Steps, you have just described the 2-speed mechanism - a lower retrieve rate (or a smaller spool diameter) will indeed make it easier to retrieve line. Rate of retrieve however has nothing to do with drag settings, which will increase as the spool diameter decreases.

I see what your talking about but the drag is set on a full spool of line or there abouts, when the fish is say 600+ out the back we drop our drag down somewhat, we dont go up, the water drag on the mono is your friend here but can be a bugger if your not on to it, dropping the drag has never done us any harm ever, yes more line on the spool as line comes in and yes there is weight and harder to wind, this is why game reels are not huge on the retrieve, Tiagras and I am guessing here so guys correct me is 1 to 1 on low and 2.5 to 1 on normal, some will argue that the jig reels are high speed and you get big fish on them, well yes they are, they are not game reels simple and not designed for it but then many are going that way, watch the future guys you game reels will be a lot smaller well if braid is ever allowed in comps but hey if your not fishing comps right now with the sellection of reels out there you can go do it now, lets face it you dont need big heavy Tiagras with 50 or 80lb mono 1000m when you can have a say a TLD 25 or 30 with alot more 50lb braid. 2 speed is great when the fish is dead or down deep and stubourn when fighting a fish 1 to 1 is a joke. 

if people want to see if they can handle it, LOL  stand on the said boat with your 20kg weight (or larger) handing off the end or your rod (yes your all harnessed up) and stand there doing your pump motion for 2-3 hours.  see how you go. LOL

Steps wrote: A small spool is easier to turn for a given weight..u will notice this when winding the boat in on the winch....as the boat comes up on the trailer it is easy to drag up... as the layers of rope increase so does the amount of effort to wind ....also as u say the retive as the spool gets full per wind turn is greater... So when there is a lot of line out, then start pulling , retreve per turn is less but  is lighter to pull in. Because it is lighter one can tend to increase the drag....so it is harder for the fish to pull more line off. As u get line in, the retreve per turn is greater but so is the effort, and it is very easy to forget the drag is still turned up as the fish also starts to tyer.. then it panicks when sees the boat, too much drag still on the reel....something gives.

Not long as the reel only puts out 45kg max anyway  but he may be fighting from the holder( watching too much "Hot tuna")

the angler wrote: Talked to a bloke yesterday that told me he was gettin a tiagra 130 and was going to fish it with 45 kg of drag , how long do you guys reckon he would last ?

I would say he would be asleep after 2 more handles one in every pub

the angler wrote: Talked to a bloke yesterday that told me he was gettin a tiagra 130 and was going to fish it with 45 kg of drag , how long do you guys reckon he would last ?

Hard to know but I'm 80kg dripping wet and did 30kgs at the rod tip for the last 3hours of a stoush once. I was a bit sore for two weeks, even my toes were stiff as if they'd been stood on and my back had bruises like seat belt rip after a smash.