Line counter question

I'm trying to learn how to troll cranks and jigs for crappie. I've watched a lottt of videos on YouTube and read many of the treads here. I'm seeing that the biggest part of trolling cranks is knowing how much line you have out to know how deep your crank is running. Everyone is talking about line counter reels. Since I am, let's say, financially challenged, can I put a clip on line counter to my current reel, or is that not the same thing? Is there reels that come with line counters that are head and shoulders above the rest? I use my rods for just about everything. Not one specific purpose. I troll and cast spinners with my 6' ugly stick and I troll and Bobber fish and jig with my 10' slab daddy. So if I could buy a couple cheap clip on line counters for when I'm trolling cranks that I can remove when doing other techniques that would be ideal. What is everyone's opinion on a clip on line counter vs. an actual built in line counter reel?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Berkley-1...&wl13=&veh=sem

Here is the line counter I'm looking at but if anyone has other options I'm all ears. Still very very new to trolling, only tried it once, but I'm trying to soak up as much information as I can so I can be effective at it more and more each time I go out.

Edit: also, I use spinning reels, not bait casters if that makes a difference

I wouldn't bother with those clip on counters. PM me your address I have a couple you can have, one new in the package. You can buy Shakespeare ATS15 line counter reels for $26 each from Northwoods Outlet. And you don't have to have line counters and spinning reels will work fine. Line counters just make it easier to set back out consistently to a desired depth. Plenty of folks pull cranks and guesstimate, other options also like marking your line with permanent marker, depth hunter line etc..

I just bought 4 of the Shakespeare ATS reels. Actually got them in a combo with trolling rods for less than $40 a piece. Hard to beat that, I was actually surprised at the reels quality, they seem better made that I would expect for such a low cost reel.

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Originally Posted by Snubbys

I wouldn't bother with those clip on counters. PM me your address I have a couple you can have, one new in the package.

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Pm sent. Thank you!
Any other advice o. Trolling? I mainly use arkie cranks and last week the fish were 8-13' in 20-25 fow.


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Best advice I could give you is to not put your baits under the fish. An Arkie 350 series will run 8 ft deep with 26' of line in the water at 1.7mph. I myself, like many others have made the mistake of fishing to deep and fishing under the fish. It's best to be above them a bit. And I wouldn't limit myself to just one type crankbait. Arkies are great, but some days bandits work better or some other crank bait with a little different action. Try multiple colors, baits, depths, speeds, trolling path directions until you figure out what the fish prefer.

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Originally Posted by Jman5626

I'm trying to learn how to troll cranks and jigs for crappie. I've watched a lottt of videos on YouTube and read many of the treads here. I'm seeing that the biggest part of trolling cranks is knowing how much line you have out to know how deep your crank is running. Everyone is talking about line counter reels. Since I am, let's say, financially challenged, can I put a clip on line counter to my current reel, or is that not the same thing? Is there reels that come with line counters that are head and shoulders above the rest? I use my rods for just about everything. Not one specific purpose. I troll and cast spinners with my 6' ugly stick and I troll and Bobber fish and jig with my 10' slab daddy. So if I could buy a couple cheap clip on line counters for when I'm trolling cranks that I can remove when doing other techniques that would be ideal. What is everyone's opinion on a clip on line counter vs. an actual built in line counter reel?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Berkley-1...&wl13=&veh=sem

Here is the line counter I'm looking at but if anyone has other options I'm all ears. Still very very new to trolling, only tried it once, but I'm trying to soak up as much information as I can so I can be effective at it more and more each time I go out.

Edit: also, I use spinning reels, not bait casters if that makes a difference

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I am in the same boat. I actually was looking at the clip on line counters yesterday. But everything i read said they was junk. Like you said I am new to this technique and dont want to sink a ton of money into something that i may not like. I have already sunk some in it buying crankbaits but you need them. I have trolled for white bass and liked it a lot. I didnt know there was so much to learn about trolling until i started reading about it. I have also been debating on buying some baitcasters with the line counter but have not got myself to do it yet. I will be watching this post.

Lots of folks make the mistake of buying line counter reels and expecting them to be just like the high priced baitcaster reels where you can cast with them all day. I can cast my Okuma Magda 15s and the Shakespeares good enough to get a crankbait out where it belongs but casting them often is not what they are made for. I recently bought 4 of the Shakespeares mentioned above from Northwoods Outlet. I like them as well as the Okumas and they are several $$ cheaper.

Lots of guy buy the braided line that has depth marks on it. I tried it and while it works, I don't have the time or patience to watch the line intently till I get to my desired depth. When I have clients with me, I have to get the bait in the water ASAP.

So, I guess another question would be is the Percision trolling data app worth the money or should I just experiment and try to find the depth I need on my own? Is it really that hard to figure out the depth a certine bait will run at a certine speed with xx feet of line out?


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Line counters are nice, but not completely necessary. You can download the trollers Bible, or there are many charts with depths you can use for depth vs line and speed. I've trolled forever with spinning reels with plenty of success.

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Link is Forbidden

Your biggest thing with trolling line counter reels is calibration. Go to Forbidden and look at the news and blog section. There you will find an article on proper line counter calibration that I wrote. It will also explain parts of the precision trolling app.

Is it worth it? Yes. I troll all the time and couldn't live without it. If I was in your position I would download the free app and then only pay for the lures you want to run. For me and competitive walleye fishing, I have them all because I run a ton of baits.

As for counter reels, the best place to purchase is Northwoods in Pinconing Michigan.

In case the link doesn't come up, it is fishsnipertackle dot com

https://www.fishsnipertackle.com/blo...-rod-selection

Entire link for those that can't find this great article on calibrating your line counter reels.

Here is a suggestion, I have line counter reels but this would work with spinning reels, start out at the front of your boat and let line out until it reaches the back of the boat, then walk to the back of the boat and release line again while going back to the front, if your boat is 20 ft long then you just put the bait back 40 ft. I know it would be a pain but it would work for now.

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Originally Posted by quikcarl61

Here is a suggestion, I have line counter reels but this would work with spinning reels, start out at the front of your boat and let line out until it reaches the back of the boat, then walk to the back of the boat and release line again while going back to the front, if your boat is 20 ft long then you just put the bait back 40 ft. I know it would be a pain but it would work for now.

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That is a great idea. I was thinking about doing something similar with my rod, 10', but that would be even easier.


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Originally Posted by Jman5626

So, I guess another question would be is the Percision trolling data app worth the money or should I just experiment and try to find the depth I need on my own? Is it really that hard to figure out the depth a certine bait will run at a certine speed with xx feet of line out?


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Worth every penny in my opinion.

I have tons of folks who PM me, text, call, stop me at WalMart. I've fielded 2 calls this morning already. They are all curious about pulling cranks and know I do it 8-9 months a year on KY and Barkley. Most are concerned about initial investment but some are concerned about keeping their line counter reels calibrated.

Here's my take: I fill all my Okumas and Shakespeares to a certain spot on the spool then I go fishing. I don't calibrate them. No offense to those who do. I just go fishing and catch as many crappie as the next guy. There are way too many other things I have to do to put on the best trip possible for my clients. I use 12 pound Trilene Big Game Solar Collector line when the Precision Trolling app uses 10 pound or braid equivalent. I may have to tweek the amount of line that I have out on a crank but I do that all the time anyway.

Am I close enough to get the job done? It works OK for me. If we lose a bunch of line to a tangle or backlash, I finish out the trip with that reel or one of the 3-4 spares I keep spooled in my rod box then refill it to the same place on the spool as all the others.

Pulling cranks is not rocket science. Keep it simple and you'll still catch fish.

BTW, the Precision Trolling App on my phone is a tool I will no longer go to the lake without.

Yep, my biggest concern when I first got my line counters was the amount of line those suckers hold. Too be calibrated or close to correct they need to be pretty much full. I put 850ft of the cheapest mono back filling line I could find, and topped the last 500ft. with some higher grade quality line. I use mono, a lot of folks use braid, but I can't stand it, to each his own.

I buy my Trilene on bulk spools---4700 YARDS of 12. I used to put a cheap backing but now I just fill each reel with 900 feet of line. If I have to fill it back up, I go to 1/2 spool, tie on new line and spool it full again.

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Originally Posted by Jman5626

So, I guess another question would be is the Percision trolling data app worth the money or should I just experiment and try to find the depth I need on my own? Is it really that hard to figure out the depth a certine bait will run at a certine speed with xx feet of line out?


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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...06efdd6870.jpg

https://www.google.com/search?q=band...AnIOM:&spf=136


https://www.google.com/search?q=band...SSpzM:&spf=148

Here is links for 2 bandit depth charts you can copy

Most of the time we find depth charts from lure companies to be extremely inaccurate.

Knowing your equipment is key as Mr. Dux alludes to. If you read my article however, it will give a very specific scenario in regards to importance of knowing what your equipment will do. Most do not tell you 15 feet down. Instead, they tell you 80 feet back. If you don't know or understand the curve and equipment, you have little clue as to depth.

Walleye are very depth dependent so that is what I am basing off from.

Precision trolling is measured with actual divers in the water so they are not using pathagareum theory or math or best guesses to measure depth. Certain lures will platue out quick so a set back of 140 is very little difference to 170.

Many diving lures are extremely speed dependant. That is also covered with precision trolling. If you don't want the app, you can purchase stick on cards for the specific lures you want.

This may be a stupid question but I'm still confused. When it says an Arkie 350 will run 9' deep with 32' of line out, is that line out from the spool or from the rod tip?


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No such thing as a stupid question, it is measured from the rod tip.

Thank you to all who replied. I'll be trying my second attempt at trolling on Sunday and I'll be sure to post and let everyone know how it goes


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[QUOTE=Jman5626;3420977]This may be a stupid question but I'm still confused. When it says an Arkie 350 will run 9' deep with 32' of line out, is that line out from the spool or from the rod tip?


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The amount of line out should be measured from where the line enters the water. Some folks like their rods off the transom to be up at a 45 degree angle. That makes the line entry point a good ways back.

I couldn't get on that one fast enough. Thanks Doug

Thank you. I'm really excited to try everything I've learned this weekend. I'll only be using 2 rods. My 10' will have a crank on it and my 7' will have jigs on it. And my buddy in the front of the boat will have the same.


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Go to the Mississippi forum. There is a sticky about pulling cranks. 156 pages of info!

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Originally Posted by Jman5626

Thank you. I'm really excited to try everything I've learned this weekend. I'll only be using 2 rods. My 10' will have a crank on it and my 7' will have jigs on it. And my buddy in the front of the boat will have the same.


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Lot of stuff going on there.. I never pull cranks slower than 1.4mph (average 1.8) and never pull / push jigs more than 1.2 mph (average 0.8). I may be wrong and hope others chime in, cause I'm fixing to go to sleep.. lol. Tell us how your trolling, with tm or big motor?

I'll be was trolling with the tm last week and did well with jigs. I could use the big motor if I wanted to. It had one of those plates on it to slow me down


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Before we had all these fancy apps and Precision Trolling we would spend a lot of time trolling cranks on different depth flats and taking notes of speed and how much line out to reach bottom. Still can do this very quickly with out line counters say fish are at 10 feet find a 10 foot flat choose your speed let out line until lure hits bottom, wright it down mark line go troll.