Precison Trollers--Be Careful with Cabela Line Counter Reels

[LloydE]

Today I was putting some new line of a couple of reels. I wanted to use some backing line (cheaper line) on the reels, and then put on only the premium line that I generally reel off the lines when I fish. I decided to use one of my line counter reels to count off the amount of line I would need for backing and the amount I would use for actual fishing. I used to do a lot of precision trolling with line counter reels before I took up float tube fishing as my major fishing approach, but I don’t use them that much anymore--except when I fish for walleye from a boat, using night-crawler rigs.

I used one of my Cabela line counter reels to count off the needed line. As I was doing that I got some numbers I knew were incorrect. Either there was more line on the 100 yard spool of premium line I had purchased, or my line counter was incorrect. I stopped what I was doing and checked the line counter reel. I pulled off 27 feet of line, and the counter read that I had pulled off 48 feet. I checked my other (smaller) Cabela line counter reel and pulled off 27 feet of line, and the counter read that I had pulled off 36 feet. Finally I checked my Daiwa line counter reel. I pulled off 27 feet of line and the counter read that I had pulled off 27 feet of line. I did the math on the Cabela reels and got the following results: Largest Cabela reel…I would need to multiply the reading on the reel by .562 to get the actual amount of line out (it reads almost twice as much line out than is actually out); Smaller Cabela reel…I would need to multiply the reading on the reel by .78 to get the actual amount of line out; and, finally, the Daiwa reel was right on (accurate).

For some time I used the line counters and the precision trolling book to determine the depths specific crankbaits would run with x-amount of line out. Now I realize that when I was using the Cabela line counters my estimates were way off! Has anyone else experienced this problem?
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[Kent]

I have two line-counter reels and one seems to be quite close and the other one is way off. They will never be totally accurate because the spool gets larger or smaller depending upon how much line is on the reel.
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[lunkerhunter2]

I use the Okuma Magda's in the 20's and 30's. I have used them ice fishing a few times and they spit out the exact depth that my Vexilar says. I know they are pretty accurate.
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[AFDan52]

All of my Line Counter Reels are Diawa 17 and 27"s , I have never had a problem with them.
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[jacksonlaker]

I have one of the Cabelas line counters and It is a piece of crap. The drag sucks, it always goes from free spool to gear by itself when I'm letting down the downrigger ball. I will be replacing it for next year.
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[RDRRM8E]

Depends how much line is on them. They are calibrated when near full spool. With less line they are a lot less accurate measuring deeper than it really is.
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[LloydE]

I appreciate the information provided by all who responded to my inquiry. I think that the notion that the calibrations are based upon a full reel of line is most plausible! My Daiwa line counter has a full spool or line; the spool of my largest Cabela reel has the least amount of line; and the spool on my smallest Cabela reel is about 2/3's full. The accuracy of my three line counters seems to be based upon the amount of line on the reels.

I put on a line counter that attaches on most rods to see what kind of reading I would get. I bought the line counter many years ago. It is made by Shakespeare. I repeated my experiment with the two Cabela reels with the Shakespeare line counter attached. I got the same readings from the Cabela rods as previously, while the Shakespeare line counter gave a correct measurement. The Shakespeare line counter needed a littler manual pressure put on the counter from me before I got a correct measure, but it did work.

It seems that I misjudged the quality of the Cabela reels. I apologize for my hasty condemnations. I guess I will need to keep those reels full of line or use the Shakespeare line counter. It makes more sense to me, to keep the Cabela reels full of line.
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[christopher30]

I have the cabelas gold trolling reel, i have noticed that it isn't entirely accurate. I first noticed when i'd drop back 250 feet of line and reel in to the tip of the rod and it said i had -977. I think in my case it has something to do with the heavy line, when i used thin diameter braid it was always within 10 feet when i'd drop back 300 or even 400 feet. I have a distance wheel that i checked it with on the school lawn one day. I had the cheap cabelas line counter first, it is low quality and has plastic gears but it lasted me almost 2 years of hard fishing before one of those plastic gears stripped and the reel was toast.
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[fsh4fun05]

If I were you I'd get Daiwa reels and stick with 'em. I just happen to know somebody who carries the new Daiwa line counting reels...[]. I'll give you a sweet price if interested.
I have a Magda reel that bought from fishhound a few years ago and that sucker is accurate. I don't do alot of trolling but it's dead on when mac fishing through the ice...now if I can only keep them hooked the story would be better [frown]
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[BearLakeFishGuy]

I use two of the Cabelas line counter reels and have had nothing but excellent things to say about them. The line counter work very well and I use super-braided line on one and co-polymer on the other. They are as accurate as my downrigger counter. When it says I let the ball down 60 feet, my reels also read 60 feet. Someone else commented about the drag. Well I've caught lots of big lakers and cutthroat on these two reels and the drag is smooth and Iike the big star so I can make adjustments easily when letting down my cannonball or while fighting a fish. I've used the reels in some really crappy weather too. Sub zero and the drag and counters worked perfectly. The only thing I've had happen is the counter reset button stuck once, but it was due to frozen water on it, not the reel. By the way, both of my reels are full of line. I will let out over 200' in some cases and never had a problem.
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