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Clicking Drag Star? 2024


fishing user avatarsmallies24/7 reply : 

What is the purpurpose of a clicking drag star? Is it all for the higher end feel? Does it affect performance in any way, or is it just a luxury people like with their higher end reels?


fishing user avatarTywithay reply : 

Most people just like knowing how many 'clicks' they've added or decreased the drag, so you can make precise changes. It doesn't really have any actual performance benefit.


fishing user avatarHoosierHawgs reply : 

Same as said above, it's just nice to have so you know how much adjustment you are making, and you can get a sense of what 'x' amount of clicks amounts to in terms of lbs of drag rather than just blindly playing with a drag star, but no, it doesn't make your drag any stronger or effect the performance of the reel.


fishing user avatarDirtyDeuceGoose reply : 

Take this with a grain of salt because I can't remember the source but I believe the reason for not having a clicking drag star, at least on finesse oriented reels, was to give a more infinite adjustment feeling. For instance you could go "half a click" instead of the whole adjustment between clicks.


fishing user avatarJohn G reply : 

It sounds cool!


fishing user avatarTywithay reply : 
  On 12/25/2014 at 4:05 AM, DirtyDeuceGoose said:

Take this with a grain of salt because I can't remember the source but I believe the reason for not having a clicking drag star, at least on finesse oriented reels, was to give a more infinite adjustment feeling. For instance you could go "half a click" instead of the whole adjustment between clicks.

That's more the reason that finesse reels don't often have clicking spool tension knobs, though it has some merit on drags as well.


fishing user avatarrippin-lips reply : 

It's not on all high end reels either. Daiwa being a good example. My px68 had a Msrp of $440 and doesn't have this feature. It doesn't make it break my buying decision but it is nice. Like if I switch from a jig to a wacky senko then I know to go down 6 clicks. Just a luxury. Kinda like cruise control.


fishing user avatarlong island basser reply : 
  On 12/25/2014 at 3:52 AM, smallies24/7 said:

What is the purpurpose of a clicking drag star? Is it all for the higher end feel? Does it affect performance in any way, or is it just a luxury people like with their higher end reels?

The purpose is to get you to buy their reel. I have two with the CDS and IMO its pretty much useless and has no bearing on the reels performance. Merry Christmas.


fishing user avatarfisherrw reply : 

I'd rather use the clicking kind better adjustments.


fishing user avatarhatrix reply : 

Clicking drag and tension knobs are silly really. As for the drag I do it by feel pulling the line and clicks mean nothing. Maybe tension cold be ok if clicks were finer. If I were to add tension it would generally be so fine that it is pretty much guaranteed it is between clicks.


fishing user avatarA-Jay reply : 

Not having a clicking drag and tension knobs seems silly really.  

 

Having it provides the confidence that repeatability provides.

 

The guess work required without it is just that.

 

A-Jay


fishing user avatarDelaware Valley Tackle reply : 

I see Ajays point but as drag washers and tension shims wear the repeatability lessens. Clicking adjustments are a perceived sign of quality to a number of people but it's another personal preference when you get right down to it.


fishing user avatarHoosierHawgs reply : 
  On 12/25/2014 at 8:33 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I see Ajays point but as drag washers and tension shims wear the repeatability lessens. Clicking adjustments are a perceived sign of quality to a number of people but it's another personal preference when you get right down to it.

 

Doesn't everything come down to personal preference in this sport?


fishing user avatarThornback reply : 

The bass can't tell if you have a clicking reel or not so use what suits yourself. I have one cheap bait caster ($59) without the clicking drag and clicking brake and two more expensive bait casters ($100) with the clicking. I prefer the feel of the clicks which I call "detents" and in that case they might hold the set position better. As far as setting the drag I always set it as tight as I can because I use #40 braid.


fishing user avatardesmobob reply : 

I really like clickies, even if just for the feel of precision and perceived quality.  

 

I can understand the repeatability thing, but I don't use it.  That's not to say I won't ever use click detents for that purpose though.  As I get more experience and familiarity with my gear and baits, I can see where it would come in handy for quick spool tension adjustments like rippin-lips mentioned.

 

It also gives me some assurance that if I somehow accidentally moved my drag or spool tension adjustments, I'd hear/feel it.  This has never happened to me, but it's a "feel good" kind of thing at least.

 

I suppose if a person took the time to take some drag measurements with a good scale, he could determine just how many clicks it takes to go from his normal drag setting to the "danger zone" of risking a break-off.  With that information, he could keep his drag at a safe setting but still know where the limit was if he really needed to control a big fish.

 

I guess I see some advantages to the click detents, but no disadvantages (other than the increased cost they undoubtedly add to the price of a reel so equipped).

 

Tight lines and Merry Christmas,

Bob


fishing user avatarColdSVT reply : 

Nifty but not necessary...for me anyways lol


fishing user avatarhatrix reply : 
  On 12/25/2014 at 8:25 AM, A-Jay said:

Not having a clicking drag and tension knobs seems silly really.

Having it provides the confidence that repeatability provides.

The guess work required without it is just that.

A-Jay

I am not sure what you mean by that. They both wear down and neither will always stay the same. If I was setting tension I judge it by the baits fall. If it is drag then by pulling line. Drag never really gets messed with for me as I don't loosen my drag on ever reel each time I fish but I will check them sometimes. Tension if I ever really used it would change constantly throughout a day.


fishing user avatarbass1980 reply : 

To be honest I just don't understand why clikcing drag star and tension knob isn't standard. How much could it possible cost them to add it?


fishing user avatarrippin-lips reply : 

Even though the parts wear over time there is still a constant. Being new I set it up for 1/2oz baits. Then for a 3/8 bait it needs to go down 3 clicks to change baits. Now after a year of hard use you might have to add 1 click to your tension for 1/2oz and 1 to your 3/8 setting. The difference is still 3 up or down for a bait change. It makes sense in my head anyhow. Someone also mentioned about hearing if it gets bumped. This can be nice since there's been a few times when taking a reel cover off I've had this happen. Then I'm like oh it moved 2 clicks and I'll just add them to the tension. Plus us fisherman like cool noises haha. Joking but for some it can be true.


fishing user avatarHogsticker reply : 

Simply stated, why not? A reassuring click gives me the feeling that something is working as it should. Same can be said for just about anything we purchase.


fishing user avatarpowerduster reply : 

most of my conventional and round reels have no clicking star or tension knob and i prefer it that way. it's kind of like having a ball bearing installed in the handle knob, which is kind of pointless. I'm not against it at all, but it's also two less parts to worry about when disassembling for maintenance.


fishing user avatar5fishlimit reply : 
  On 12/25/2014 at 8:35 AM, jakob1010 said:

Doesn't everything come down to personal preference in this sport?

Yes, yes it does.


fishing user avatarHogsticker reply : 

Bearings in the handle knobs aren't pointless imo.


fishing user avatarww2farmer reply : 
  On 12/25/2014 at 8:35 AM, jakob1010 said:

Doesn't everything come down to personal preference in this sport?

Yup................glad to see at least some of the younger people on here "get it"


fishing user avatarHoosierHawgs reply : 
  On 12/26/2014 at 10:55 AM, Hogsticker said:

Bearings in the handle knobs aren't pointless imo.

 

Saying they are pointless is an ignorant statement. Bearings will help your handle knobs hold up better.


fishing user avatarJohn G reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 1:12 AM, jakob1010 said:

Saying they are pointless is an ignorant statement. Bearings will help your handle knobs hold up better.

When I think of knob bearings, the last thing that comes to mind is knob longevity. I think of smooooth reeling!
fishing user avatarTywithay reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 1:39 AM, John G said:

When I think of knob bearings, the last thing that comes to mind is knob longevity. I think of smooooth reeling!

Bingo. It's one of the cheapest upgrades you can do and makes one of the best improvements. A few bucks and makes the reel quite a bit smoother compared to bushings.
fishing user avatarJohn G reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 1:46 AM, Tywithay said:

Bingo. It's one of the cheapest upgrades you can do and makes one of the best improvements. A few bucks and makes the reel quite a bit smoother compared to bushings.

To be totally honest, I can live with all bushings or a bushing/bearing combo more so that that crappy bearing and brass nut that acts like a bushing combo that Shimano used on the Scorpion XT1500 and I presume the Curado 200E7. The bearing in that handle assembly is useless IMHO! When they use that big brass nut as a bushing, adding a bearing is not possible so a new handle is needed. My 12Calcutta 100 came with 2 bushings in each knob and at least when they are new, they are smooth reeling. Not as smooth as bearings but they are not that bad.


fishing user avatarpowerduster reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 1:39 AM, John G said:

When I think of knob bearings, the last thing that comes to mind is knob longevity. I think of smooooth reeling!

how does having bearings in the handle knob improve reeling or would it even be that noticeable?
fishing user avatariabass8 reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 1:12 AM, jakob1010 said:

Saying they are pointless is an ignorant statement. Bearings will help your handle knobs hold up better.

Hogsticker didn't say having handle knob bearings is pointless...


fishing user avatarHoosierHawgs reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 2:28 AM, iabass8 said:

Hogsticker didn't say having handle knob bearings is pointless...

 

I realize this. I was backing up his statement.


fishing user avatarrippin-lips reply : 

To me it's not very noticeable if at all on all my Daiwa's. I add the bearings because it's easy to do and I like to mess with things. Same goes with adding the bearing to the worm gear on some of the Daiwas. I think a lot of it is just in the head of the person. Oh I added bearings so it must be smoother. I have a tatula with the 2 bearings added to the worm gear and 2 more to the handle. If it wasn't for it being a different gear ratio than my other tatula's I couldn't tell you which is which.


fishing user avatarJohn G reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 2:20 AM, powerduster said:

how does having bearings in the handle knob improve reeling or would it even be that noticeable?

Have you ever used a reel with bearings in the knobs?
fishing user avatarHoosierHawgs reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 2:39 AM, John G said:

Have you ever used a reel with bearings in the knobs?

I can most certainly tell the difference. I've used both, the ones with the extra bearings are better, no matter what anybody says.


fishing user avatarrippin-lips reply : 

Ahhhh to be 16 again.


fishing user avatarpowerduster reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 2:39 AM, John G said:

Have you ever used a reel with bearings in the knobs?

yes, and i can't tell the difference in overall smoothness. the knob itself feels nicer but that's about it for me. i don't think it's stupid to have one, because i like te 4 bearing handle on my ambassadeur. my original point was to say that like a drag clicker, it is negligible.
fishing user avatarHoosierHawgs reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 2:48 AM, rippin-lips said:

Ahhhh to be 16 again.

 

Ignorance is bliss my friend. I still like the stock Tats though. They look pretty solid. Sexy frame too


fishing user avatarJohn G reply : 
  On 12/27/2014 at 3:04 AM, powerduster said:

my original point was to say that like a drag clicker, it is negligible.

I have paid $100.00 for a handle with 2 bearings per knob for a 200.00 reel that had a handle that could not be upgraded. To me, the difference is noticeable so it's worth it.


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