peleebound just read a couple of your post and you seem to be on the right track , the color line is a cheap way , I have a way thats even cheaper, spool up with your favorite mono or even a light color braided line pull out 25 ft and mark it with a color permanent marker say start with black for 25 ft out , then take out another 25 ft out and mark it with green that will be 50 ft out , then take out another 25 ft out and mark it with red for 75 ft out and so on ,then when you are letting the line out for your desired depth you can easily see the line left on the spool and know aprox. how much line you have let out also keep a marker with you mark your line when you catch a fish then simply go back to the mark each time .
good fishing mblmike: