Roger Ritter wrote:
"rw" wrote in message
nk.net...

I disagree. If you're fishing heavy tippet and the drag is adjusted to
that strength, it's hard to strip line from the reel. A tight drag also
interferes with the hookup. If I hook up on a big fish I'll first try to
get it on the reel (with plenty of bend in the rod), and then I'll tighten
the drag.

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Yes, and this is what the Marryat Plus is all about:

I don't know anything about the Marryat Plus, but I'd be more than happy
to try one. It sounds marvelous. There's a trip coming up in May that
would be perfect -- big dogs. I can send you my mailing address if
necessary. :-)

I want to be more clear about why a tight drag interferes with the
hookup. Normally, it doesn't really, because normally you hookup with
some slack line. The problem arises when the slack line is played out,
or reeled in, and you get the fish on the reel. A tight drag causes a
shock -- a spike in the stress on the tippet. Shocks are what you must
avoid. Shocks cause break offs and pull outs and rod breakages. That's
why your rod should be well bent over (but not too far bent over) when
you get the fish on the reel -- it absorbs the shock.

I'd rather palm the reel when I get the fish onto it, and then tighten
the drag. Maybe the Marryat Plus makes that approach obsolete.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.