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Thumbing the Spool? #8839031 04/18/13 02:28 AM
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HornedFrog'07 Offline OP
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I hear people say it and read about people doing it referring to realing in a fish, typically a "monster". Does it refer to hitting the release button and using your thumb as a drag system of sorts?

Can someone that utilizes this technique help me understand the purpose of doing it? Benefits? I guess I am confused. We buy these $200+ reals and then would prefer to "thumb the spool" instead of use the drag?


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Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839041 04/18/13 02:30 AM
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Iron Man Offline
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Oh dear lord, can you imagine how bad that would hurt using braid and your thumb as the drag??? Jeez!


On a serious note, thumbing actually is like a variable drag system that you can adjust on the fly. Just don't free spool while fighting a fish. Now, when a large fish makes a run and you need to adjust the drag, loosen it a bit, then tighten it when you reel again.

Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839098 04/18/13 02:41 AM
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Hog Jaw Offline
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Well Said

Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839276 04/18/13 03:11 AM
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a-mac Offline
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I do it all the time. I don't even think twice about doing it. Normally, I do this when I have a large fish at the boat and they get their 2nd wind.

I do it with braid too, I've never had any issues with it. The reason why I do this with braid is to prevent a hook from getting straightened out.


Now if we were salmon fishing, absolutely no way!!!



Live2Fish~Fish2Live
Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839294 04/18/13 03:14 AM
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TopGunPilot Offline
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I personally don't like thumbing the spool unless I'm throwing into a 20 mph wind and get hit with a 30 mph gust. Otherwise, I set it for the conditions. I'll rarely thumb it while fighting a fish, that's why we pay for the "drag" system


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Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839334 04/18/13 03:19 AM
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All I can say is drags will break your line sometimes when not set right and when a monster takes off the line almost always digs into itself thumb spooling will never cause u to break off a fish. I have done it on many fish including some over 8lbs works great for cranks

Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839387 04/18/13 03:27 AM
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riverdogbone Offline
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I do it I thumb spools I use my thumb for drag mostly if I have super light line on

Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839454 04/18/13 03:39 AM
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capt grumpy Offline
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It may not cause you to break off but it can cause you to straiten out a hook, I know change the hooks but some times I forget. Price of getting old LOL.

Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: Jake Shannon(Skeet4Life)] #8839513 04/18/13 03:56 AM
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CrankBait1007 Offline
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Originally Posted By: Skeet4life
All I can say is drags will break your line sometimes when not set right and when a monster takes off the line almost always digs into itself thumb spooling will never cause u to break off a fish. I have done it on many fish including some over 8lbs works great for cranks

+1 well said


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Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839713 04/18/13 06:02 AM
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soje Offline
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I thumb the spool on a cast if it's about to over run. I've done it while fighting a fish when I forgot to set my drag. If I get in bad situation, I'll disengage the spool, and control it with my thumb, but only in an emergency type situation. I don't do it as a usual practice.

Are you guys saying that you practice this as a substitution for drag, while fighting a fish? Are you doing it with lose drag, or actually disengaging the spool?

Last edited by soje; 04/18/13 06:03 AM.



like the man says...if you're swimming in the ocean and get bitten by a shark, its not a shark attack. You're in THEIR neighborhood. If you're at home in your shower, turn around and a shark is in there with you...THAT'S a shark attack
Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839833 04/18/13 11:00 AM
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I thumb 90% of the Big fish I land, sometimes the drag will not react as fast as a fish can swim. I have most of my drags set that you can barely pull it with your hand or not at all, I have more confidence in using my thumb

Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839988 04/18/13 12:26 PM
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I guess I'm not catching "big" fish...haha

Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8839989 04/18/13 12:26 PM
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Lucky Al Offline
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Since I learned to cast before most reels didn't even have drag, I set my drag slightly loose and automatically use my thumb when I cast or fight a fish. Especially when I cast, when you do get some overrun, that's when you use your thumb, at the end of the cast. But I always ride my thumb above the spool so that if the spool starts to overrun I can hopefully stop the backlash before it gets out of hand. (Not always successful though, especially when trying to throw into the wind!)
As for fighting big fish, I always have my thumb on there to assist the drag, and often have to tighten it as I am fighting the fish.

Last edited by Lucky Al; 04/18/13 12:31 PM.
Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8840080 04/18/13 12:53 PM
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Never gave it much thought other than I have mine set so roughly a 5-lber will pull drag. Something I try to do is regularly check my drag. All my reels are Curados and have had NO problems with their drag systems.


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Re: Thumbing the Spool? [Re: HornedFrog'07] #8840101 04/18/13 01:00 PM
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Jersey Dan Offline
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Thumbing is a very addicting game. Almost all my crankbait fish are thumbed

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