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.