I'm trying to diagnose a problem with my reel and determine weither or not I can fix it myself.

Recently when I tighten down the drag on my Cardiff 300 it is still very easy to pull the line out. There is some pressure but not much. The first time it happenend I was in freezing temps and I figured it was just from the cold, I opened the reel up right there and just did a quick inspection, everything looked fine and I put it back together, then the drag pressure was normal.

I used it again the other day and the same problem resurfaced, this time simply opening it and closing it back up did not solve the problem.

I always store my reels with my my drag completely backed off and in a clean enviroment, but I do fish with the drag buttoned down pretty much all the time. Could the drag be shot already? It's a fairly new reel and the drag has really never been used.

Any ideas and advice is welcomed...

Are you using Braid?

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what have-yous

>Are you using Braid?

Braid with a Mono top-shot.

Did you back it with mono or wrap the spool with duct tape? When I first spooled braid on my reel I didn't and the line will just spin on the spool, at first I thought my drag was screwed up too but finally realized what was happening. So I'm thinking I just wasted a 25$ spool of braid. So I strip the line off put the mono backing and thought I'd see how much of the line on the floor I could get back on the reel. To my amazement it all went back on with no tangles or knots. Try doing that with mono.:7

I did not back it with mono, straight braid tied to the spool.
So your saying the braid could just be spinning around on my spool and not grabbing?

Thanks for the tip, I'm going fix that first and see what happens.

Yep, your braid could be spinning on your spool.

I always back braid with mono, this keeps the line from slipping.

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what have-yous

>Yep, your braid could be spinning on your spool.
>
>I always back braid with mono, this keeps the line from
>slipping.

Thanks guys, you learn something new everyday..well almost.

Or wrap with electrical tape. Just a few wraps needed for it to grab.

>Or wrap with electrical tape. Just a few wraps needed for it
>to grab.
>

I used electrical tape last night, worked like a charm.