Just picked up the Okuma cold water cw-354d line counter reel.
I’m going to back it with #20 mono then #14 Fireline.
How many feet of mono should I put on before the #14 Fireline in order to properly calibrate?
TIA fellas
just enough to cover the main spool maybe a few times. Its basically just for keeping the braid from slipping on the spool. I have seen some guys run a 100 yards or so, but I never have.
All depends on how much Fireline you’re putting on.
To get it close, build your reel backwards.
Put your Fireline on first (whether it’s 100 yards or 300, doesn’t matter) then fill the spool with mono until you have about an 1/8th inch of spool showing (or a tad less).
Then use a drill with a piece of threaded rod, two nuts/washers, and two spools. (The spools don’t have to be empty, they just need enough room to fit what’s on the reel).
Using the drill, wind your line off the full reel onto a spool. Then take that spool off the drill, and again using the drill, wind it onto a different spool.
Lastly, wind it back onto the reel.
It sounds like a PIA, but it’s actually not hard to do, and the only way to end up exactly where you want without using an unnecessary amount of braid ($$).
Ideally you’d be setting up two identical reels. It’s far simpler that way. You just build the first reel backwards like mentioned above, then zero your counter on the empty reel and load it on. Take notes on the footage of where your backer ends and notes on footage of main line.
On the first reel (now empty) you simply reel on XXX feet of backer and XXX amount of main line. Both reels will be identical with minimal effort.
From there you can zero your counter and pull off 100′ (on the counter) and compare it to 100′ of hard taped measured distance. If your counter says 95′ when it’s actually at 100′, cut a 15′ of line off until your counter reads 100′ at 100′ true feet.
I’m never that anal, but to truly calibrate, you need to use a hard tape. It’s really only necessary if your trying to duplicate the Trollers Bible.
Most guys (including me) let out enough line to hit bottom and wind in a few cranks.
Sounds like a pita.
I always fill the spool. Just because that’s how I was brought up that s also how Marine General spools there okumas for the big lake . It’s always
“Close enough” . Your going to have to fine tune things either way to get your lure in the sweet spot.
I just spooled up 2 of my rods today and filled the spool and they are about 11″ those are cabelas trolling series.
All depends on how much Fireline you’re putting on.
To get it close, build your reel backwards.
Put your Fireline on first (whether it’s 100 yards or 300, doesn’t matter) then fill the spool with mono until you have about an 1/8th inch of spool showing (or a tad less).
Then use a drill with a piece of threaded rod, two nuts/washers, and two spools. (The spools don’t have to be empty, they just need enough room to fit what’s on the reel).
Using the drill, wind your line off the full reel onto a spool. Then take that spool off the drill, and again using the drill, wind it onto a different spool.
Lastly, wind it back onto the reel.
It sounds like a PIA, but it’s actually not hard to do, and the only way to end up exactly where you want without using an unnecessary amount of braid ($$).
Ideally you’d be setting up two identical reels. It’s far simpler that way. You just build the first reel backwards like mentioned above, then zero your counter on the empty reel and load it on. Take notes on the footage of where your backer ends and notes on footage of main line.
On the first reel (now empty) you simply reel on XXX feet of backer and XXX amount of main line. Both reels will be identical with minimal effort.
From there you can zero your counter and pull off 100′ (on the counter) and compare it to 100′ of hard taped measured distance. If your counter says 95′ when it’s actually at 100′, cut a 15′ of line off until your counter reads 100′ at 100′ true feet.
I’m never that anal, but to truly calibrate, you need to use a hard tape. It’s really only necessary if your trying to duplicate the Trollers Bible.
Most guys (including me) let out enough line to hit bottom and wind in a few cranks.
Good info here.
I always think it’s funny when guys put 400 yards of braid on a rod and only ever let out 200′. A huge waste of line/coin if you ask me.pile up 30 lb big game until you feel you’ll have enough room for adequate braid. I rarely spoil more than 300 feet of braid on a reel.
OK – Calibration complete. exactly 100′ from stake in the yard to swivel. (i’ll will to calculate into the mix leader length)
Next question.
How does precision trolling calculate the depth of the crank bait in relation to where the rod tip is? ie with he rod tip touching the water, 3′ above, 5′ above?
fyi – I spooled the #20 about 3/16″ from capacity, filled the spool, then fine tuned from there. Took about 10 minutes.
Attached will be my starting line-up for walleyes.
starting-lineup.jpg
Somebody is going to fish the basin 
Somebody is going to fish the basin
Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be these guys next weekend! 
Eyes.jpg
Eelpoutguy, this is from Precision Trolling’s web site, faq area. Some good info on there. You should check out the line diameter question also.
https://www.precisiontrollingdata.com/faq
20180728_215803.jpg
1000
thanks, that’s what I was looking for.
Sounds like a pita.
I always fill the spool. Just because that’s how I was brought up that s also how Marine General spools there okumas for the big lake . It’s always
“Close enough” . Your going to have to fine tune things either way to get your lure in the sweet spot.
I just spooled up 2 of my rods today and filled the spool and they are about 11″ those are cabelas trolling series.
That works just fine too, but if you’re walleye fishing you don’t need 1000’+ of braid. It’s just a waste.
What I see more often is guys putting a “short spool” of braid (like a 150 yarder) onto a bigger trolling reel.
They end up with a half full spool on the reel, which is not only terribly inaccurate with the counter, but also very inefficient.
The fuller your spool is, the better your drag will operate, and faster you can reel in.
If you have a 6:1 reel with a half full spool, it operates more like a 3:1…..
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>rubberduck wrote:</div>
Somebody is going to fish the basinLet’s just say I wouldn’t want to be these guys next weekend!
That’s a fancy graph Eelpout guy 
It shows which ones are smallmouth (brown) and which ones are walleyes (green) lol
Fully loaded and ready to roll!
I wanted the graph that would show me Bullheads, but some guy from Iowa (boy1) bought the last one they had. 
fully-loaded.jpg
Haha good one!
That’s a beauty ful setup EPG!
I have a feeling I know where that graph was! Hope ya get some of those slobs 
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