Exactly Mark, I like to call this smooth drag when I talk to friends about it. Just because a reel has say 50lbs of drag doesnt mean it is smooth, if it is jerky or sticky then more likely to cause failure in some part of your equipment. An example is from the fin nor OFS spinning reels, you get over 35lbsish and they get jerky which to me is useless.
That is what I was trying to say, even with a smooth drag, fishing braid with a sporadic, spurting fish like a wahoo, they can easily pop you off without a shocker. Stopping fish dead in their tracks is unconventional and irrational and the catch rate will never be as high as giving a fish line to tire itself out.
But of course in the case of structure fishing; that rate changes and it's better to have the stopping power, but it wouldn't be wise to rely purely on that stopping power as opposed to having additional line just in case you get the feel that maybe the line is at it's maximum peaks and you need to let off and let a fish run but you can't because you're fishing super heavy line on a tiny reel and you're out of line.
The flaw is temptation when it comes to the big reels with the power. I've seen people with nice big reels pushing 70+lbs of drag (avets, duels, everols...) they get a fast run and lose 200 yards and they feel that they need to keep inching up that lever because they are excited. Less line on the spool means additional drag to begin with, add that impatient thumb on the lever and you're talking about heavy drag up-age in a short time.
A good majority of these people I've seen result in hook pulls or line pops (or some other form of terminal tackle failure). That's why I don't find it too coincidental when you look at all the big hammers caught and how practically all of them were on old penn senators... because even if you get excited and want to tighten up that drag you're not getting much additional drag plus it gets hot and indicates you not to touch it 
. Now of course the big senators do get completely spooled by some big sharks; but I can account for WAY more terminal tackle failures than reels being dumped.
That's why I take the time to make excellent riggings and put THE BEST knots on my stuff. JD Fagan got that hammer 2 bits short of 11ft this BHC on the sebile knot I tied for him from 200lb spectra to 200lb mono!
Just an average fisherman.
Couldn't agree more with you mark!!!! I too see a lot of fishermen being wowed by new technology without doing any real research or questioning. there comes a point were a reel is to specific to be practical. Great the reel put out up to 50lb of drag. What would it be used for? Would it hold enough line to tackle monster pelagic species ? There's obviously a purpose for the reel or it wouldn't exist but how many species could you realistically pursue? these are the Questions i would ask myself before I let marketing sell me a reel. In my opinion the only realistic use for a reel like this is bottom fishing for 50+lb species which Avet and Shimono have already beaten by incorporating a spool look button. NO AMOUNT OF DRAG CAN BEAT LOCK DOWN!!!! It docent hold enough spectra (heavy enough to use its potential) to tackle a big pelagic species so I THINK ITS USELESS.
Couldn't agree more with you mark!!!! I too see a lot of fishermen being wowed by new technology without doing any real research or questioning. there comes a point were a reel is to specific to be practical. Great the reel put out up to 50lb of drag. What would it be used for? Would it hold enough line to tackle monster pelagic species ? There's obviously a purpose for the reel or it wouldn't exist but how many species could you realistically pursue? these are the Questions i would ask myself before I let marketing sell me a reel. In my opinion the only realistic use for a reel like this is bottom fishing for 50+lb species which Avet and Shimono have already beaten by incorporating a spool look button. NO AMOUNT OF DRAG CAN BEAT LOCK DOWN!!!! It docent hold enough spectra (heavy enough to use its potential) to tackle a big pelagic species so I THINK ITS USELESS.
I would only use it to snag 30-50lb cownose rays
I already posted what this reel is meant for and what's the marketed idea behind it. Ain't gonna repeat myself to grimm. Read the previous posts.
I did read all post before commenting. In my opinion reels like this one are on the market so fishermen can win pissing contest. Talent/knowledge eliminates the need for safety precautions such as "in case i need more drag" cause usually by that time its too late!!! Mark hit the nail on the head (no a** kissing intended). Tackle failure is accountable for more fish losses than reels getting spooled. have you been vertical jigging? Most vertical jigs do not have 15x hooks on them and try to change the hooks to heaver ones and see how successful you are. novice mistakes been there!!! Importance of Drag should never supersede importance of line capacity. With reels like the T-rex by Avet they are able to put out a hole lot of drag but there meant to be fished with super lines. yes the reel is in the 130 class because of drag but it holds as much 130 braid as any 130sized reel holds of 130 mono. By fishing super lines diameter decreases and line capacity is not lost. "line capacity is not lost" that is what makes super lines great. Books and articles can get you so far but will never replace experience!!! Just saying.
One thing I learned is that fishermen who are stubborn, who think that their way is the only way, and that they are the best; are the ones limited and lose those dream fish more often. In 2011 I had maybe a good dozen unstoppable sharks take my bait... every time this happened and I lost a fish, I took the time to figure out what I did wrong and made sure it wasn't happening again. One can have all the experience they want but without directing it they wont achieve anything; they just let history repeat itself.
This very talk doesn't achieve anything either. I say to end the trifle everyone should just get out there and pursue their dream fish and learn the hard way, or be like me; not profoundly experienced, but learnt from others who have learned the hard way like Hammer and the millions of monster sharks he dared to set hook on.
Just an average fisherman.
My only fault is that sometimes i'm way too technical for some to understand or where i'm coming from with what i write, but yet i never intend any up-talk or insults. If some have that feeling from me, i do apologies for that & overall i do agree with slasherx4's last post. There is no good in being stubborn, especially when comes to fishing. There are way too many ways to catch a shark. A fisherman shall chose only what fits to him the best despite some other's view based on they own physical abilities to catch that shark.
