Fishing reel drag calculator

Calculate drag force from your line’s breaking strength and the percentage you choose.

The percentage depends on your technique, target species and line. A knot’s actual breaking strength is lower than the line’s. Check the setting with a scale, pulling the line from the rod tip.

Enter your values, then calculate.

Method and limitations

Drag force = line breaking strength × chosen percentage ÷ 100. Pounds × 0.45359237 gives kilograms; kilograms ÷ 0.45359237 gives pounds. Results are displayed to two decimal places.

Sources

No external reference is documented for this calculation; its method and limitations are described above.