Jeff, for the most part (in fly fishing) the reel is just a place to 'store your line.' Many of the most beloved reels only have a click and pawl to make noise (Hardy and others).

For the most part, the 'drag' is finger pressure against the spool rim. So if you can 'palm the spool' you're good to go for all but the BIGGEST OF FISH.

There a drag of some sort would be 'nice.'
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fae