Any accurate line counter for light braid lines?

[newapti5]

As the title suggests, I am having trouble of an accurate line count when putting on light braid line, such as 10lb PowerPro, on spools. I do have a Berkley basic model that works ok with thicker lines, but it doesn't work on lighter braids or smoother lines. My fishing buddy has a digital version Berkley line counter, which he claims works well with braid, but it's a bit pricy. Any other suggestions? Or should I just calculate the number instead of counting it?

[MN Fisher]

I've used the Berkley Basic one for lines as light as 8# 832.

 

Mount the counter down near the reel, run the line through a washcloth/towel/glove to give it tension. Then through the counter and up through the first guide and finally back down to the reel. Also have to fiddle a little with the tension adjust on the counter.

[Mike L]

Ok, Help me out here

This has come up before, so I gotta ask…

Why is it so important to know exactly how many feet of line you just spooled ??
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[OkobojiEagle]

borrow your buddy's

[newapti5]

58 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Ok, Help me out here

This has come up before, so I gotta ask…

Why is it so important to know exactly how many feet of line you just spooled ??
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

Thanks, I will search the forum history then.

I want to know the exact number because I am so cheap that I want to distribute 150 yards of line evenly to two reels.

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I've used the Berkley Basic one for lines as light as 8# 832.

 

Mount the counter down near the reel, run the line through a washcloth/towel/glove to give it tension. Then through the counter and up through the first guide and finally back down to the reel. Also have to fiddle a little with the tension adjust on the counter.

 

Yeah this is the one I have, and my method is similar to yours. It works for thicker line, but no matter how I have tried, it won't work well with lighter braids. Maybe it's because the one I have has finally broken down. 

[newapti5]

1 hour ago, OkobojiEagle said:

borrow your buddy's

 

Staight to point, I like it 👍 but I do have many reels.

[new2BC4bass]

37 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

 

Thanks, I will search the forum history then.

I want to know the exact number because I am so cheap that I want to distribute 150 yards of line evenly to two reels.

 

27 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

 

Staight to point, I like it 👍 but I do have many reels.

I'm frugal like you.  Want to use a spool on two reels.  Doesn't have to be perfectly divided.  A couple yards difference is okay.

 

Retired to Florida, and want to use braid on the reels I haven't put line on yet.  Over 20 reels.  In PA I much preferred mono or co-polymers.  Here I'll be fishing slop much more often.  Probably will discard line on some already spooled and top off with braid.

 

I picked up a Piscifun line spooler.  Not fond of it.  Would like something better.  Would be great if a line counter was part of the line spooler.

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, newapti5 said:

I want to know the exact number because I am so cheap that I want to distribute 150 yards of line evenly to two reels.

That's my reasoning....or 3 if it's 200yd spools of FC - 65yds per reel is plenty.

[ike8120]

There is a you tube video calculating the amount of line to spool on your reel using the reels IPT's.

Mods if this is not allowed please remove:

 

[WRB]

Line counter works for the backing so fill the same amount on each reel to create a shallow spool. Spool the small diameter to the level you like by counting reel handle turns is close enough to determine yards needed to divide filler spools.

Tom

[Smirak]

I’ve done this in the past when I was anal. My back yard is about 75’ wide. I start at one fence, walk my line to the other, mark it where it meets, spool ‘er up.

[bulldog1935]

well gee, all the Japanese brands offer threadline braid in 5 colors, changing every 10 m, and include 1-m and 5-m markings.  

 

[newapti5]

4 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

well gee, all the Japanese brands offer threadline braid in 5 colors, changing every 10 m, and include 1-m and 5-m markings.  

 

 

I wish 832 and PowerPro have the same thoughtful design.

[MN Fisher]

5 hours ago, ike8120 said:

There is a you tube video calculating the amount of line to spool on your reel using the reels IPT's.

Problem with using IPT is that it changes. The published IPT is for a full (or nearly so) spool. The further into the spool you go, the  lower the IPT is until at the base of the spool you're looking at an IPT that's up to 40% less than the published figure.

[newapti5]

6 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

I'm frugal like you.  Want to use a spool on two reels.  Doesn't have to be perfectly divided.  A couple yards difference is okay.

 

Retired to Florida, and want to use braid on the reels I haven't put line on yet.  Over 20 reels.  In PA I much preferred mono or co-polymers.  Here I'll be fishing slop much more often.  Probably will discard line on some already spooled and top off with braid.

 

I picked up a Piscifun line spooler.  Not fond of it.  Would like something better.  Would be great if a line counter was part of the line spooler.

 

Wouldn't you feel the lack of sensitivity while fishing bottom contact lures with monos in PA, especially around some deeper water? 

Anyway, thanks for the heads-up on the piscifun spooler. I agree that combining line counter to a line spooler seems like a perfectly natural idea. Why haven't they done it? 

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Problem with using IPT is that it changes. The published IPT is for a full (or nearly so) spool. The further into the spool you go, the  lower the IPT is until at the base of the spool you're looking at an IPT that's up to 40% less than the published figure.

 

You took the words out of my mouth.

[A-Jay]

Not a line counter. 

I buy bulk spools of every line / leader I use.

Routinely 500 but often 1,00 yard spools. Braid, FC & Mono.

I use mono backing because it's cheap.

Instead of using a line counter, I subscribe to the 1/3 to 2/3's method.

Meaning, regardless of the gear, casting or spinning,

(and I have a few) if and when a spool need 'backing',

and not all of them do,

I fill 1/3 of the spool with backing and then fill the rest of the reel with my mainline of choice.

Using 'that much mainline' enables the spool to endure many cut off's & re-ties (in the case of FC).

Also if the line starts to show wear (braid or FC), I can end for end the top shot of mainline down to the backing.

This places 'new' line on top.

Been doing it this way for a while. 

Every once in a while I'll end up with a bulk spool that doesn't have enough left for a complete reel full.

But I get over it.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[Tennessee Boy]

@A-Jay I would keep those large spools of Tatsu in a safe or safe deposit box. 😆

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

@A-Jay I would keep those large spools of Tatsu in a safe or safe deposit box. 😆

Amazon gives that stuff away ~

A-Jay

[new2BC4bass]

2 hours ago, newapti5 said:

 

Wouldn't you feel the lack of sensitivity while fishing bottom contact lures with monos in PA, especially around some deeper water? 

Anyway, thanks for the heads-up on the piscifun spooler. I agree that combining line counter to a line spooler seems like a perfectly natural idea. Why haven't they done it? 

I grew up as a line watcher.  We fished nightwalkers, worms, grubs, small leeches and crawfish off the bottom.  Occasionally minnows under a bobber.  We didn't fish deep water.  Seldom fished the Finger Lakes and always from shore when we did.