Rod query
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=137896
Printed Date: 21 Jun 2026 at 11:44pm
Topic: Rod query
Posted By: Alan L
Subject: Rod query
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2023 at 8:41pm
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Hi guys. When a rod is rated at 24kg, resumably that is line weight. So does that mean it is rated to 12 kg drag Sorry for tyos , got keyboard issues. Alan ------------- Legasea Legend member |
Replies:
Posted By: shaneg
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2023 at 9:39pm
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24 kg more likely set 8kg of drag. Looking for spin marlin rod now for 100lb braid on a a sagossa 20k. Hard finding one apart from one heavy duty shimano abyss model. A lot look flimsy. We are running 80lb top shots on top of 80lb - 100lb hollow core on 50w tiagras, for abrasion resistance but still setting drags for our 24kg rods , although some of our rods are multi weight offshores 50 -80lb. Still reckon 8kg is plenty off a full spool especially when line load comes down after first run and drag is going to increase. On strike we have drag around 4 kg ( it’s still a firm amount of drag) so fish can pull bit of string and not bust a stainless rod holder out of 3mil alloy. Cheers Shane
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Posted By: Reel Magic
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2023 at 9:23am
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Yes, 24 kg is the line weight and when game fishing it is usual to set the drag at 1/3 of the line weight. So it would be 8kg of drag when using 24 kg line. ------------- www.reelmagic.co.nz http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2023 at 11:06am
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That's my understanding, the rod is build for that line weight but not rated for a 24 kg dead weight ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2023 at 11:37am
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24kg rod would handle way more than 8kg of drag, 8kg is just a safe guide to use when fishing 24kg mono. Good anglers who know how to tie good knots often double the recommended drag. Dont forget that 8 kg drag when spool is full actually doubles when spool is half empty so remember to drop your drag when spool is getting low. Most anglers do the opposite and wonder why their line breaks -------------  www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Posted By: Fish Addict
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2023 at 2:04pm
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Kaveman is onto it. Peter Pakula in one of his articles suggests setting the drag at up to 70% of line strength at Full. So with 24kg line that would give you 16.8kg of drag at Full. My thinking however is that many rods that manufacturers rate as 24kg rods would be way past their optimum performance when under 16.8kg of load. |
Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2023 at 4:55pm
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Yes I get the 8kg drag bit that is 1/3 at strike. But at sunset you would be at 12kg. So that is really where my Q is heading. I have always presumed it would therefore be safe to run 12 kg (sunset on a 24 kg rod. FWIW I run 50Ws on 80lb topshot and hollow dacron. I have generally set my strike drag half way between 24 and 37 kg, ie around 10kg on 24 kg rods. I have some 37 kg rods too and if expecting heavy traffic eg big dogtooth etc, will always use them in preference. But for general work, prefer the lighter rods. The 37kgs feel a bit like broomsticks. On the 24 kg rods I don't use sunset - because I would be around 15kg. But I am assuming the manufacturer would be expecting me to use 12 kg on their 24 kg rod. Am I correct. Got a big sailfish few days ago, solo. Very cool fish. Alan ------------- Legasea Legend member |
Posted By: shaneg
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2023 at 7:15pm
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Well done on the sail Alan, did you get any pics? They fight really well for weight, very acrobatic and change direction alot. One best fish to play and catch… shame we don’t get em in NZ waters.
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Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2023 at 7:47pm
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Sorry no camera in boat. But it was a big one. Charter guy who lives 2 doors down thought it was a decent striey. He was on the sot when I hooked it. I was drifting!! Took my home made skirt lure . But I agree, ballerinas of the ocean. Gave a fantastic aerial dislay. Alan ------------- Legasea Legend member |
Posted By: krow
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2023 at 7:57pm
| The old school kilwell rods I had were rated to the lift weight I believe. I don't know when that changed. The newer rods are better materials and way thinner. I run all 37kg as IMO the 24kg are too light. |
Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2023 at 9:33pm
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I prefer the 24kgs. I just wonder what they are actually rated to take. I am summising they must be good for 12kg ie sunset on line rating. If so that is fine by me. Never usually use sunset on anything , no need. Except on occaisions like a big doggie. Then sunset on 37 kg is barely enuf. Alan ------------- Legasea Legend member |
Posted By: waynorth
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2023 at 4:58pm
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Interesting topic Alan. Until they started rating rods on how heavy a jig they could cast, the agreed interpretation of the rod's rating was, to my understanding, 3 x it's lifting capacity when held at a 45 degree angle with a line through the guides and a weight hanging vertically below the top eye. Max lift is when either the line touches the blank between any 2 guides (common) or the blank locks up & won't bend any further (uncommon, but I have broken 2 rods this way. Better than doing it on a fish I guess.) Not sure how you would test spin rods with the line guides under the blank. Frustrated with a couple of purchases, I started checking my existing rods (that's how I broke a couple) and insisting on checking new rods before purchase. Under-rating was rare, but I found many cheaper rods were over rated, and even a few expensive name-brand rods had poorly positioned line guides allowing an earlier touch down than they should. There are many I've never tested or used, but the only brand that has never failed the test is Offshore Rods (3 rods) all bought back when Leon ran the show - he even did the test on one of them for me himself. Not cheap but worth a look if you're in the market.
------------- treat fish like fish |
Posted By: Fish Addict
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2023 at 5:52pm
Good reply there Waynorth. 
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Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2023 at 6:26pm
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Right, thanks waynorth. so not as simle as it might seem. Alan
------------- Legasea Legend member |
Posted By: waynorth
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2023 at 6:47pm
In case anyone is as anal as me on the subject, I made these up to test my rods at home, and used them instead of scales to set strike on lever drags too. Line Strike kgs Weights required 1 .33 .33 2 .66 .66 4 1.33 1 + .33 6 2 2 8 2.66 2 + .66 10 3.33 2 + 1 + .33 15 5 3 + 2 24 8 5 + 3 37 12 5 + 3 + 2 + 1 + .66 + .33 Total 6 weights required: .33 .66 1 2 3 5 ------------- treat fish like fish |
Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2023 at 8:15pm
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This makes a lot of sense. If you exect a rod to take 12kg of drag, then it should not a, break at 12 kg load and b, chaff the line against the blank. I guess the Q now is, what do the manufacturers mean when they ut 24kg on a rod. Alan ------------- Legasea Legend member |