Best Line Counter Reel For Kokanee Trolling

A quick, up-close look at line counters and how they can add to your kokanee trolling game, and a guide for choosing the best line counter reel for you.

Why Do You Need to Know How Much Line is Out When Trolling for Kokanee?

Depth is the number one factor in consistently catching kokanee, downriggers and line counter reels are the best tools to achieve proper depth. Can it be done without them, sure, but for a little extra cash you can catch more fish. Kokanee are very temperature sensitive. Even a 5 foot difference can make a difference at times. There are times when they are more spread out but sometimes they are really in a tight depth window, and extreme precision in those instances is a must.

Everything is easily repeatable and very fast to get gear back out when you are on a good bite. Guessing is completely unnecessary when there are easy and more efficient options. I would think of a line counter more as a trolling tool. There are a lot of different ways to fish and knowing how much line you have out is never a bad thing, though for trolling, its more necessary. The key is consistency and there are plenty of ways you can mark your line but line counters take all of the guess work out. It should be noted that not all line counter reels are created equally.

Best Line Counter Reels for Kokanee Fishing

Both from our experience, and from analyzing data from several forums and Facebook groups, the favorite Line Counting trolling reels are the the Daiwa Lexa 100, Okuma Cold Water, and the Shimano Tekota, in that order, with the Lexa 100 and the Okuma Cold Water being almost equally popular, and far ahead of the Tekota.

Daiwa Lexa 100 Line Counter

Even though its not the most expensive reel on this list, this is the favorite reel on the forums and Facebook groups for quality, not just for bang for your buck. This reel is built solid and has a great, simple line counter, and it just gets the job done.

Okuma Cold Water Linecounter Trolling Reel

I like the Okuma cold water or the low profile cold water because they both have the large handle. If you’ve got big hands and want a nice reel handle, this is a solid option.

Shimano Tekota A 400 Low Profile Reel

This is the third most mentioned though the forums as being a favorite. I’m not a Shimano fan myself, but a lot of people love the Tekota. The reel is built solid, and is rated for salt water or fresh water, and has their Coreprotect water resistance to increase corrosion resistance, so it is durable.

Is a Line Counter Reel Necessary?

Some people feel like line counters are just a Fad that was created by Newbies that think they are impressing the Old Timers. Some of these same Newbies would be shocked by how many fish some of the Old Timers put in a boat or better yet is a current excuse for Not catching fish. I didn’t have my presentation at an exact distance from my boat there fore I wasn’t catching. What they don’t realize is that these old timers have experience on their side. They usually know their fishing spot like the back of their hand, where the fish hang out, and how to use all their gear. Because they’ve done the same thing for decades, they’re able to do things in a repeatable way. If you’re new to a lake, or new to kokanee trolling in general, you won’t have that feel.

You could ask why use fish finders, GPS, i-pilot, Garmin Reactor 40, planer boards, or padding on your seats?.. I could go on & on. The old timers didn’t have this stuff, so why should we? Well, we don’t need it. My first boat had simple wood seats, but this gear simply makes life easier so you can spend more time catching fish. Once you use them you will never go back. It’s just that simple.

Alternatives to Using a Line Counter for Kokanee

Measure Line By Hand

Measure one arm length pull and you will know how far back you are. You can also measure how much one reel pulls in, then reel in reverse. It’s a very rough measurement though, and any drag can throw you off. You can usually get within 5-10 feet, which can usually be enough, but if you lose track, you’re in trouble. It’s slower and imprecise, but its better than just guessing.

If you have 4 people count out 60 pulls to get to 120 feet. You will have four different lengths. Also if a drag is peeling line, how much line did it peel? If your running 4-6 poles spacing matters. If the fish bite at a certain length back, you can’t easily replicate it.

Lead Line

Lead Line is a fishing line that has a lead core so it sinks faster and better than monofilament or braided line. It also is colored line, and the color changes every 10 yards, allowing you to be fairly precise as to the amount of line you let out. The benefit to lead line is that its cheaper than a line counter reel, and allows you to get started for less of an investment.

Additionally, the line sinks down for you at a specific rate, meaning you don’t have to get a downrigger, clip weights, or a diver. That said, it wears out quicker than regular braided line, or about the same time as monofilament in my experience, and its much more expensive to replace. If you’re a casual fisherman or just wanting to try Kokanee trolling once or twice, this is a cost effective way to get into the game, but it’ll actually end up being more expensive in the long run.

Sufix Performance Lead Core 100 Yards Metered Fishing Line

In summary, the line counter is very useful for trolling. This trolling device allows you to see how deep in the water your lure is and helps you keep it at the desired depth.