Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: RB on February 12, 2020, 09:04:28 PM

Title: Line Counters
Post by: RB on February 12, 2020, 09:04:28 PM: Who uses line counters and how do you like them? Brands? I know there are plenty of line counting reels, but do not want to re-spool my rods if there is a decent clamp on line counter.

Thanks
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 12, 2020, 09:10:54 PM: I have a Berkley clamp on I am going to play with this year seems ok but nothing great. I just picked up a couple abu digital line counters and have some diawa accudepth's that do alright.
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: huntnnw on February 12, 2020, 09:59:28 PM: Shimano Tekotas, Daiwa lexa, the okuma ones have been okay, I have heard the new ones out with the 5 ball bearings if I remember right have been a much better reel.
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: fishngamereaper on February 12, 2020, 10:09:18 PM: I've had great luck with my okuma Coldwater reels. I have 3 now dedicated to my downrigger salmon rods and going on 3 year's they are flawless...super smooth.
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: huntnnw on February 12, 2020, 10:11:48 PM: Quote from: fishngamereaper on February 12, 2020, 10:09:18 PM
I've had great luck with my okuma Coldwater reels. I have 3 now dedicated to my downrigger salmon rods and going on 3 year's they are flawless...super smooth.

already returned 2 for the drags just quit working. Not to include after a year of use the line counters started sticking and have to reel up and reset counter and if I am reeling up some to change depth it wont count. I will not buy them again. Tekotas are worth the money
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: fishngamereaper on February 12, 2020, 10:29:20 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on February 12, 2020, 10:11:48 PM
Quote from: fishngamereaper on February 12, 2020, 10:09:18 PM
I've had great luck with my okuma Coldwater reels. I have 3 now dedicated to my downrigger salmon rods and going on 3 year's they are flawless...super smooth.

already returned 2 for the drags just quit working. Not to include after a year of use the line counters started sticking and have to reel up and reset counter and if I am reeling up some to change depth it wont count. I will not buy them again. Tekotas are worth the money

Oh I love Shimano stuff...I've just had really good luck with my okuma's so far. Hopefully it continues.
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: HereDuckyDucky on February 12, 2020, 11:25:41 PM: All purpose salmon reel -- Shimano Tekota for the win.

RW
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: Hillbilly Zen on February 12, 2020, 11:57:13 PM: What’s your preferred size Tekota? Say for 120+ foot deep Kokanee and general salmon without a downrigger. I want to fish at fixed depths but not mess with anything but a rod and reel.
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: huntnnw on February 13, 2020, 01:59:14 AM: I never fish that deep, max I have fished salmon at the reach is 80' on cannon balls and 120' with divers. with todays braid all sizes really work.
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: Blacklab on February 13, 2020, 05:17:11 AM: Okuma low pro. Have several with no complaints some are 3yrs old. Not real old but used 😉🥃🇺🇸
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: RB on February 13, 2020, 07:56:26 AM: Quote from: carpsniperg2 on February 12, 2020, 09:10:54 PM
I have a Berkley clamp on I am going to play with this year seems ok but nothing great. I just picked up a couple abu digital line counters and have some diawa accudepth's that do alright.

Perfect thanks!

I have good reels but wanted to try something different without having to fork out a bunch of cash for new reels. I have just old school counted the number of passes the level wind makes to make a decent "guess" how far out my lure is, but will be fishing with a bunch of kids this spring and it will be easier to have them go to a certain number on the counter.
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: Ironhead on February 13, 2020, 08:04:28 AM: Quote from: huntnnw on February 12, 2020, 10:11:48 PM
Quote from: fishngamereaper on February 12, 2020, 10:09:18 PM
I've had great luck with my okuma Coldwater reels. I have 3 now dedicated to my downrigger salmon rods and going on 3 year's they are flawless...super smooth.

already returned 2 for the drags just quit working. Not to include after a year of use the line counters started sticking and have to reel up and reset counter and if I am reeling up some to change depth it wont count. I will not buy them again. Tekotas are worth the money
I have also had 2 Okuma Coldwaters that the drags went TU on. For Salmon I like the Tekotas, for walleye I like The Daiwa Lexa.
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: hiway_99 on February 13, 2020, 09:47:11 AM: The new tekota 500 line counters are great for salmon on the salt. They hold around 400 yards of #30 braid. If you dont need that much capacity you could go down a size to in think the tekota 300. I prefer the size of the 500 over the 300 though. It fits nicely in my hand with the rod

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: Crunchy on February 13, 2020, 10:56:29 AM: Tekota guy here. I have them on all my salmon rods but really only need them for jigging rods or mooching rods if you do that. Not really needed for trolling rods
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: Panic Minnow on February 14, 2020, 08:08:47 AM: The important part is to get the line counter real spooled with the correct amount of line to be accurate, unless you care about just getting close. Here is a link to a video that I used to get them really close, within a foot.

I have the Okuma Coldwater, and they seem to be good. I have read somewhere that they use the Daiwa counter on their reels....
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on February 14, 2020, 09:35:04 AM: Good line counter tip!
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: Hillbilly Zen on February 14, 2020, 11:23:20 AM: Awesome thank you!
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: shadowless_nite on February 15, 2020, 06:58:58 PM: Strictly okuma coldwaters for all our plunking rods. We have never had a problem with the drags giving out. However we have had a few where the line counter will occasionally stick. We run mostly low pros and a few round coldwaters. Keep in mind these are on the beach and the kids love knocking rods over/laying the reels in the sand. Okuma customer service however is very easy to deal with.

If i had a bigger budget I would most likely buy a Tekota to try since they have a left handed. Till then I am content with coldwaters and their budget price especially for a rod set up that may not get used much.
Title: Re: Line Counters
Post by: dilleytech on February 16, 2020, 09:31:46 AM: I have had nothing bud good experience with okuma cold water low pro line counters. The handles kinda suck but they have been flawless. I have 4 of them now I believe. Avoid the cheaper round style cold waters. They don’t function as well and seem to have more issues.