How to set drag properly with a digital scale?

[MuskieBait]

So do it by feel while fighting a fish...and not worry so much about setting it by some kind of benchmark (ie 15lb...etc). You just have to play with your equipment and get a feel for it. Match a rod with the reel, tie the line to the leg of a table, and test out the rod and reel with the rod under load, then adjust the drag to learn how much drag is needed to put up how much pressure.

Every fish fights different anyways...and if you are fishing in saltwater, you never know what is going to hit next. You may have the drag set right for snapper...and then BAM, you're on a stingray. What are you going to do? You can never be completely ready for those surprises...but if you stay calm, think with a clear head, and not over react, you can adjust the drag by small degree during the fight and still bring the fish in regardless if you have 5lb or 30lb or drag.

Adaptation is probably one of the greatest asset some of the best anglers have...there is never one system that fits 100% of the time. Some people can just pick up a random rod and reel and still catch fish like mad without having to worry about any of the technicality.

Small reels with little drag has brought in big fish, you know...I bet I don't even have 7lb of drag when I brought in that big cownose ray from its butt end...a little bit of thumbing experience and learning when to give and when to hold your ground can accomplish A LOT!

Like I said before, I've never measured out drag pressure before on my reels...I don't worry about it too much. I don't like to fish with maximum amount of drag anyways unless I need to drag a fish out of danger zone...and if that's the case, I usually thumb the spool to apply that pressure and don't depend on my drag system...your thumb is much more sensitive and can react much faster. I'd rather trust my own sensory and signaling neurons.