KNOPHISH posed a great question on my CR report thread. How tight should you set your drag for king fishing? I have heard every preference from almost nothing (the NON-drag theory) all the way to as tight as the star drag will allow, where line can only be pulled off the reel if you wrap it around your hand.

I had a very humbling experience back in 1998 when we lost 5 fish in a row due to soft rods and loose drags. Fish literally went screaming off with our backtrolled Kwikfish, but wouldn't stick. That's when I made the switch to non-stretch superbraids and stiffer rods. I tend to favor a tight drag to really bury that hook point when chasing big Kenai kings, but maybe that tactic doesn't work as well for these smaller Columbia springers. What do you guys think?
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"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)

"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)


The Keen Eye MD
Long Live the Kings!