How to know if it’s your drag or the line:
Put a small mark on the rim of your spool with a marker. Tighten your drag all the way down. Place your thumb firmly on top of your line and crank the reel handle. If the mark turns and the line does not turn with the same rotation, the drag is working properly and the line is slipping on the spool.
Braid line will eventually slip if not secured properly. It can slip on one cast and hold on the next. Moisture on the line acts as a lubricant and, in cold temperatures, braid stiffens and slips more easily. You should back braid line with about 10 yards of mono. Tie the mono firmly to the spool arbor, wind on 10 yards of mono as backing, then tie the end of the mono to the beginning of the braid and continue filling your spool with braid. Be sure to tie the mono backing and braid line together, otherwise the braid will continue to slip.
If the quick drag test above results in the line moving in the same rotation as the spool, remove the line and retest the reel before sending for service. Tighten the drag down all the way, place your thumb firmly on the spool arbor and crank the handle. If you cannot stop the spool with your thumb when cranking, the drag is working properly. Re-spool your braid using the backing method above.
If you determine that the drag is failing after the above tests, contact our customer service department for additional assistance. Behind braid line slipping, the #2 reason for drag failure is the result of misplaced, improperly oriented or over lubricated parts during routine maintenance. The over lubrication that matters for the drag system are areas around the drag washers.
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