Drag Plates for Daiwa 50H

[Blue Water 23]

I have 4 Daiwa 50H's and it is hard to get the drag tight enough for setting the hook on Sturgeon. I had one "serviced" a year ago by Gary at Great American Tackle. He is a great guy with great knowledge and I buy stuff there often. Nothing agianst him at all but the one that was serviced is the one that the drag is worse on now. The other ones are about 12 years old and are in great shape, except for the drag. I don't want to have them serviced for $22 dollars and then have to do it again in a year. Can you just buy the drag plates? Are they easy to fix? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am guessing that this is from fighting tons of fish and lots of hogs in the spring but is there a cheaper or longer lasting fix for them?

[Flatfish]

It is pretty hard to actually wear out a drag washer. Usually they are damaged by storing them for long periods of time without loosening the drag. John has a 50-h that is smooth as a babys bottom. But he loosens the drag between fishing trips. To tighten for hogs, on a serious rod, use a pliars.

Call John for parts stuff, i think he knows a guy. If not then Ollie Damon.

[Blue Water 23]

I loosen them betwwen trips. I have mono on one reel and have no problem with it. It tightens easily. We don't fight hogs with that rod so that is why I thought that maybe that was it. Or maybe it is just because TUFF line doesn't stretch during the hookset. Either way I am tired of the line digging into my thumb when I have a solid hookset on a large fish. I will try Olie Damons. Thanks for the information.