Using big baits and 25 lb test, Ive always tightened my drag down very tight. Ive never had a big fish take drag. I tighten the drag down so that I can slam the hook home, then basically just bully the fish to the boat. Ive never had a problem doing this, and as best I can tell, thats what others with much more experience than me do.

However, the other day I stuck a fish and for the first time with big baits I reached for the drag to loosen it up. I never did actually loosen it, but there was an intense 20 seconds at the boat that had me nervous (more nervous of loosing my bait than losing the fish), actually had to stick my rod all the way in the water to clear the back of the boat and get to the other side.

So what do you guys do? How do you set your drags with the big baits? I always have it in my head that I may stick a real toad and need to have the mindset to realize that and react quickly to loosen my drag as appropriate.

I had your mindset about tightening the drag and just owning the bass no matter how big she was, but I found out quickly with 25 lb test and an almost 8 foot broomstick that isn't always possible. It depends on the fish, and how the fish was hooked, but some pull extremely hard even on that heavy tackle and will either snap your bait off, rip the hooks out of her mouth, or most likely bend your hooks. For me a happy medium has served me well. I have a shimano Corvalus which has a good drag and I find a setting where it will go out if a fish makes a strong run, but won't budge when I'm setting the hook. Worst comes to worst, I bend my knees and put the rod in the water if my drag isn't going out the way it should. I use #1 hooks on most of my big baits because I don't like to over power the bait with 2/0's. So #1's will definitely bend if you put too much pressure. Bottomline, have a good reel with a good drag and take the time to find the right drag setting before making a cast. That's my motto.

It depends on the situation. With a second person in the boat and a big net the locked down drag thing is the way to go. You can totally overpower almost any fish that bites with 25 lb and the faster it goes in the net the better. The theory is that when you're just winching that bass in as fast as you can, and never give it a second to start fighting, the bass never really has a chance to do any acrobatics or build up momentum to tear out a hook. This also goes for shore fishing.

They key in the situation above is that you never let up on the fish for one second. But by yourself in a boat you can run into problems at the side of the boat just like you described. I hooked a fish a couple months ago by myself where I got burned by a locked drag. I powered the fish to the boat as usual but didn't have the net perfectly positioned when it got there. As soon as I let go of the reel handle the fish dove under the boat, straightened out both Owner treble hook, mangled my swimbait, and got away. Not a huge fish either, probably right around 10 lbs. From now on I'm letting off on the drag a little when I'm fishing by myself.

Ummm, yep, one of my problems is I dont have a net. I know I need one but havent found the perfect one yet (I really dont like being cramped). Not having a net has only cost me one fish about 9, but it took a brand spanking new 12 with it! Ouch.

Ive powered almost all my fish straight to the boat, but without a net thats a dangerous situation. Reason being is that they are still green and Im trying to figure out how to grab them. This normally takes a few seconds, and thats all the time they need to figure out somethings wrong and then they go nuts. This is the moment when Ive been reaching for the drag. The other problem with giving a fish an opportunity to take drag is that if they get in those thick weeds, you got a problem. Something as simple as setting a drag actually turns into a complicated thing.

On a lesser note, I came real close to having two 2/0 trebles stuck in my hand and attaching me to a thrashing big fish in total darkness. That would not have been cool. And I had anaother big fish come to the boat green with its mouth shut so I just leaned forward into the water and bear hugged the thing. It was ugly but I got it in the boat and it was my PB.

Since we are talking nets, can anybody suggest a good, collapsible net? I have limited room and am really maxed out on space and my gear. The ones at TW seem questionable.

This is the net Rob has been recommending... The Promar Grande Halibut / Salmon Release Net with the black netting (the gray netting is a cloth type material that is unfriendly to hooks).

http://www.americanmaple.com/relaunchpromar/grandehalibutsalmon.html

I bought one a year ago and from now on it feels like cheating every time I net a fish. I don't have any space for a big net either, but it's such an important tool I even bring it on my kickboat.

I got burned on a locked drag earlyer this year . I made 2 mistakes. 1st I was using 20lb and 2nd I had the drag locked because I am used to overpowering the fish. The fish hit the bait as soon as it hit the water and was ripping off line. I engaged swung and started to crank. the fish came twards me a little then turned. I couldnt stop it. I had too much line out to control it and it just went straight out away from me and snapped my line because I was sure I could turn it. I am still kicking myself for not loosening the drag. Now I fish with a little give in my drag and instead of loosening on a big fish, I keep it a little loose and botton it down if I know its not a real big fish.

Then why have a drag if your not going to use it, but thats just me. I check my drag before each trip and loosen it at the end of each trip.

I also thumb the spool when I don't have my drag tight enough.

As Nico said, The Idea when fishing big baits is to not fight the fish. You want to keep winding them in and not give them a chance to turn or jump or dive into cover. This works most of the time if you just overpower them and crank them in. Sometimes they will even open their mouthes while you are cranking them and it acts like a parachute. You keep cranking and they cant close it. These big fish are very dangerouse while you are fighting them. If you give them a chance there is a good posability they will find a way to get off.
If you CAN over power them you have a much better chance of landing them.