Shoot me now

[Big Tiller]

My new Bass Pro line counter reel showed up today. I feel I many have spent $59.98 too much. It's going back on thursday.

[YAMAHATODD]

TRY A OKUMA DX 20. GREAT REEL FOR THE MONEY (65.00)
GOOD LUCK, TODD

[SLIPKNOT]

Don't screw around, spend the money once and pay a little more and buy daiwas. You won't regret it!

[Grampa_Joe]

Ditto to the Diawas. The Okuma's top mounted reset is a pain. When it doesn't have git in it, you bump it. I can recall a former partner's Okuma dropping parts to the floor as he reeled in a fish in a tourney once too.

Recap: you get what you pay for

Joe Carlson

[TBO/MN]

Gotta agree with Joe, no matter what you start out with, you always end up with Daiwas. I started with the Cabelas manual line counters, they were ok, then went to the Okumas, and found the same problem with the reset button, and now I have the Daiwas. It was a long and costly road, thank goodness for ebay, but I have arrived. The Daiwas are by far the best......

Good Fishin'
TBO/MN

[Waliwill]

Talked to local pro sponsered by another co., He said off the record, but no secret Daiwa is the only way to go.

[Jbob]

Like the other post say, don't waste your money on any thing but a Diawa line counter. I have Okuma that I use for lead line but when you need precise for trolling mono the Diawa is the way to go.

[Husky]

No reason for you to be upset. From the picture in the catalog, and the description, there is not a single one of us that didn't wonder how good it was.
I did the same thing with the Cabelas digital Depthmasters, they went back too.
I was fortunate to have gone to Bass Pro and saw it in person.I like the Diawas and Shimano 1500LC so far. I'm still amazed at the Diawa's smoothness despite it having bushings!

[Big Tiller]

I'm going to try the new Cabelas Depthmaster Gold. With a metal 1 piece frame, its got to be stronger than graphite. And at $13 savings per reel times 8 reels, I can spend the $104 on cranks.

Has anyone seen this reel? How can you say the Daiwas are best unless you driven them all?

[perchjerker]

I would keep an eye on ebay. I picked up a Diawa, used 3 times, still had the box, for $50.
They show up there more often than you might think.

[tbomn]

Reputation, and experience of others, is how most products are sold in todays marketplace. I know I have not tried them all, but I have tried 3 other brands of line counters, three that I thought were at the top of the scale, none compared to the Daiwas, if they aren't the best, then show me one that is better................

[Wasgonnabuy]

What specifically don't you like about the Bass Pro reel?

[Big Tiller]

Handle is too bulky, Line counter button is rubber and twists when pushed, counter is on "palm" side of reel making it uncomfortable and 'in the way', overall size is too large for mono or fire line, graphite frame is weak and fragile, metal reel seat is riveted to graphite frame and prone to break, line counter digits do not line up right out of the box, break system has very little adjustment...

[eyeswon]

I bought a Shimano (Bantam 1500 LC) last fall and have had no trouble with it. Has anyone herd anything good or bad ? Let me have it. Jim

[Husky]

I only said the Diawa's were the best so far.... I've tried Shimano, Okuma, Cabelas digital Depthmasters, and had friends who have had, Mitchell, South Bend, and have used their on occasion. So far, I like the Diawas best. There is always room to try something new.

[Kevin in NY]

Good information, as I was just looking at the Bass Pro line counter and the Cabelas depthmaster. My question is, has anyone got any info on the Shakespeare "Tidewater" line counters? They may or may not be a cost saving alternative ???

[perchjerker]

From what I have seen on the board, the are a good alternative. Cabelas has them in a combo for $60.

Search the archives, you will find some info.

[Sluggo / NY]

Kevin..I don't know where in NY you are, but if you're near Oneida Lake, you can get some great deals from the tackle shop at Marion Manor. It's Indian owned and they deal..plus there's no tax! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

[tbomn]

I owned 4 of the Tidewater 30LC's they were good for one year and then two of them had counter problems. They wouldn't reset, so I opened one of them up, and found everything was plastic........they're gone!!

[Magic_Marker]

I'm a big fan of the Shimano 1500's too. They're a lot smaller and lighter to use on rods your holding in hand using. For the rods being held in rod holders Daiwa 27's are the way to go. PS. I'd still like to get hold of couple more used 1500s if anyone has a couple they want to part with. Dan

[BobEaton1]

I have used all the line counters and don't waste your time or money get the Daiwa SG27LCW for trolling Walleyes. I own 8 of them and wounld not use anything else. Last year I tried the Okuma reel because it was a little smaller and thought they would work better for trolling bottom bouncers, what a mistake. First fish was a 12 - 13lb walleye and I lost it because poor brake system. They have problems that no one could fix so I sent them both back. I've had 8 Cabela's Gold Depthfinders because they looked "cool", well all are back because of batteries going bad and hard to replace (which I've heard they have fixed)and they have terrible internal noises and none of mine were smooth like the Daiwa.
Just my opinion.
Bob NPAA#292

[Husky]

The two Shimano 1500's I have are now 5years old---working without a hitch. No complaints other than my own ability to hit the reset button accidentally!

[John F]

Absolutely positively go with Diawa's.Hook into a few sturgen on Winnebago and you 'll find out just how good they are.

[Wild Bill]

Go with the Diawa SG 27 LC.Throw rocks at all of the other linecounters.

[finaddict]

Ive heard the diawas are starting to use cheaper materials to stay in competion with the lower priced reels this would be a very big mistake on there part in my opinion you will always come back to quality.....

[2 Short]

You will not be sorry if you buy the Diawa's first.

I tried the cabela's digital depthmasters. I returned them in less than two months.

I tried the two Tidewaters as backup reels to my Diawa's. The first time I tried one salmon fishing was all it took for me to realize that these reels might work for light duty they will not hold up to serious fishing. The FIRST salmon detroyed the clicker, the spool speed control and the drag.

The bad part is that I new better than buy them and I bought them anyway, how stupid is that! They have been replaced with Diawa's.

Kim