Lever Drag vs Star Drag?

[hbmike11]

Just curious, what are the main advantages and disadvantages of a lever drag vs a star drag?

[Afry]

Both can be used most anywhere.

Lever drags are usually in the heavier duty reels.

Use the lever where you need to vary the drag like trolling.

I think it's a little easier to change drag setting while fighting fish with lever but you get used to star as well..

Star is better for jigging/casting....anytime you are constantly letting line out and retrieving or when you use a constant drag setting. All you have to do is click in and out of gear.

I wish Avet made a small star drag reel.........

[WreckinBall]

Originally Posted by Afry

I think it's a little easier to change drag setting while fighting fish with lever but you get used to star as well..

Star is better for jigging/casting....anytime you are constantly letting line out and retrieving or when you use a constant drag setting. All you have to do is click in and out of gear.

What he said.

[coryellk]

Mike,

Pro's: Predictable drag. Lever drags have detents for strike and full that you can engage and measure (with a spring scale) the amount of drag the reel produces at those settings. You can either match the line to the drag setting or change the drag setting to match the line weight you have.

Con's: Poor(er) castability (against a same sized, same line weight star drag). Lever drag spools are beefier and have the drag mechanism in the spool. This increased weight is harder for your lure/bait + line to get spinning.

Pro's: Star drag reels cast better.

Con's: Star drag reels are less predictable in the drag pressure they develop at a given crank of the star handle. Unless you play with it and get some experience... or test with a scale... you can't quantify how much drag pressure you produce at a particular setting of the star.

There are several other smaller issues as well. It really boils down to personal preference and your application of the equipment. It's no mystery why the biggest names in fishing reels make both types of reels. (1) There's room for both... (2) Tackle Ho's like me will buy them.

Good luck with this one.

[Team Pile]

I run lever drags on my sturgeon gear so I can accurately relieve tension immediately following a hook up. While the star drags are inherently easier to use, the lever drags can be tweaked in with minimal effort. I did take a lever drag rockfishing this year and loved it! I haven't tried lever for salmon..YET.. As for star drags, I've used em from the start and have several on the boat. Always have, and always will..