Do you need to calibrate all line counter reels?

[chots]

Is this necessary on all brands? What methods do you use?

[ETT]

Fill the reel to over capacity and check it against a measured 100'. Then remove enough line to get it to meter propperly.

[marcbodi]

Hi chots,
I have 4 line counters that I took the first one and put my Spiderwire 30-6 0n first than added 17 lb backing and filled it up then I put a shakespere counter on the rod and ran 150 ft off to one off the other reels and checked the two counters until I got them the same.Then with Shakespere counter I checked the amount of Backing and ran the all the line on one of the other line counter reels.I knew then how much backing to put on each reel.I started each reel with the Spiderwire and filled it with the number of backing and checked it with the shakespere counter before I transfered it to one of the other linecounter reels.The last reel I used 2 Penn 209 reels to transfer the line back to the line counter.I checked each reel after transfer with the Shakespere counter up to 150 ft and they were right on.A lot of work but when I filled the first reel up about 3/4 s and checked it it was off about 14 ft in 150 ft and I was ready to throw the Line counters in the garbage.Right now if I have a hit on 1 dipsy on 1 side at 100 ft I know the dipsy I set
on the otherside at 100 is the same.At Wheatley last year the guy on the other side of the boat was getting hits at 100 ft out and I was out 100 ft with no hits.When he ran his out I put a Shakespere counter on his (87ft).Changed mine to 87 ft and fish on.Hope I didn't bore you with this.

May I be fishing somewhere Tomorrow

[marcbodi]

Hi,
Ett's method sounds pretty good .He got his in while I was writing mine.
May I be fishing somewhere Tomorrow

[perchjerker]

this is how I do it. You dont waste any line with this method.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/articles/?a=618

[marcbodi]

Hi Perchjerker,
That is the way I do it however I was sitting mine up for dipsys with 17lb backing and the Linecounter reel will not be accurate over 150 ft with the heavier backing.I am set up so I know how long on my braid and backing for 150 ft.when I was setting up I had no idea how much line it would take.I now know that the reel has to be right up to capacity and I would try Ett's method for use on Dipsys.

May I be fishing somewhere Tomorrow

[The ONLY way]

to know for certain how much line you've run back, is to make a mark at 2 or 3 ft. increments from the level wind, on your rod, and manually pull the line out, at least the first time, then note the read out on your counter.
One of the drawbacks to mechanical counters, is that you don'r know they are inaccurate until checked against a measured distance. One could fish for many trips and not be aware the bait was running at 15 ft. when it was supposed to be running at 20, (for example).
Mechanical counters can be helpful for running a bait back to the same depth, (providing they are functioning properly), but not necessarily for determining amount of line back.

[ebijack]

read my post on the powerpro line question. you have to find out where your linecounters/lines actually run. if you hear on the radio "70ft back" that probably won't mean anything unless your reels and line and speed are the same as the guy calling the numbers. also in you run inline boards the line out won't be the same as a guy who runs big boards...line angle/height etc to water..i've been forced to start using a few different reels since they don't make my old ones anymore... so i never count on the newer ones matching my old ones... do some simple tests to see where your lure/diver is contacting bottom..then you should know where to put your baits.

[Pooch]

I use older Shimano Bantam linecounters. They don't appear to read in any increment that makes sense to me other than just for repeatablilty. So I "calibrate" them this way:

I reset the counter to zero, Using a tape measure pull out 25 feet and note the reading on the counter. Pull out to 50' and again note the number on the counter. Do this to whatever the longest amount of line you will be running and note the numbers on the counter for what ever increments you want.

I then wrote them on the top of my tackle box with a paint pen for reference when needed.

This works as well as any system I've seen.

Pooch

[Easy]

Pooch that seems to make sense and seems even more simple, wonder why most dont do that?

[phern]

All of you seem to be talking about reels with incorporated line counters. How about those line counters that we can install on the rod? Are they accurate? They sure don't cost much.

[perchjerker]

yes I have a shakespere and it works fine. I use it to calibrate my lc reels, as explained in the atricle I linked to earlier.

[hgmeyer]

My house lot is 152 feet to the corner. I fill every reel to about an 1/8 of an inch from the spool edge. Then I zero the reel, have someone walk out to the 152' mark and record what the line counter says... If its cloase, then I go to step two. Step two (I have measured marks on the sidewalk) I put a lable on the reel with some math... first marked actually 30 feet with the reel equivalent.. say 29... then 50 feet actual is maybe 48.. then the 100 actual say 101 and then the 150 actual... It lets me "calculate" (interpolate...guess) the "in betweens" pretty well. If I have a big long break off in the boat I can use a spare rod or one of several of the Shakespeare clip ons I keep in my bag. Whenever I respool I recalibrate and relabel.

[sanderson]

It would seem that the answer to this question is yes!