Drag Matters – Why Your Fly Reel Isn’t Just a Line Holder

Welcome back to the Stillwater Edge Podcast! In this episode, Greg Keenan dives into a topic many stillwater anglers underestimate — your reel’s drag system. It's more than just a backup plan for big saltwater fish; a well-tuned drag setup can be the difference between landing a trophy trout or adding another "one that got away" story to the pile.

🎙️ What You’ll Learn

• What a drag system actually does (spoiler: it’s not just for show).

• The three key reasons why drag systems matter in stillwater fly fishing.

• Four real-life fishing situations where drag will save your setup (and sanity).

• Why using light tippet without proper drag is asking for heartbreak.

• Greg’s thoughts on dangles, float tubes, and why your reel might be the weak link.

🧠 Key Points

1. Drag Defined: Controls resistance as fish pull line — it’s your fish-fighting assistant.

2. Why It Matters in Stillwater:

   • Protects light tippets (think 5X, 6X) from snapping during runs.

   • Handles powerful runs from beefy stillwater trout.

   • Tires out fish effectively and ethically — especially if you're a catch & release angler.

3. When You Need It Most:

   • Fighting large trout (trophy water? Drag on!)

   • Fishing deep or with sinking lines

   • On the dangle (no drag = lost fish)

   • From a float tube (unless you enjoy being towed like a boat anchor…)

Episode Outro

Don’t sleep on your drag system — it’s not just for stopping fish, it’s for landing them clean, smooth, and with your tippet intact. Next time you’re heading to the lake, give your reel a once-over. Smooth drag? Set appropriately? Great — now go get that fish of a lifetime.

If you liked this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and help grow the Stillwater Edge community. And as always — see you on the water and tight lines till next time!