One way I used to count line when I was trolling was just to count the line spool from side to side. Watch the line guide each pass to one side of spool got you about a foot of line. Worked well when I was trolling for snook in the intercostal rivers with Rapala shad raps in Florida . Started cranking for crappie got a couple okuma reels fairly cheap just makes it easier. Had momma in back of boat handed her a counter reel told her how many feet to let out within minutes she was telling me she was snagged on something. That snag was her first slab crappie. Get momma hooked then break out the MasterCard.