Star Drag Reels vs. Lever Drag Reels

Split image comparing star drag and lever drag reels. Left: angler using a star drag reel in yellow-toned light. Right: angler using a lever drag reel in cool blue light. Text reads “STAR DRAG VS LEVER DRAG.”

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As someone who’s grown up in and around fishing since their single-digit years, fishing as a lifestyle and all that comes with it feels somewhat second nature. Looking into this endeavor, I can’t imagine how confusing and technical it must appear to newcomers. Worse is the industry’s assumption about the consumer’s product knowledge and the need for educational information for those who want to get versed. These articles here at Melton Tackle shed light on various topics.

Let’s get right into it and dissect a topic that is not discussed regularly and may have you hesitant to address it in your local tackle shop.

What is the difference between a Star Drag Reel and a Lever Drag Reel, and what are the applications in selecting one?

As a generalization, today’s saltwater reels fall under conventional or spinning reels. Under the conventional reel category, reels diversify by being either Star Drag or Lever Drag, with some small exceptions for specialty fisheries. If you’re questioning whether you need a star drag or lever drag reel, you’ve probably gotten acquainted with conventional reels, but which one should you choose and why?

The differentiation between these two reel styles speaks to their drag technology. They are both great and applicable to many fisheries, but like most things when comparing, there are pros and cons to both as well as personal preference and the fish you are targeting, and techniques will assist in your decision.

Angler in gray hoodie and green hat bracing at the boat rail, holding a silver lever drag reel with a bent rod under tension. The rod has black and blue wrappings and faces down over open blue ocean beneath a clear sky with horizon visible in background. — Michel Murciano testing out one of Accurate Lever Drag reels on a sizable Yellowfin Tuna at Guadalupe Island, Baja.

Star Drag Reels

Angler in blue jacket and green cap fishing from a boat using a Torium star drag reel. Rod is bent under tension, with guides facing up. Overcast sky and forested mountains visible across choppy water in the background. — Because of the simplicity of star drag reels they are ideal for bottom fishing. Here north of America, Michel Murciano tests out the Shimano’s Torium on some willing rockfish.

Star-Drag Reels have a long history in fishing and pre-date lever drag reels. The technology of the star drag opened the door to countless fisheries and sportfishing. The star drag consistently became the status quo in conventional reels from the late 60’s through the late 90’s. Always being the predominant choice of anglers.

When looking at a conventional reel with a star drag, it’s unmistakable to identify, and its name is well deserved. The drag control looks like a ninja star on the side of the reel just inside the handle.

The main thing to consider in using a star drag, conventional reel is the size of the fish you are after as well as the application you are utilizing the reel for. Star drag reels are great for targeting fish under 50 lbs. as a general rule. If you are targeting a larger quarry a more refined drag system is recommended as in lever drag reels.

Utilizing a star drag it’s important to acknowledge that once you’ve set your drag, you will fish that same drag setting during your outing. Sure, you can increase or lessen your drag, but for the most part, you’ll be working off either a drag-ON or OFF setting. The option is to have the reel in free spool or engaged, and there is no in-between. Although you can get a bit of tension by having your reel in the click mode in free spool, this will be very minimal.

Star drags have made their mark on the fishing world as they’ve made reels affordable in many cases in comparison to the alternative. They have also been recognized for their great ability in being able to cast your presentation. There are many scenarios for using star drag reels, and we’ll outline a couple in this article to comment on the differentiation.

Bait Fishing

If you’re fishing bait with a star drag, the big takeaway here is that if you need to have the gamefish run with the bait, you have to be in the clicker mode, or you’d have to monitor the line by hand. Once your bait gets picked up free spool will allow the fish to run and consume the bait until you’re ready to assert full drag and hook the fish.

Fish dead bait on a gonion or dropper loop setup is ideal for fishing a star drag as you are monitoring the bait in gear and don’t need to monitor the line, once the line is set that’s where it’s being fished.

Fishing a star drag becomes more complicated if you’re fishing a live bait strong enough to pull against the clicker in free spool or if the current is strong enough to pull a line against the clicker in free spool. Both scenarios can be combated by manually manipulating the spool. Unfortunately, you’ll be only fishing one rod at a time.

Casting & Jigging

Angler in black shirt and tan cap fishing from a boat rail with a bent rod and gold Tiagra lever drag reel. Rod has green and white wraps with guides facing up. Overcast sky and open ocean fill the background with water splashing near the line. — Christian Sekas from Sekas Sportfishing putting a Shimano Tiagra Lever Drag Reel through the paces against a size large local Southern California Bluefin Tuna.

Mastering a conventional reel for jigging or casting is a challenging feat. Seeing how an angler can utilize their conventional reels is often a telltale sign of how versed and proficient an angler is. These two scenarios are where star drag reels tend to excel. The ability of this style of reel to free spool is unparalleled. Some of the reels in this category are amazing casting reels that can send a lure a hundred yards or more. This ability has been essential in the Southern California fishery; casting a surface iron has been such an integral part of us being able to target our coastal yellowtail. The star drag style reel’s ability to disengage the spool in free spool in conjunction with the precision ball bearing allows some of these reels to have almost no resistance in casting, allowing for your jig to fly free.

Within star drag reels lives another category of reel called baitcasting reels. In short, a baitcasting reel is a start drag reel that has been more ergonomically designed to fit in the hand of the angler. Additionally, it is equipped with a line guide that places the line evenly on the reel rather than having to manage it yourself. Many of these reels also come with a variety of cast control mechanisms that allow them to be quite ideal in casting lures. While they were originally developed or freshwater several brands have taken this design and amplified the size and drags to be able to tackle more formidable game fish.

While there are dozens and dozens of Star Drag Reels to choose from below are some of our favorites:

Lever Drag Reels

In the last several decades, the Lever Drag Reel has advanced most in the saltwater reel market. While the lever drag option has existed since the pre-80s, this style and technology were reserved for larger reels to catch big game species. Additionally, they have always been comparably expensive to produce. It wasn’t until Shimano came out with the TLD series that the lever drag reels became a mainstay of modern-day saltwater fishing for both inshore and offshore applications. Today, this tends to be the preference for most serious saltwater anglers, especially those pursuing larger gamefish.

The lever drag reel draws its name and characteristics based on a drag plate on the side of the reel that has an increased level of tension as you increase the lever position on the reel. This drag style allows the angler to set a diverse range of tension options depending on the style of fishing they are incorporating. In the early days, lever drag reels were considered apt solely in trolling and baiting with large cumbersome baits due to their inability to free spool loosely. Through technological advancements in the last decade, this characteristic has all been done away with, and many of today’s lever drag reels are quite capable and are even pushing the ability on cast-ability.

Today, the lever drag reel is the crème de la crème. The smoothness of this drag style, compiled with modern-day advancements in machining these reels, allows for amazing smoothness and free spool. It all comes at a price, though, and in most scenarios, you’ll be paying a premium for this technological advancement.

Baitfishing

Bait fishing with a lever drag is where most anglers see the dynamic possibilities. By using live bait, you can adjust your drag to the exact amount of pulling power needed, allowing your bait to remain beyond the range of the pulling force. This keeps the angler informed that any drag tension is consistent with a target species, rather than a false indication caused by the baitfish pulling the line. The same principle can be applied when using dead bait in currents, and so forth. Overall, the lever drag system grants you greater control over your presentation.

Casting and Jigging

Casting and jigging with lever drag reels was once frowned upon. True casting enthusiasts in the past would never consider a lever drag to cast. Today anglers are doing just that, especially when casting to larger gamefish. While it’s unlikely to get a lever drag to cast as well as a star drag they are getting damn near close to similar functionality and ability. The same can be said in jigging scenarios for these reels, many anglers are opting for lever drag options especially when presented with the opportunity at larger gamefish.

Drag Advantage

While we've highlighted the advantages of this drag setup, it's important to note that some manufacturers have taken this style of drag setup a step further by applying drag plates to both sides of the lever drag reels. Accurate reels, based in Corona, California, have been at the forefront of this style of lever drag reel. The amount of drag and the smoothness of the drag from their reels are unrivaled. While the performance of these reels is considered top-tier, it's worth mentioning that they require continual maintenance to ensure optimal functionality.

Technical Attributes

Today there is no shortage of brands offering both star drag and lever drag reel options. Within these, there are several options that should be taken into consideration when purchasing a reel.

Bearings: The number and type of bearings directly affect the reel's performance. Make sure to become knowledgeable about the bearings in the reel you intend to acquire.
Frame: Some reel frames are constructed from multiple components, while others are crafted from a single one-piece frame. Opting for a single one-piece frame enhances performance, as it offers less bend and flexibility under load when battling a fish. This, in turn, enables the gearing and drag to operate more precisely and effectively.
2-Speed vs. 1-Speed: Lever drag reels are available in both 2-speed and 1-speed options. With a 2-speed reel, you can shift to a lower gear when hooking a larger fish, retrieving less line more easily. It's important to note that currently, star drag reels lack this functionality.
Spool Materialization: If your primary intention is to use the reel for casting, consider the materials and weight of the spool. A lighter spool allows for longer casting distances.

The fishing manufacturers are continually coming up with amazing new technologies, get amongst it like a kid in a candy shop.

Tight lines.