How Often Do You Change Line?

[Duckslayer2095]

I'm not sure if this has came up recently or not so I'll just ask. How often do you guys re-spool your reels for each type of line? Say you are using it 1-2 times a week or less. I mosty use mono because of its price and I change it every couple weeks or before each tournament. Do most people keep FC and braid on longer than mono? 

[roadwarrior]

I change my line "as needed" or once a year. I don't think Yo-Zuri, fluorocarbon or

braid break down like monofilament lines.

[Goose52]

No set period - it depends upon how much use any one particular reel has had. I'm not one to believe that nylon mono, copolymer, or flouro suddenly "goes bad" just being on the reel. Braid never "goes bad" either - it just gets worn out or used up.

I trim back 6" to a foot of line at every retie (sometimes more if I feel abrasion on the line), and may retie multiple times a day. On the reels that I use the most (I fish every day), I might have trimmed-back 20 to 30 yards of line after a month or so and will have to add new line often. Otherwise, I'll only change line if I've had a backlash or other problems that makes the line suspect. I might change the line after I've caught a 40-50 pound carp or otherwise put stress on the line.  I use backing on most reels so I'm usually only changing the top 70-80 yards of line. Now, if line has been on a reel for a couple years or more (I keep a written record of when the line was installed), I might change the line just for grins, or perhaps to avoid manageability problems related to coiling, but not because I think it's suddenly "gone bad."      

 

I should mention too that all my reels are stored in the garage, or inside the house. If reels are kept in the rod locker of the boat forever, with lots of heat, then perhaps line is going to degrade at a faster rate...   

 

Here's some earlier responses to the same question:

 

How Often Do You Change Line

[Fishes in trees]

The two questions to ask when it comes to changing line are:  A- Does it need changing?  B - Can I afford it right now?  All things being equal, I think that mono wears out faster than fluorocarbon line does.  I've went several years using the same spool of braid without any noticeable decline in quality.  So basically your answer is when ever you want to or feel the need to.

 

On a side note, this is the time of year when Walmart is doing their seasonal close outs, getting ready for next years stock.   It is a good time to pick up some discounted line.  I've found the Spider Wire XXX Super Mono in 17 lb test to be a good square bill/spinnerbait line.  I've had good experiences with the 17 and 20 lb Stren Dura-tuff.   I've had bad experiences with Berkley Big Game and I won't buy that stuff any more.

[BrettD]

I get around 2 yrs out of braid before it gets low on the spool from retying. I have never had an issue with braid breaking down yet. Every rod I use has braid.

[roadwarrior]

The two questions to ask when it comes to changing line are:  A- Does it need changing?  B - Can I afford it right now?  All things being equal, I think that mono wears out faster than fluorocarbon line does.  I've went several years using the same spool of braid without any noticeable decline in quality.  So basically your answer is when ever you want to or feel the need to.

 

On a side note, this is the time of year when Walmart is doing their seasonal close outs, getting ready for next years stock.   It is a good time to pick up some discounted line.  I've found the Spider Wire XXX Super Mono in 17 lb test to be a good square bill/spinnerbait line.  I've had good experiences with the 17 and 20 lb Stren Dura-tuff.   I've had bad experiences with Berkley Big Game and I won't buy that stuff any more.

 

We have a new sponsor: TUF-LINE. They are offering BassResource.com members

a spool for the cost of shipping. Don't you want to give it a try for $4.99?  I fished 20#

Supercast on Sunday and REALLY liked it!

[.RM.]

I'm not sure if this has came up recently or not so I'll just ask. How often do you guys re-spool your reels for each type of line? Say you are using it 1-2 times a week or less. I mosty use mono because of its price and I change it every couple weeks or before each tournament. Do most people keep FC and braid on longer than mono? 

X2....As a mono only user every outing (I buy in bulk)

I don't even let a spool coil set in..

 

 

Tight Lines! 

[thehooligan]

Depends how much fishing i do a month. If i get out a few times a week then ill be replacing the braid on my topwater rod maybe once every couple months. I use flouro leaders on my other spinning rods so that braid will last for years unless i get a good deal on braid and just want to switch it up.

 

For the baitcasters, i use mono and flouro and cut off about 6 inches for every lure change so im thinking they will get re-spooled every 2 months or so.

[NBR]

For years I changed at least every winter when the lakes were frozen. I have always and still kept a close watch on any nicks or frays in the last 10 feet or so of line. Now I don't change lines until the lack of line is going to affect casting and I can't recall the last time I broke off on a fish. Mono has incredible life if not exposed to sunlight or extreme temperatures for extended periods. I don't fish a lot of T's but if I did changing lines would be one of thse things that made me feel better.

[SudburyBasser]

I tend to use braid for two years -- one year on one reel then I put it reversed on another one so that the line that never saw sun or water has its chance at glory. No reason to waste money buying line when you have perfectly good line sitting there.

 

I don't use mono anymore but I generally changed it once a season.

[WRB]

Lets get the emotional and promotional factors out the question.

Monofilament made from Nylon generally referred to as mono is a hygroscopic polymer, meaning it absorbs water and is subject to UV and temperature degradation. Sun light affects mono, so does temperature above 105 degrees F below freezing.

Monofilament line made from fluorocarbon polymers know 100% fluorocarbon is not hygroscopic and doesn't absorb water or other liquids and isn't subject ot UV degradation or temperature degradation we would normally subject it to.

What breaks down monofilament line is pressure for a period of time. Knots put a lot of pressure during the time it's tied. Casting puts pressure on the line, the line deep in the spool has a constant force on it. When you pull hard on the line it can yield and stretch the line.

Monofilament line needs to be changed when it has lost it's knot strength or impact strength. Tie on a lure give a few hard pulls being carefull not to hook yourself. With practice you will know the difference between good and bad line.

Braid isn't affected by any of the above factors, however wears out and weakens from use. Same test as with monofilament lines.

Functional test the line, if it feels weak, change it.

Tom

[Darren.]

I vary, spooling most of my reels with braid mainline, the "vary" can last a long time. Unless, of course, there's a completely unsolvable professional overrun on my baitcasters.

 

Spinning reels go for at least 1-2 years barring no bizarre knots of no return.

[The Next KVD]

Mono: Before every tournament and fish it till the night before the next tournament.

 

Fluorocarbon: Depends on the initial quality and lb test.  I got some P-Line Halo and Sunline Shooter on some reels that have been on the reel spool for just about 2 years now.  Thinking I'll swap them out this spring though for good measure.  Cheaper fluoros and lighter than 12lb test I replace about twice a year.

 

Braid: Once every 2 years as sunlight and water eventually break it down, sorta like dry rot is what I can say to describe it.

[flippin and pitchin]

By buddy, Big John is very frugal.  He changes his line once a decade whether he needs to or not.  Me as needed. I'm careful how it's stored

[lmbfisherman]

I don't have a set time frame, it is a judgement thing.  Before I go out (day before) I will check the lines, reel and rod to see if they are ready to go.  If there is an issue with the line then I'll re-spool.  I use braid on most of my reels, have P-Line Floroclear and mono on the rest.

[ww2farmer]

I use braid exclusively as main line, with fluorocarbon leaders as needed. I change the braid out when......#1 it gets low enough on the reel so I am down to the backing on a long cast, or #2 it starts looking pretty ratty. Often time in situation #2 I just take the braid off and reverse it, putting the used stuff on the bottom. When I use a fluoro leader, I tie them long, so I get a few reties out of them before I have to tie a new leader. They usually start at 5' or so, and get changed when I am down to a foot left.

[tomustang]

When I run low on the spool, perhaps once a year

[tholmes]

I use mono exclusively and I fish in a lake with lots of rip-rap and submerged timber so the line takes a pretty good beating. I'll re-tie fairly often and when the spool gets low, I refill it. 

 

Tom

[Hyrule Bass]

except for one reel with FC i only use mono when i fish. I've had the same line on some reels going on 3 years now. The mono is still as strong as ever. I only change line when it gets low on the spool or i just want to try out a new line or a different size. Ive been using stren and big game, never had a fish break off because of line or at the knot. but those lines are awfully coily until you "break them in" with a couple fish. its coily when spooling it up. this past weekend i went to BPS and they had sufix siege mono on sale for 5 dollars a spool, i picked up 3 sizes, i havent fished it yet but off the spool there was barely any coil. i was amazingly surprised at that and how limp and soft it seems.

 

kind of got off track lol, but back to the point. mono will last a long time if stored properly. i got several reels i need to respool for this year because theyre low on line. but i will be respooling some of them with the line off the same spool of the 3 year old line im replacing

[katmandew]

I get about 2 months out of Halo FC before it gets so much memory I cant stand to use it anymore.  When it starts birdnesting due to memory, it's time to change. Braid on the other hand is a different story.  I have a rod that has had braid on it a year.  It still casts fine because there's no memory.  I did spool it off so the line on the bottom is now on the top though.  It was discolored until I exposed the unused portion of the spool.