The previous thread was about selecting a fly rod, but I noticed that Steeliegreg recommended picking a disc drag reel. It's not my intent to pick on Greg, but he raised a point, and I'd like to examine it.

It's been quite a while, but again, I'll ask, why?

I made a lengthy post long ago in a fly fishing BB forum that no longer exists that I've never had a reason to consider disc drags necessary for freshwater fly fishing, except for a steady diet of fishing for kings.

I've landed 3 kings over 20 pounds without the benefit of a disc drag. Since then, whenever I hook a king, I point my rod at it and break the tippet. But I agree that a mechanical drag would be an asset on a fly reel regularly used for fishing king salmon. And if I was a chum masochist, I might even relent and consider one for that application.

Otherwise, what freshwater fly fishing application really benefits from disc drag reels? I've landed 3 steelhead over 20 pounds and some high 'teeners and never felt the least bit under-equiped for not having a disc drag. All those fish were caught on Hardy reels with their standard traditional spring and pawl mechanisms, lacking even the exposed spool rim that makes palming so effective. I use the infinitely adjustable drag of my finger(s) on the reel spool, and I feel like I know exactly how much pressure I'm putting on the fish. A disc drag at a given setting varies the pressure of resistance depending how much line is on the reel spool, ever increasing as more line is payed out, a concept that I'm not comfortable with.

After steelhead and salmon, is a disc drag really anything beyond an advertising gew-gaw on a fly reel used for trout fishing or other freshwater species?

I've read in several publications on internet web sites advocating or stressing the "need" for disc drag reels. But I've yet to see a persuasive case made for their freshwater application. How necessary do you believe disc drags are for freshwater fly reels? And why? What does it do that you cannot do as or more effectively yourself?

Sincerely,

Salmo g.