To keep track of my leads I write it down with a pen on masking tape and tape it to the Styrofoam above the reel.Been doing it for many years and the foam has not gotten too beat up.I'm constantly changing leads and if someone else is helping,they know how much line to put out.I always take the tape off at end of day.The wilderness rods I use are $20 each so I think it is worth catching more fish.Some rods I have are over 20yrs old and still functional.If I change the lead I write it down on the tape and put it over the original tape.Some days may have one piece of tape or on others may have 8 layers of tape.