learning to fly fish.....questions

2 hours ago, Travis Swift said:

Another dumb question. Do fly reels have drags? If so how do you set it? 

yes and no and it depends........ some of the simplest reels are click pawl drag and not really adjustable, some reels have an adjustable  brake shoe kinda drag in addition to the pawl and some have a sort of disc brake system and there may be some that either I haven't seen or don't remember. ahh, yes, the automatic reels wind the spring as the line is pulled out effectively getting tighter in a braking fashion.

If we either had a picture of the reel or the brand/model - then we could tell you what you can or can not adjust.

here are pictures of both sides of the reel.  It's from Cabela's.  I rigged it with 2 pound test last night and took it to my local city pond here in Kansas.  I caught around 40 bluegill and that was a blast.  But then all the sudden, WHAM.....a 4 pound channel cat took my little 1/100th ounce jig!  I fought that sucker 15 minutes before I landed it.  I'm so stinking addicted now!!  Anyhow it got me to thinking about a drag on this thing or not.

thanks,

travis  

Lower pic, would be the right side of reel,  appears to have a black knob in  center that should tighten the drag in cw direction, I think.  

This will only act as a brake on the spool, it won't let the spool slip in the way a spinning reel would. Tighten, and pull line and tighten  and pull line til you are happy with the result. If that acts the Cabela's reel I had it should lock up at some point of knob turning.

In the center of the right side, handle side is a spring loaded release that will let the spool come off the frame, so that you can clean or lube the innards or change to a spare spool with a different line on it. pressing the little slid thing either in or out will release the spool, maybe looking at it open will give a better notion of what is going on with the drag. That reel looks like you can palm the spool rim to increase drag if wanted. I didn't keep the Cabelas reel very long and am going on memory, so might be off a bit, give it a try.

The zip tie has gotta go! Fly fishing is about style, man! 😄

I don't understand why it's on there.  I'll be down at Taney Wednesday if you need any help.

@Travis Swift When you are going to be on Taney?  I'll make sure to be around.  Then there's @duckydoty too.

Our small PJ 1/100th ounce jigs are pretty good too.  I like the brown or sculpin/orange head.  Sculpin/ginger brown head's been working good too.  6x is perfect.  5x is ok too but you'll get more bites especially if the water is flat, and it's been flat all week.

Fishing's been stupid good for 3 weeks now.  Average rainbow size/quality is the best I've seen in many years.

zip tie is gone, i took the pic soon as i got home from the store is all.  Phil thank you I will stop in.  I want to give you some of my trout chatterbaits I'm making to try out anyhow.  I have some 6x tippet coming tonight along with the 7x tippet so I should be good to go.  I will be coming down Saturday and will be there thru the following Sunday and would love to see and visit with you guys. 

25 minutes ago, Travis Swift said:

zip tie is gone, i took the pic soon as i got home from the store is all.  

I figured that. Just having some fun 😄

14 hours ago, Lancer09 said:

Yes they do.

The knob opposite the side you are cranking on. The reel handle will spin when line is being pulled.

Trout won't bust your knuckles.

Carp will.

I’ve landed many a trout that have left bloody knuckles. You must not be fishing for the right sized trout

Did you get a cabelas rod too?  I got a 8'6 5wt that I really love.   They are good value for the money,  and mines held up to some abuse and landed a ton of fish on it.