Sealed drag
Also called waterproof drag, carbon sealed drag
A drag stack closed off from water and grit so it stays smooth instead of going notchy over a season.
An unsealed drag is a stack of washers with a path to the outside world. Rain, spray, sand and the fine dust off a boat ramp all find their way in. Water swells the washers, grit scores them, and the drag that felt glassy in the shop starts letting line go in jerks.
Sealing it means gaskets and o-rings around the stack. It costs money, which is why it shows up on mid-range reels and above rather than on starter models, and it is one of the more defensible reasons to spend more on a reel.
It matters most if you fish in rain, from a kayak, or in surf and current where the reel gets dunked. It matters least if your reel lives in a bag and only comes out on calm days.
A sealed drag is worth paying for on a reel you fish in weather. Rinse any reel with fresh water after a wet trip regardless.
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Sealed drag is one of 206 terms in the glossary.
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