We fish primarily with Daiwa reels. We have never had one fail. We use the Old SeaLine X model, the old GranWave model, the Saltist, and Saltiga. These reels account for just about 100% of our fishing. None is lever drag. We have never had a problem with the drags on the aforementioned reels. What improvement would we recognize were we to use level drag reels? Why is lever drag better than star drag?



Thanks,

Tommy

It is more of a personal preference than one being better than the other. An advantage to the lever drag is better control over drag settings. The strike setting is a known value as is the full drag setting. You can vary the drag and know almost exactly what the setting is. And you can come back go a previous setting and know what the drag is. All of this can be done quickly and accurately. With the star drag you can set the strike but once you its changed it becomes difficult to know what you changed the setting to. There are no reference points on a star drag. All the arms sticking out of the drag star are all look identical. And adjustment can become clumsy and akward in the heat of battle.

As far as drag quality goes, I believe there are insignificant differences.

I am also convinced that star drag reels have a slight edge on casting ability. The lever drag reel spins the drag disc along with the spool which increases the mass of the spool which must inhibit casting efficiency. The star drag disc are separate from the spool and are not rotated during the cast which minimizes rotational mass increasing casting efficiency.

As always, my opinion for your consideration.

Walt

Walt,

Your post was most knowledgeable and insightful. I think that my next two high-end reels will be lever, a 16 VSX and a 50 VSX. But I have found nothing about the Daiwa reels we own that are all star about which would justify anything but elation. They have all held up to extreme use, including heavy duty at Guadalupe.

I have been exposed to the theory that lever is superior to star but I have not seen supporting evidence. Your writing that it's preference makes most sense to me.


Thanks,

Tommy

Tommy,

Like you I have fished exclusively with star drags. I am attempting to make the transition to lever drag reels. Currently, I am using an Avet SX and a MX. I have only used the SX about seven times. I still prefer the star drag. In fact, I was ready to order the HX and I will be getting the Saltist 50 instead. I just can't get used to the lever. In my situation, I am sure that it is a matter of user error.

Just today, I lost a couple of Jack Crevelles that would have been bagged on my Daiwa BG 60 or Saltist 30 and 40.

I so want to be proficient on the lever drags, but aas of yet, I haven't gotten the hang of where to pre-set the reel. Besides, I have lots of success on my current set of reels (stars and spinners) why mess with a good thing.

P2P,

On lever drag reel's like the SX and the MX models you want to set your drags in strike position. You will find strike position as you move the lever up from freespool and the lever will click into strike (you will notice this) it is before full on the reel. Set your drag setting 1/4 to 1/3 of your mono rating at strike. You may need to use a spring scale for this at the start but you will catch on fast.

When you set your drag at strike you can decrease drag pressure by not pushing the lever all the way to strike or increase pressura by going past strike (like at the end of the battle with a fish thats tired or to keep them out of structure) past strike or all they to full.

Allways put your reel in freespool to adjust the the drag pressure (to increase pressure move the knob forward and to decrease move it back) and then put the reel into strike and check the pressure there at strike.

Never adjust the drag pressure while in strike or any other position on the reel other than freespool. That is put the reel into freespool and increase or decrease as you need but put the reel into strike to check for the correct pressure.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SoCalAngler,

SoCalAngler,

Your post helps clarify why I prefer star drag reels. I can set drag on one of my Daiwa reels immediately and while battling fish w/o effort. I do not have to follow protocol to do it. All I have to do is turn the star to the precise poundage, and I am good to go.

I like my two lever drag reels, and I plan on buying two more. But I have grown so used to my Daiwa reels that not even congressional legislation could get me to part with them. I can easily see how fishermen using level reels would feel the same way.


Bent Poles and Taut Lines,

Tommy

SoCalAngler,

Thanks for the tip on lever drags. Let me ask another question. For example, on the mx I have 50lb spectra. Can I just max out the drag (at home and in free spool) and when I fish adjust the lever as I need more or less drag? Going into free spool is how I lost the two jacks yesterday.

Pier,
Why would you put the reel in free spool? The only time this is done when fighting a fish is if you're in a tangle with others and the deckhands tell you to put the reel in free spool so you don't cut the other lines. Otherwise there isn't any need to put it in free spool. I'm confused? I'm having a difficult time understanding you last question. In free spool there is no drag, so to speak, as the spool is free to turn, thus the term "free spool". Anyway, you never want to set the drags for more than 1/3 of line test and when not using the reel, back off the drag (i.e. put it in free spool) otherwise you'll damage the drags. Hope this helps!

My point of view on this. I learn to fish with stardrag reels, but now, I only use lever drag reels. Use them and soon you'll find out why, the precision and control over the drag is the main reason.

I use to think that no absolutly freespool could be achived by leverdrags, that that was only possible with stardrags, but Accurate and Avet show me I was wrong, now an absolute Freespool can be achived by leverdrags.

And by opening reels I learn that there is a lot more drag surface on leverdrags, that translate in smoothness, durability and power of drag. That's why all high end big game reels are now leveldrag and not star drag.

For me, is not a matter of prefference, it's that leveldrag are superior by far and that's why I change to them.

I Insist, try one and you'll be the best judge in this, after all, if you don't get convinced, you can still relly in star drag reels. Fishing is for pleasure and so on, use what makes you feel confortable and provides you with a better fishing experience.

Best Regardas

OK, let me try.

When you are at HOME and setting the drag on a lever drag, mount the reel and run the line through the guides. Attach the line to a scale and move the drag lever forward to strike. Check how many pounds of drag you are getting. If you are not getting the right right amount of drag, put the lever into freespool and make an adjustment. The point is to set it before you leave on your trip and make any drag adjustments in freespool. Continue to move the lever back into strike and continue to check drag until set. Make sure you are at 1/4 to 1/3 of the line you are using. Thats it.

With a lever drag, when you set it up properly before you go on a trip, you always know exactly how many pounds of drag you are getting. For instance, lets say you are using 30lb test. Set up strike for about 8-10lbs of drag. After you do that, move it into full and check how many pounds of drag you are getting. Then move the lever back about a 1/4 of and inch and check it again. What you are doing is learning how the lever effects drag while you are at home. Once you get the hang of it, you will be able to go out on the water and know exactly home much pressure you are putting on the fish. This is a big advantage because you typicaly back off a star drag after you are done fishing to maintain the belvilles washers and you loose your drag setting. With a lever drag, you set it once for the lb test you are using for that reel and you never need to adjust it again.

So, IMO, the only down side of using a lever drag is that you have to move the lever farther than if you are using a star drag. Big deal. I would rather have the versitility of the drag adjustment.

On a side note, if you are fighting a fish with a star drag and need to add some drag pressure, you don't know how much more drag you are giving the reel by turning a star. That is the big difference between lever and star drag and why many people are switching to a lever drag.

One more thing, it seams to me that people might be using the adjustment knob to prevent the spool from spinning too fast which might be why you can't seem to get the "the hang of" a lever drag. THIS IS WRONG. Use the knob to set strike at 1/4 - 1/3 and use your thumb to slow down the spool.

Hello,

Big Fish: I was putting the reel in free spool because I needed to adjust the drag. I didn't set it properly at home before going out and the Jacks were ripping way too much line:

Yerman: Thanks for the explanation. Quite frankly I never went through that process to adjust the drag at home. I will do this on both reels ASAP.

quote:

Originally posted by Pier2Pier:
Yerman: Thanks for the explanation. Quite frankly I never went through that process to adjust the drag at home. I will do this on both reels ASAP.

Cool. Just remember to leave it alone after you set it. If you want to back off your drag after you are done fishing it, just put it in free spool. Your drag will always be perfect this way. Can't do that with a star drag...