This Is Why Your Drag Is Silent (And How To Fix It)
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
Is your spinning reel drag silent?
This is a common problem that anglers run into and in this video, I’m going to show you how to identify the root cause of it.
It could be because of the way you spooled your reel, or an issue with the internal clicking mechanism, but the good news is that it’s pretty quick and easy to find the issue.
Then, once you’ve identified the problem, you’ll be able to fix it and get back to hearing that beautiful drag screaming again!
Check out the video below.
How To Fix Silent Drag [VIDEO]
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If your drag isn’t clicking anymore, it’s most likely because of one of these three reasons:
Reason #1: Your braid is free-spinning on the reel.
Since braid is so thin and soft, if you tie it directly onto your spinning reel, it likely won’t grip into it, and will free-spin if you get a big fish on.
Of course, when it’s free-spinning, the drag won’t be clicking because it’s not engaging.
To know if this is the issue, tighten your drag down and pull on your line.
If the drag clicks and the spool spins, then this is not the issue.
But if line comes off of your reel and the spool does not spin, then it likely is the issue.
To fix this, put some mono backing on your reel.
Reason #2: The gear on the shaft is broken.
The teeth of the gear on the shaft is what moves the drag clicker.
If this is broken, then your drag clicker won’t be making any noise.
Reason #3: The drag clicker is broken.
The drag clicker is a little piece inside of the spool that actually makes the noise.
It has a spring that makes it pop back into place and keep clicking.
If the spring is broken or worn out, or the piece is missing entirely, then the clicker won’t be making any noise.
Conclusion
If your drag isn’t making any noise, it may be because of one of the three reasons above.
Make sure your line isn’t free-spinning, and then check the gear on the spool and the drag clicker.
Have any questions about why your drag isn’t making any noise?
Let us know in the comments below!
And if you know someone who is dealing with this problem, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Where can I get a drag spring for my shimano 5500 reel
Hey John! You would most likely have to contact Shimano directly for a replacement spring or just replace the spool itself.
Tony
glad I was able to find the video for reference. However, I bought a Diawa Procyon after reading about it. I noticed I couldn’t hear the clicker and had to keep looking at my reel when fighting a fish.
I took the reel apart after reviewing your video and found that the clicker mechanism on this reel is completely different. It actually did click but was so quiet I couldn’t hear it on the water.
So… I started playing with the spring, bending it so it would put more pressure on the inside ridges it has instead of a gear. Well long story short I couldn’t get to sound any louder. Any suggestions?
Thanks. Vic Weinstein
Hey Vic!
I’m not sure about altering the drag clicker. I have a Procyon as well but haven’t noticed any issues with the drag. It is a little quieter than most but still clicks smoothly.
Great article! Very informative! However, unfortunately, I still can not fix the silent issue. I narrowed it down to the drag clicker or the spring being the problem. The line is wrapped perfectly on the spool. The gear teeth on the shaft don’t appear broken. So it can’t be any of those. The drag clicker clicks when the reel has its drag low. But, when the drag is set higher, it stops clicking and is just silent. It clicks randomly at times when the drag is set higher, but very rarely. Is there a specific reason as to why the clicking stops once I set the drag higher on the reel? I am guessing the drag clicker or the drag click spring is worn out? They appear to be working fine though. It clicks back and the spring appears to me to have some sort of resistance. This is my first encounter with this problem so I am not sure. Hopefully, I can get an answer soon. I want to be sure before I place an order for the parts. For reference, I have a Shimano Stradic Ci4+ FB. Hope to hear from Salt Strong soon. Seriously considering signing up!
Thank you for the great feedback Louis!
Thats interesting, I haven’t had that issue but I have had an issue where it would come and go. I am curious if it may not even be the actual drag system itself. Have you checked to see if the line on the spool is just spinning freely when the drag is set tight?
Hi.
I was wondering if it actually matters if the drag isn’t clicking, will everything else still work fine?
I ask as mine isn’t clicking as much as it used to.
I’ve watched your video and checked everything you have mentioned and I can’t see what the issue is with my reel.
I would appreciate any help.
Thanks.
Hey Tony!
Great question! The sound of the drag is an audible cue to stop reeling and/or adjust the drag as needed while fighting the fish. If you are reeling against the drag you will get a lot of twist in your line. If the drag is silent and is too loose you could lose a fish due to lack of tension on the line.
Cool video… I always wondered what the parts of the reel were and that was one I had question about. Another question is how to fix the (not sure what it’s called) lever that locks the handle from turning backwards. One of my reels quit locking or would sometimes lock and other times I had to actively fish so it wouldn’t reel backwards. So far I haven’t even seen a use for that function on the reel.
Hey Charles!
That is an anti-reverse switch which was more popular back in the day when people would actual reel backwards to let line out while fighting a fish instead of using drag. I am not much of a fan of reels that have that because like you said it can act up. If the mechanism inside the reel gets worn out/corroded or broken it will not work properly. My Diawa Procyon reel has that switch but I have never touched it so haven’t had any issues yet.
Thanks for the helpful vid, Tony!
No problem Adam!