Home » Forums » Fishing Forums » Fishing Discussion

Star Drag v Lever Drag - Preference

Submitted by Adam Gallash on Mon, 2005-10-31 15:37

Just a quick question.. Whats your preference in terms of star drag vs lever drag?  Any particular reason for your choice?

____________________________________________________________________________

Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance

‹ Weekend fishing - Nov 12-13th Weekend Fishing? Where/when/how ! ›

Gully

Gully's picture

Posts: 963

Date Joined: 04/10/05

Drags

Mon, 2005-10-31 16:00

Mate I really dont see the need to spend the extra money on a lever drag. Dont get me wrong they are good but I have always had star drags and they have never let me down and they have all been put under serious strain. Some people say they are easier but I dont think thats the case as I think they are much the same as you still have to go through the same motions of putting the reel into and out of gear and they are both easily adjusted. Also stars are less complex aswell so therefore should have less dramas mechanically when it comes down to it. For me it really comes down to the price I suppose

Adam Gallash

Adam Gallash's picture

Posts: 15659

Date Joined: 29/11/05

Reel Choice

Mon, 2005-10-31 17:07

I've never been a really big fan of the star drag because you always have to fiddle around if you want to change your drag setting, if it is a big one.. The ease of use is what has got me always using a level.. A mate had a star drag but when you hook up on the bottom it seems to cause a fair bit of a problem when you can't over strike and lock up to snap off, well, thats what i've seen of his efforts with one..

I agree with you about the mechanically thou, seems logical..

There isn't much of a price difference with them is there?  Never taken too much notice..

____________________________________________________________________________

Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance

Timbo

Posts: 8

Date Joined: 28/10/05

A lever drag is really not

Mon, 2005-10-31 18:21

A lever drag is really not that more complicated than a star.....both can be fiddly when ya open them up.....infact I have found it easier to service my lever drag reels than my star drag ones. Personally I prefer lever for bottom bouncing and trolling......the drag is far more precise and locking it up is much easier....just a simple push and ya there, no winding the star up so hard it feels like ya finger will break...JMO.

mitch

mitch's picture

Posts: 1285

Date Joined: 14/08/05

drag

Tue, 2005-11-01 00:14

always in it just the depth that varies

i dont think thers any dout "personally"

lever drags will end up being my preference

the old pens senators still use a star drag  great proven product

but i think the lever system will over take , i find the lever a lot easier to use ,most levers ya can preset the drag even all the way 'pushed forward ,that setting is still what youve set it at , im only o busted arse amiture ,but have lost a couple of good fish getting excited an screwed the old star  UP way to tight

but the lever system you would of set in a better frame of mind . i.e sober, not in the froses of fighting a big fisjh that ya think at the time is gonna do ya. when ya push that lever to sunset  thats what youve got ,what you set it at 10hours ago when you were planning for everything to hold together.keep screwing that star drag ,and what yove got is a locked up piece of string that will bust if the setting is stronger than the STRING holding onto ya pb fish

i think they call it panic.

you only have to look at the price of stars verses levers, and the levers are the more pricie,i think because of the ease of pre set an panic mod.well thats the way i see it

shite im tippssie.i.e pissed, hope that makes sense   


mitch

Adam Gallash

Adam Gallash's picture

Posts: 15659

Date Joined: 29/11/05

Good point

Tue, 2005-11-01 13:39

Yeh, agree with that mitch.. have seen the panic with a star drag and also with the lever.. depends on the size of the star drag a bit, but i find it a bit finicky to change stars and its easier to go overkill...
it all comes down to personal preference and the fish generally speak for themselves..

____________________________________________________________________________

Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance

solly

solly's picture

Posts: 375

Date Joined: 11/09/05

lever 4 me

Tue, 2005-11-01 21:01

Have got three oheads with star drag and 1 with lever (avet)the star are ok but my favorite is now the lever for the ease of use and the fact that you can preset the max amount of drag that you need if targeting specific species . its also much easier to just push your thumb to the top trying to stop the mongrel that wont turn than trying to hang on one handed whilst screwing the star up.

____________________________________________________________________________

There are two types of people ,do'ers and watchers
Right now the do'ers are the doing it
And the watchers are watching us do it

Andy Woodford

Andy Woodford's picture

Posts: 3

Date Joined: 24/09/05

Lever Drags

Wed, 2005-11-02 00:20

Lever drags really come into their own when you're trolling. You set the reel at strike drag when trolling but after you get a bite you push the drag lever up to the end to play the fish. Depending on the cam on the drag moving the lever to the end will give you a known drag setting. Try doing that on a star drag...........


For bottom bouncing and the likes though the star drags are fine. Then it's just a case of what you prefer.


Cheers


Andy



Are you going to Cowboy Up..........Or just lie there and bleed???????????

SHizz

SHizz's picture

Posts: 1556

Date Joined: 07/08/05

Bottom bashing lever or star

Thu, 2005-11-10 21:01

Bottom bashing lever or star for me(got star at the moment) Doesnt really bother me, id much prefer a nice tekota 700 to a tld 25 for bottom fishing, so much nice/easier to use when your out there all day.

Trawling - Lever drag all the way, not saying i havent used stars before but its so much more handy than "fiddling" around as someone else said.