for

over 15-20# and when fishing around pesky dogs, kelp, pinnacles and if I'm fishing for food. I will fish 25-30# if the avg.

are under 15# and if for sport.
Something to contemplate before you start shelling out some coin to upgrade [unless you need an excuse to tell "the significant other" why you have to buy some new gear, in which case newer gear has better tech!

].
FFY

07-12-2015, 11:13 AM	#8
FlyFishinYakr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Nor Cal...30 min from Bodega/Tomales Bay, 1hr from Clear Lake, 2+ hr to Berryessa & the Delta Posts: 729	Check your drag washers lately? Rather than assuming you need to upgrade your gear, here's something anglers sometimes forget. How old is your gear, when was the last time the drag washers were serviced? Is your drag smooth or jerky? How old is your line (if using mono), or top-shot? What kind of knots are you using (if you're consistently breaking off at the connections)? Do you check your line/top-shot after catching/hooking a fish (did it take you into the kelp)? If there's one thing I learned from my time at a tackle shop (Art's Tackle in Gardena) or on the boats was to check or change my line often (and buy bulk spools). At least every 5-6 trips or once a month I would change my line (mono). Lastly (and this is just my opinion) maybe you should upsize your gear a little? I generally fish 40# for over 15-20# and when fishing around pesky dogs, kelp, pinnacles and if I'm fishing for food. I will fish 25-30# if the avg. are under 15# and if for sport. Something to contemplate before you start shelling out some coin to upgrade [unless you need an excuse to tell "the significant other" why you have to buy some new gear, in which case newer gear has better tech! ]. FFY