Drag settings for float and live baiting

[Good_as_Gold]

G-day Guys
Im after some opinions on how you set your drag for float lining and live baiting?

When Im using my baitrunner for floatlining I have the main drag set to just under third of line class and have the baitrunner sett to light enough not to get over run and so the current does not pull off line. When fish strikes I give it a bit of a run then strike.
After years of using bait runners and tld's I now have a good quality spin reel that does not have the bait runner function. who has their drags permanatly set or do you set on the go for live baiting. . The main problem I see of having my drag fully set is that when there is a livey out most of the time it is in the rod holder and i have had a good kingy hit it and it is a strugle to get it out of the holder before he has bricked me. I use braid also so the first hit on full drag can some times pull hooks from fish with a softer mouth.

Cheers

[onerabbit]

When I am floating a livie at sea, I have my drag set, put the clicker on, then just leave the overhead reel out of gear.
The clicker is usually enough to stop excess line coming off the reel, if not, adjust the free-spool.
For a threadline reel, I would keep enough drag so that excess line does not come off, and adjust after the strike.

Just my opinion,

Muzz

[Coddie]

I use the same technique with my threadline, back the drag off enough so current doesn't take line and adjust it after the bite/run, you'll get use to the reel / rod so you'll know how much hurt you can put on.

[Good_as_Gold]

Thats what I do I have worked out roughly how many turns to turn the drag up to fight and hold the spool on the strike.

[trueblue]

I prefer a lever drag overhead instead of a spin reel in this situation, you know absolutely what your drag setting is

[Coddie]

I prefer a lever drag overhead instead of a spin reel in this situation, you know absolutely what your drag setting is

It all depends on what you're fishing for and preference. Up here in Cairns I float livies out for Spaniash Macs and I actually have more success (less lost fish) with my egg beater (cheapie Epix 60) than I do with my TLD 25, both running same line (50lb Briad)/leader (100lb)/hooks (7/0 ganged). I use to only use the TLD and never had much luck but when I started using the egg beater my catch rate went right up, Im yet to work out why......

Cheers.

[Midnight]

Be careful putting your hand on the spool if it is one of these fancy jobs with the hills drilled throuigh the spool skirt on an angle. They can do a nice "milling" job on ya bare hand at high speed! Other than that, you are on the right track, only I would've stuck with the trusty baitrunner.

Cheers,
Myles

[dww13]

You Can Get A Line Holder Clip That Sits Under The Foregrip Of The Rod. Leave The Bail Arm Open And Fix The Line To The Clip. Once The Fish Strikes There Is Minimal Load On The Clip The Line Comes Free And The Line Can Fall Off The Spool With No Pressure. The Clip Holds Teh Line So That It Doesnt Run Out In Current Etc. Once Ready To Strike Flick The Bail Arm Or Depending On Reel Just Wind And Engage The Bail Arm. Only Issue With That Setup Is There Is No Ratchet. You Will Need To Keep An Eye On The Rod. Plenty Of Blokes Have Been Using This Method For Years On Light Tackle Billfising With Eggbeaters.

[Good_as_Gold]

Where could I get a look at one of those clips i guess it somthing like my down rigger clip .
Re my baitrunners i still use two of these for foating out dead baits, but I had purchased this reel for some big gts for the extra drag when I went up to thursday island.

[dww13]

not like the downriggers. much smaller. by memory i think if you look for a du-bro e/z adjust release clip.

other methods that work just as well is a rubber band on the foregrip or a bit of copper wire.

[Midnight]

Good as Gold,

Here is the jigga dww is talking about, available at Wellsys

http://www.wellsystackle.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=926

Cheers,

Myles

[Scott nthQld]

I regularly use my standard spin reel for live baiting etc. I just back the drag right off to set it about 1-2kg roughly, and from there, I increase the drag and count how many times I have to turn the knob to get my main drag pressure. That way when a fish runs off with it, 3-4 turns of the knob and I am at strike drag ready to get stuck in. I actually prefer to do it this way with braid because as you said braid has a lack of stretch so IMO, increasing the drag slower than what a baitrunner does would help prevent pulled hooks from the sudden increase in drag pressure

[Benben86]

You Can Get A Line Holder Clip That Sits Under The Foregrip Of The Rod. Leave The Bail Arm Open And Fix The Line To The Clip. Once The Fish Strikes There Is Minimal Load On The Clip The Line Comes Free And The Line Can Fall Off The Spool With No Pressure. The Clip Holds Teh Line So That It Doesnt Run Out In Current Etc. Once Ready To Strike Flick The Bail Arm Or Depending On Reel Just Wind And Engage The Bail Arm. Only Issue With That Setup Is There Is No Ratchet. You Will Need To Keep An Eye On The Rod. Plenty Of Blokes Have Been Using This Method For Years On Light Tackle Billfising With Eggbeaters.

A small piece of blue tack on your grip does the same thing. Just push the line into it and it will hold it against the current

[Good_as_Gold]

Thanks for the comments guys I will get one of those clips It will be perfect for what I want
cheers

[LoungeLizard]

Just be careful with the clip - if a fish takes off at speed before you close the bail then you'll either have a gawdawfull mess or risk snapping the line. I prefer just backing off the drag some known quantity (say 1 full turn) then back on again when you have a strike.