I am always learning something on this forum,,and this posting came up about using line counter reels when trolling crankbaits. What i ALWAYS took for granted was that the line counter on the reel was a exact science giving me the correct amounts of line out. BUT! only if the line is loaded on them right. I measured mine with a tape measurer and found out each of my line counter reels are way off as much as 9' so I made a sticker with the right measurement using 40' as a rule and get me close then put a stickon on the reel with what I needed to add for line to the counter to get it out right instead of fooling with trying to get the right amount of line on. For example..if I have 40' of line out on the line counter,,it might only be out 34' so am going to add 6' as I look at the counter,,setting the counter to 46' giving me exactly 40' of line out to get the crankbait down to the exact depth I want it at. If you then let out 150' of line,,line counter is still going to be off cause your spool is not filled properly tho,,so you might want to measure your line,,and mark it with a bobber stopper line or rubber band.
Here is the link I was reading on the main Crappie Forum. You learn somthing new everyday and later on,,will play with the load of the line on the reels to get them as exact as possible using 40' mearurement as my setting up all reels the same on the line counters.
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...s-long-lining/