Easy fix: Why is my fishing reel’s drag not tightened?

You can taste the drag of the fishing reel by yourself. First, tighten the drag down. Pull the fishing line of your fishing reel. When you find that the line is coming and the spool is moving simultaneously, the fishing reel’s drag is okay. But, when you notice the line spinning but the spool not moving, there is a problem with the line or the drag of your fishing reel. You cannot pull out the line if the reel’s drag is not tightened.

The drag is an important element of a fishing reel. A pair of friction plates pulls on the line hard enough. Moreover, it rotates the reel backward and lets the line out when the friction against the fish is complete. 

What is the easiest way of tightening the fishing reel’s drag?

First, you must test the fishing reel’s drag with your hand. Now, turn the front drag adjustment button with a few clicks. This task is the easiest way of tightening the drag of your spinning wheel. But, if there is any technical problem, you must change the process and look for an expert. 

Fishing reel drag won’t tighten: What is the reason?

It is a significant issue for a fishing reel. After experiencing the problem, the person who fishes every day may become frustrated. There are several reasons why their fishing reels’ drags are not tightened.

Dirt and debris inside the system: The drag system of a fishing reel remains good when it is clean. But, if any specks of dirt fall inside, the system may be complicated. It may not be tightened until you clean it. 

Complex drag mechanism: Suppose you are using a fishing reel with a complicated drag system.

Damaged parts in the drag system: There are several parts of the drag system of a fishing reel. If any component breaks down, the drag system will not be tightened. Thus the fishing line can not come out smoothly. Moreover, when you pull out the line to check the drag system, you may notice that the line is coming out, but the drag is not turning around.

Any fiber metal or washer is problematic: The fiber metal and washers are set up in a drag system to maintain their working efficiency. But, when they are problematic, the drag cannot be tightened. Cracks and rust may make the washers bad.

What to do when the fishing reel’s drag is not tightening?

If you follow the process mentioned below, you can easily identify and solve the problem of your untightened fishing reel’s drag system.

Opening the drag system

The first and foremost task of repairing the drag system is to open it for checking. You should use a screwdriver and remove all screws from here. After opening the system, you can easily check for problems with it. 

Cleaning and lubricating the drag system

You should completely clean the dragged system. Sometimes, the system may be rusty. It happens in the presence of water at the time of fishing. Do not worry; if you find any rusty parts of the drag system of your fishing reel, you should pour a small amount of grease or vaseline here. 

Replace the fiber, metal, or washer

The problematic washer may make the drag very sticky. If you notice that the washer is broken or cracked, you have to change it quickly. You can also clean it using a paper towel. A paper towel is soft and smooth and can clean the washer safely. 

You should perfectly clean the drag washer because the fishing reel is integrated with it. Moreover, you must ensure that the drag is properly tightened up and moves freely. You can use WD40 to clean the washer. Now, dry up the washer properly. Make it a point after drying it so that you can add a little reel into the washers. 

Change the broken part 

There are many parts inside a fishing reel, including a drag knob, drag control, spool ball bearing, wooden drag washer, etc. If any parts are broken, the drag system will not be tightened and may stop working. So, you should replace the broken or damaged part of the fishing reel’s drag system.

When the gear on your shaft is broken, it impacts the fishing reel. The gear is integrated with the teeth. Your fishing reel uses the teeth when moving the drag.

But, when the gear is broken up, the drag will be unable to tighten. So, if your fishing gear is broken, you must replace it quickly. You must confirm that the replacement gear is durable and covers the warranty.

Fix technical issues with braided line

If the drag does not tighten up, you must check the braid. The issue may be caused by the free-spinning mechanism. Do you know how to identify the issue? You can find it when the line comes off the reel and there is no spool of spinning.

When braiding a braid, you must ensure proper knotting of the braid. It makes you sure that they are properly tightened up and ready for fishing. After starting with a mono knot for a few rounds, you will add a surgeon.

The braided line is for designing the fishing reels. It is more expensive than monofilament lines. So, if you have a braid line, you must change it. You should never use the free-spinning line. 

What is “Frozen Drag?”

It is a common term among fishing reel users. This is the condition when the drag system does not work and can not rotate the spinning reel.

When a fishing reel’s drag is frozen, it does not control the fishing line properly. Gradually, you feel that your fishing line is not coming out properly, and the drag is also turning slowly. Thus, you can confirm that your drag system is frozen.

There are several reasons for frozen drag to occur. The most common causes of frozen drag are dirt, debris, and tightening drag.

How to get rid of frozen drag?

A clean drag on the fishing reel is the best solution to prevent the drag system from freezing. If the user does not tighten the drag carefully, he may get the problem of a frozen drag. But, taking proper care of the drag and cleaning it is the best solution to the drag issue.

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