After last summers experience with a line counter reel I will be hard pressed to be without one when trolling is a major focus. I have always been reluctant to bring my LC reel into canoe country because of the weight issue AND because the LC reels are usually meant for Great Lakes trolling for Salmon........that means reels intended for a bit heavier line.

Bring on the Shimano Tekota 300LC. Although intended for line class 12 to 16 I can envision dropping down to my preferred 8xt without to much difficulty. Manufacturing tolerances on some of the cheaper reels allow for the small diameter lines to get fouled and tangled where the spool meets the housing. I am betting the small Shimano will alleviate that issue to a great extent.

Weight wise it comes in fairly good especially when compared to some of the other line counters (whew!).

If you like to troll and typically use a depth finder then these might interest you.........I have been keeping my eye about 1/2 open for one and I think I might be interested.

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So MT, I'm kinda new at this so maybe you can explain.  It seems to me if I'm trolling that there's two things I want to know most of all.  First, at what depth am I most likely to find the specie I'm fishing for - say I'm going for Lakers, i'd want to know at what depth 48 - 53 degrees is (all things being equal - structure etc.)  Second, once I've found the prime depth, I want to know if that's where my bait is running.  I don't understand how a line-counter reel can really tell you either of those things.  I get that a line-counter will help you duplicate.  In other words, one you've located the fish a line-counter can repeatedly put your bait back in the same place but how does it help you locate the fish in the first place except by trial and error?

I use a line counter reel, and do so for duplication. It is NOT necessary to run at the depth lakers inhabit. Most frequently, baits will run shallower, but they will come up to hit it. I seldom mark them on my depth finder, but use it to mark depth & bottom. Frequently, they will come in from the sides or other directions. Flash is usually the key. Color of the day is also important. The relative brightness of the sky will help you zero in, along with trial and error color selection.

EZ-peazy Kerry........

The line counter made me a much better troller when targeting fish near the bottom. Lets say your trolling the 25ft contour line.......how do you determine on your spinning rod how much line to let out with your taildancer other than "oh, that seems about right"?

Capiche? On the flip side I let out 40 ft on my line counter and I bump bottom with my taildancer in 25 ft of water. Soon and very soon I understand that if I let out 35ft on the line counter my taildancer is running at 23ft because I am no longer clanging bottom. Now I know from now on how much line to let out and I can vary from there.........

Now the thought has occurred to me that I might get to fine.......that is I might be running a bit to close to the bottom and perhaps my lure is not so visible to fish who may be used to looking up........but the results have been good. AND much less hassle. No constant monitoring and readjusting of my line because I have let out to much. Set it and forget it.........I know EXACTLY how deep my lure is running (after some brief trial and error)........so when that bar comes up I know I'm in trouble and I need to take some line in........sweet and simple. Knowledge is power..........fishing has enough hassle involved, this makes life not only more effective but more relaxing because there is no guess work involved other than the initial determinations.

MT, I like to use line counters when deep trolling cranks.

A line counter reel allows you to more precisely set out diving lures in pre-determined patterns (amount of line behind the boat allowing lure to reach desired depths) and duplicate successful set-ups to more effectively fine tune a productive trolling pattern for the day.

A LC takes all the guess work out of precision depth trolling.

I have only taken my old Daiwa Sealine Line counter reel  a couple of times to Quetico. While it worked well ... it was just too heavy to lug around. It weighs 15.7 oz. I usually use it with a rod holder when fishing out of a boat with a motor and not a canoe.

Daiwa has come out with a newer, lighter weight  Sealine B model SG17LC3B that comes in at 12.9 oz. and holds 250 lbs/12 lb test.   The new Shimano Tekota 300LC  comes in a bit heavier @ 14.3 oz and holds 220 yds/14 lb test ... I really like Shimano reels. The lightest line counter I have found is the Ambassadeur 5500 LC 11.3 oz. 205 yds /12 lb test.

MT is right on ....  with a Line Counter you can find the right lure and the right depth to run it at and then duplicate the pattern to more effectively produce bites.

oh man, just when i finally think im over wanting one of these you go and bring them up!

line counters are extremely useful tools when paired with other items to easily and repeatably target specific water regions.

in union with a line counter, you can use dive curves from manufacturers to know how much line to let out for a given bait to achieve a certain depth. lures such as the berkeley flicker shad (gross) have the dive curve right on the package. other lures have their curves available via precision trolling, through their book or the new app.
  (You need to Login or Register while expensive if this is something you would find useful it may be worth it. i am not overly familiar with the information because i am more of a trial and error guy myself (read as: cheap and doesnt own it). i think for all of their calculations they use 10lb xt (.305 mm diameter) and 10lb fireline.

Oh crap.......didn't do my homework........again! Thanks Wally 13 for causing me to second guess myself  :D. Looks like there is some rather substantially lighter options......

On the flip side my guess is the Tekota is the Cadillac and quite likely has the best drag system which is something I deem highly important when using lighter line.

Maybe I could make up those ounces with a Johnny Morris "carbon light" rod with those teeny tiny guides. 7'6" MH which is a smidge shorter than I like for a trolling rod but will likely be perfect for stowing in the boat. DO NOT......tell my wife ("what do you need this rod for")  ;D

Somebody is wanting to go paddling  8-)

mastertangler wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 9:47pm:

how do you determine on your spinning rod how much line to let out with your taildancer

Counter schmounter. ;)

One stroke, two strokes, three strokes, four strokes, five strokes, six strokes, seven strokes  -walleye ... eight strokes, nine strokes, ten strokes eleven strokes -laker. YMMV Know your location, your tools and remember to thank each fish.

db wrote on Mar 19^th, 2013 at 7:02am:

mastertangler wrote on Mar 18th, 2013 at 9:47pm: how do you determine on your spinning rod how much line to let out with your taildancer Counter schmounter. ;)

;D ;D ;D

Db's not so far off...........throw the thing back there and don't worry about it. They will find it!

An alternative to a line counter (and thus less bulky) and to guessing (and therefore more accurate) is to count how many revolutions of line peel off the reel. That number can be duplicated easily once fish are found. The dive curve models are very useful in this regard. When trolling one paddler counts x number of revolutions and the second paddler counts x+y.

mastertangler wrote on Mar 19^th, 2013 at 11:05am:

throw the thing back there and don't worry about it.

No no no! Never cast before trolling. I set the rod in it's holder, make sure the lure is running right, open the bail and count my strokes while allowing for windage, mood.... After that it's paddle hoping to bump some bottom contours for eyes. Add some depth and speed for lakers... Hey, it's always worked for me.

I have a linecounter on my dedicated laker rod...which I sometimes leave at home depending on the trip.  It doesn't come on grueling trips but basecamp trips are a different matter. 

Most of the time I'm fishing medium to light spinning rods to make it a bit more sporting.  When I troll with these, I use db's method.  Count the paddlestrokes while letting out line and duplicate it when you connect.

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This seems like pretty neat stuff too, similar result just a different method to getting there. i know some of you guys dont like braid and prefer mono for trolling so it doesnt really work for you. ive rigged one of my baitcasters with 8lb suffix seige and one is suffix 832 15lb test. ive been trolling around the river in town and i kinda like how the mono works.

i think my next purchase will be one of those real long crappie rods to use for jigging walleyes, light rods are lots of fun

Line counters? Depth finders? I know If I want to catch fish in canoe country I can do without either of these items. And I know through many years of trial and error (much like db's admonition of "know your tools") about how far back to throw stuff..........(Oh, and db's right again, if you toss your lure back to begin a troll you risk a snafu).......

But here's where I'm coming from with the combo use of line counter and depth finder.........

I know some folk think like I do........fishing is a hassle.......there I said it! Yup MT thinks fishing can be a royal pain in the keister. I silently mock those bumper stickers that talk about the worst day of fishing being better than the best day of work.......baloney! Tangles, snags, endless knots, biting flies, equipment malfunctions, having to "deal" with fish etc. etc. all add up to a layer of complexity that can detract from what would otherwise be a peaceful day of being on the water. Sort of like that saying they have in golf......"A good walk spoiled"..... ;D

But I love it......actually OCD about it. When I'm paddling and solo there is a 90% chance I'm running a line (when your with others the parameters change in accordance to what is the accepted norm......"when in Rome do as the Romans" but I digress). So, if your going to make any progress whatsoever you absolutely cannot be hanging up all the time. So you run something that doesn't run real deep (I ran the old discontinued style balsa Husky Rapala on the Hunters Island trip).

Enter in the Line counter. How sweet to know my lure is running at 28ft. Yes, you can get that precise because at 26ft you tap bottom. Here is the big difference for me since I like to run a line pretty much all day........I can now be proactive instead of reactive. Instead of waiting for my lure to clang on that rock pile and react ("Oh crap") I can be proactive>>> look at my depth finder and say "whoops-se-daisy.....up we go" and crank in a wee bit before the hassle starts. And not only that I can fine tune my lure to run over the top of that rockpile, maybe even tick a few of the bigger boulders.

So for me the line counter is probably a bit less about catching fish and a bit more about being able to paddle efficiently from point A to point B in a more relaxing manner. Trolling near the bottom while paddling all day can actually be accomplished without pulling your hair out. The 10 days I spent mostly trolling on Basswood this past summer taught me the value of the LC........quality time, less hassle.

FWIW.......not into depth finders or line counters? Want to still maybe bang a meal or two for when you roll into that evening camp? You can do much as I did on my Hunters Island trip and do it without much hassle.......Pick a "minnow" type lure of at least 4" and let it trail behind. The minnow type lures sport a small lip and typically only dive some 5'.......Very little effort to pull these types of lures and you will catch some fish without much effort or bother. I caught something everyday. On Kawanipi I wasn't able to go very far without hooking up......didn't get real far that day until I decided to stow my rod and take advantage of the calm. The only caveat is I would strongly suggest a rod holder........remember MT's motto, "no hassle".........rod holders let you forget that you are even running a line.  8-) 

That PowerPro depth counter line looks interesting for those of us who don't use depth finders or depth counter reels.

I like PowerPro even though it lacks the stretch of a mono. I figure if I set drag right with my trolling rod of choice, a 7' medium action Ugly Stik, I can run the fine line between breaking off on  a snag or hard strike by a big fish. So far, so good.


Quote:

.......Pick a "minnow" type lure of at least 4" and let it trail behind. The minnow type lures sport a small lip and typically only dive some 5'.......Very little effort to pull these types of lures and you will catch some fish without much effort or bother. I caught something everyday.

I do that more often times than not. I'll use a 3 way swivel with a snag less type weight and troll the shallow diver or even a floating type minnow.
With the snag less weight I don't worry about hanging up and can get some depth with a little practice.

A floating minnow runs on an angle with surprising action. Remove all but the rear treble and maybe replace that with weedless treble or one of those NeverSnag trebles I like, and you can almost forget about hanging up and enjoy your paddle.

Another way to go: once you've got a hit and established how much line you want out you can always mark it with a bobber stop that will allow you to get your lure back where you want it and adjust as needed.

Did you ever notice how when UPS or Fed EX goes on strike the public is usually on their side? Is it because they bring us goodies? I think so!

On first impression the first thing that stands out about the Tekota is, ugh, it's heavy. Yup......4 bearings, aluminum (not graphite)  etc. etc. You don't build something with premium components without weight. The other down side is it's pricey......as in "ouch"!

The upside is, well, it's pricey and heavy...........tight tolerances, good materials, exceptional drag. The size is perfecto for my intentions.......looks like 8lb will spool up quite nicely. Plus its gorgeous  ;)

Not only did Fed Ex leave a box........they left a tube. It is extremely rare I pick up a rod without giving it a hefting but some subliminal message (the ad perhaps in the catalog  ;D ) prompted me to pull the trigger........What a fantastic rod! Johnny Morris Carbon Light. Impressive.......Extremely light rod yet surprisingly beefy. Micro guides, no fore grip and hypalon rear grip. I like the concept of the micro guides as rod guides are a source of continual hassle when loading and unloading my boat......I thought the price was quite reasonable for a rod of this caliber. Hey, if you can't actually GO fishing then just buy some fishing stuff, works for me (at least till the bill comes due  :P ).

Gettin ready to get with it. Hoping to do a 2 or 3 week tour this summer and I look forward with great anticipation to employing this outfit. Life is good oui?

 

mastertangler wrote on Mar 22^nd, 2013 at 5:59pm:

Hey, if you can't actually GO fishing then just buy some fishing stuff, works for me (at least till the bill comes due  :P ).

oh yes... i got 'grounded' by the wife because of my 'kid in a candy store' mentality at gander mt yesterday. after running up quite the bill i came home with lots of new goodies. it took all of 15 minutes because i was out on the river trying out the new stuff! excellent!! i came home with a guide series 8' light action 'crappie' rod and new suffix seige 6lb test clear. the crappie rod might be my favorite purchase in quite some time! (even though i came home with a pile of the new for 2013 rapalas) i ended up tail hooking a 25lb carp with a tiny husky jerk and the rod was flawless. dealing with a fish of that size hooked in the worst way possible, the rod handled all the runs, all the current hastles, all 37 minutes worth. it loaded nice and even, it absorbed all the side to side shaking of the tail. i let the rod do all the work. it has a nice long handle that balances out the length of the rod and its surprisingly light. for being only a light action, it had a decent enough backbone i could actually see myself trolling with it up in the Q or elsewhere. plus, my favorite part is that the eyelets are nice and small so it stores like a baitcasters but handles like a spinning rod.

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plus i got a new clamshell box for my phone/wallet for fishing out on the river, new line, more rapalas, these really neat rubber coated wire tie down thingers, like a rubber coated twist tie, plus at fleet i got an anchor mounting pulley set for my new canoe anchor rig, 2 ft of chain for an anchor, a 16 foot retractable dog leash for an anchor rope, 1/8 inch diameter camo rope, and a set of those cheapo plastic cup holders for your car. with tin snips and velcro, they quickly became removable canoe cup holders for both a soda can and a nalgeen bottle size!! ill try to get some pictures posted of all the work ive done!!

Hmmmm.........it appears that I might be a bad influence on you Jax. As a proponent of "fair and balanced" let me offer some proactive advice that you may need if you continue your unabated forays into Gander land  ;D

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Don't laugh.......its not meant as a joke.......(well maybe just a little  ;) ). Yes yours truly has attended and it was a swell time, I would go again in a heartbeat. Never, ever resist if your wife suggests any sort of "marriage enrichment" (counseling included). This non compliance is fatal.......I went, had a great time and my woman couldn't "believe how much I had changed". Of course that was merely perception.......she believed what she wanted. I just went back to doing what I had always done.......BUT, the mere fact that I was willing to go was enough.

AND.......don't wait until your in crisis to go........preventative maintenance is always best!

Oh, and now you have to do something for her.......can't be selfish. Take her for a nice dinner.

And there you have it.........I get that it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission but you can't leave the tear unmended lest it get bigger.  8-)

I like what you got BTW........sounds pretty sweet.

mastertangler wrote on Mar 24^th, 2013 at 2:01am:

Oh, and now you have to do something for her.......can't be selfish. Take her for a nice dinner.

waaay ahead of you, she got a fancy dinner that night(before i told her about my new purchases).  suddenly all was well

Well done Jaximus.........you will go far in the arena.......a gladiator of renown.  :thumbup