When your using senators or other star drag reels, how do you like to set the drag before the bite? do you like to lock down the drag, put the click on and freespool it, and wait till the shark hits to flip the lever? Or do you like to apply just a few pounds of drag, wait, and when the shark hits, slowly apply more drag as the shark runs with the bait? P.S im using circle hooks
Depends on the currents or wave activity. If I can freespool with just the clicker on I will, but the east coast has waves that will pull my line out and make it into a rats nest. Typically I have to put a little tension on it.
I pretty much only fish bridges, but here is what I do. When you have your bait in the water have your drag just tight enough so the current doesn't pull line off. Sometimes it's tough if the wind really picks up and the current is ripping hard. So keep the reel in gear with it just tight enough, when your bait gets picked up throw the reel in freespool and let the fish eat for a good while, while tightening the star, then when your ready slam it back in to gear, reel tight and set up hard……then hang on!!
That's what I did with my senators as well.
Here fishy fishy fishy.....
Catch a fish or catch a buzz!
Another trick is to apply some more pressure in free spool is to put your line on the harness lug or spool tension knob or wrapped around the side plate. They also have a very small line release clip that you can zip tie on to your rod and adjust the tension you will need.
Just an average fisherman.
That is very clever. I had just wedged a sponge in there when I needed a little extra pressure.
Here fishy fishy fishy.....
Catch a fish or catch a buzz!