The drag system on newer H5D and L5W is the same and even better then on an older models. It comprising of 10 composite ( rullon with hard alloy: bronze powers) disks and 9 stainless, providing a very smooth performance. The composite disks are virtually indestructible and with little pressure from cap springs can generate huge stopping power if needed. There are 5 levels, which can be alter and L5W comes with level 4 . Level lower level, more gradual changes of resistance and lower max resistance. The drag operate form O to 300 degree.
At level 4 max. resistance can stop a large una. That level is similar to and old H5D.
At level 5 the reel can battle a Whale........
For Chinooks Level 3 is sufficient and for Steelhead level 3 or 2.
The change of the drag level is done by deactivating composite plates in the drag package which was introduced in 2008/2009, well before other reel makers like Hatch started to copy it.
The boys in Danielsson are engineers/anglers who designed in the past on a large industrial machines. In case like this there is no room for error and less moving parts, better. The same philosophy can be found in their modern, machine made reel.
