Charles Crolley wrote:

The drag seems okay (again, only in reference to playing the fish) but
if this continues I'll play with that, too.

If you're using really light tippet, set the drag to the lightest
setting that will prevent overspooling when you strip line. Play the
fish by palming the spool. (I usually do this anyway with trout, even
with heavy tippet. I can always tighten the drag after the hookup if I
want.)

On the hookset the drag shouldn't even come into play, as you mention.
However, the line is held in your left (noncasting) hand. That acts as a
"drag." Hold the line gently between your thumb and index finger. The
shock of the hookset in what's breaking your tippet. Maybe you're
gripping the line too firmly.

Another problem could be the way you're tying your knots. Tightening a
knot too quickly heats and weakens the tippet above the knot, and this
is especially true for light tippets and clinch knots (not so much with
surgeon's knots). If there is any curling of the tippet that means it's
weak and you should retie.

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