Front drag reels

[DavyR]

A beginner's feature in a recent Improve Your Coarse Fishing states that rear drag reels are more convenient as they have quick-release spools. The tension nuts on my new front drag reels have to be unscrewed when changing spools, whereas my old Mitchell 300A (front drag) has quick-release spools. Is there a technical reason for this? Or is reel design going backwards in some respects?

[chesters1]

if the drag is set properly then it doesent matter how it operates ,i like mine very slightly looser then i can apply more pressure with my finger if needed but that proberly comes from using reels with crap drags.

it proberly saved a few pence not having a quick release spool so in the tight budgets of manufactureres its left out .

theres always been strange things with reels and spools ,i have a 1954 intrepid with a quick release spool that adjusts from the front but all the rest for years had non quick release ,abu's had rear drag adjustment but quick release and as you mention mitchell has over the years had quick release with front or back adjustment :confused:

havent a reason why, maybe a bad handout to shareholders decides

[Steve Burke]

There are quite a few front drag reels with quick release spools. However, I don't think this convenience is so important that it's a major issue in deciding what to buy as IYCF suggested.

 

As you probably know, front drag reels generally have a better clutch system as the surface area of the drag is greater. On the other hand many find rear drag reels are easier to adjust when playing a fish. And of course many anglers tighten the drag right up and backwind.......

 

Abu have some centre drag models that perhaps have the best of both worlds, but have yet to catch on.

[fishtec1312]

There are quite a few front drag reels with quick release spools. However, I don't think this convenience is so important that it's a major issue in deciding what to buy as IYCF suggested.

 

As you probably know, front drag reels generally have a better clutch system as the surface area of the drag is greater. On the other hand many find rear drag reels are easier to adjust when playing a fish. And of course many anglers tighten the drag right up and backwind.......

 

Abu have some centre drag models that perhaps have the best of both worlds, but have yet to catch on.

if its the abu cardinal 3 with the drag underneath,there smooth,line lay is good but i won mine in a weekly mag,so i dont no new 7bb a very good match reel. like the majoritywith most of these cheap reelssay 4to6 bb ,but unless there decant bb in means nothing,i know a geezer who baught from dragon carp and if your not bothered by the name dragon as some quality

[watatoad]

Personally I prefer a front drag reel as the drag seems to me to be much smother. I do accept that for some personal styles of fishing then a rear drag can be quite the most convenient.

Edited June 15, 2011 by watatoad

[Tigger]

Abu have some centre drag models that perhaps have the best of both worlds, but have yet to catch on.

 

 

 

I have two abu Suverans which have the centre drag and I think it's the best place/ most convenient place to have a drag adjuster. The drag is super smooth and can be tightened up enough to drag in the QE2 . Im amazed that other manufacturers haven't followed/ copied this idea and that abu themselves haven't made many more centre drag reels.

[Renrag39]

The only time I get choosy is for lure work, where I prefer a rear drag for adjusting on the fly, otherwise I don't care as long as it it works to some extent.

 

Renrag

[Alan Stubbs]

I have a distinct preference for rear drag, although I am aware of the relative efficiencies of clutches on front drag reels.

In my case, it's a natural clumsiness which makes rear drag much more user-friendly.

 

Personally speaking, I've found the most reliable rear drag clutches to be Okuma and Shimano. the worst by far have been TFG - simply too small a clutch wheel.

 

I have a couple of old D.A.M and Shakespeare front drag reels, and they've held up well, I simply can't get comfortable using them when playing a fish.

[fishtec1312]

I have two abu Suverans which have the centre drag and I think it's the best place/ most convenient place to have a drag adjuster. The drag is super smooth and can be tightened up enough to drag in the QE2 . Im amazed that other manufacturers haven't followed/ copied this idea and that abu themselves haven't made many more centre drag reels.

are the suverans,a newer model than the cardinel range,or not

[Andy Macfarlane]

I think rear drag reels are mince and that's that really. Handy certainly but really, awful things. You'd have thought after 30 years or so, rear drags would have come on a little but most I see are just as crap as they ever were, if not worse.