LEVER DRAG VS. STAR DRAG

[mako__]

Looking into the Penn Torque 300, Shimano Trinidad 50. Reels will be used for chunking & trolling. Will be spooled with 80lb Jerry Brown and a mono top shot.

I have only ever fished offshore with lever drags so I have idea how the star drags compare. I am either going with the star drags above or Tyrnos 30II or Tiagra 16's.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks fellas

Brian

[tolmaz]

I likwe the lever drag. people cant keep their hands off the star drags. first thing they want to do is turn it!! drives me crazy

[makokiller975]

the tiagras 16s are awesome reels. ive boated bluefin up 2 175 this year on them with no problems at all.. load them with jerry brown and a top shot and your good to go

[babalaza]

by far tiagra 16 or penn 16vsw

[makokiller975]

the only advantage the penns have over the shimanos is it hold 50 more yards of jerrybrown

[gofshn]

if you disassemble both types of reels, you will find the difference in the two. star drags are composed of smaller drag systems with less surface area of the two. lever drags have a substantial increase in the amount of surface area compared to a stardrag system. the proof lies in the pudding, just take a look at the drag washers ina lever drag compared to the star.

as we all know, as drag is pulled, the friction produced creates heat, it is a standard law of physics. as this heat intensifies, or builds it tends to change the drag coefficient, therefore after a series of long runs, the drag characteristics have changed. this is why when you test your drag set-ups on your reels, the proper way is to put the rod in a holder, then exert the force of pulls in a manner consistent with the fish taking drag. after making three pulls of drag, you now have heated up your drag washers to provide you with a consistent and controlled variable to test the drag with. on your final pull you have achieved a likeness of the situatuion where your drag is expected to perform. ever notice a substandard reel, or one with an inadequate drag set-up tends to get a little jerky, or non-linear . this is a key that you are having drag problems, or need a different set-up for your application. jerky drags lose fish, bottonm line! this is why we as diehard fishermen seek the smooth drags we all rave about in the industry's top production reels.


as far as the newer star drags, i have not tested, but if by a reputable manafacturer, i am sure th drags are not substandard in their smoothness. penn senator series, i will say are not the best though, and this is mainly the type i am speaking of.

[flatbottom]

for offshore, I like lever. scale it right and know what you have at you thumb. Inshore fishing star drags and spinners. Jigging, I will buy a star drag to match a shimano jig rod

[gofshn]

sdfgsdfg

[gofshn]

for a jigging rod i agree. but offshore trolling, levers baby, all the way.

[paul708]

for what you are doing and the choices you are asking about the Tiagra 16's.
are the best choice for you to use...if you were Jigging the trini 40 or 50would be a good choice. the star drag reels seem to cast a little better and sometimes you may need to cast a little away from boat to get bit. the new torque reel should be a great reel for the wahoo guys