Thoughts/experience with braid lifespan

[Ski213]

I've not been a huge fan of braid in the past. The last 3-4 yrs though it's grown on me and has made its way on to several of my reels. Im basically a braid newbie and I'm trying to shorten the learning curve here. 

 

How do you guys determine when to replace your braid?  

 

I had a spool of it check out on me today. The only thing that "looked" off was the color.  It had faded. It faded long before it failed though so I assume that's not the best way to check its condition. I appreciate any input. 

[Darren.]

 

I've not been a huge fan of braid in the past. The last 3-4 yrs though it's grown on me and has made its way on to several of my reels. Im basically a braid newbie and I'm trying to shorten the learning curve here. 

 

How do you guys determine when to replace your braid?  

 

I had a spool of it check out on me today. The only thing that "looked" off was the color.  It had faded. It faded long before it failed though so I assume that's not the best way to check its condition. I appreciate any input. 

 

When the color is fading after a year or so, or even

sooner if you need to, tie the braid off on a tree or

something an walk off to the end on the spool.

 

Cut that off, walk back to the first spot and tie that

on your spool now, then reel in the rest. You'll have

"fresh" braid that you haven't used now.

[Team9nine]

When my knot connecting my braid to my backing starts showing up on a long cast, it's about time to change. I've got some reels that have had line on for 4 or 5 years or more. Can't say I've ever had a spool of braid go bad on me.

 

-T9

[Darren.]

 

When my knot connecting my braid to my backing starts showing up on a long cast, it's about time to change. I've got some reels that have had line on for 4 or 5 years or more. Can't say I've ever had a spool of braid go bad on me.

 

-T9

 

Actually agree with your life-span assessment.

I was suggesting a shorter time if there was 

a confidence issue, but that shouldn't be the case.

[RoLo]

 

When my knot connecting my braid to my backing starts showing up on a long cast, it's about time to change. I've got some reels that have had line on for 4 or 5 years or more. Can't say I've ever had a spool of braid go bad on me.

 

-T9

 

During the last few years I've been filling my spools all the way with braid

so I never have to see that dreaded connection knot!

 

I might be dead before I have to refill my braid spools  

 

Roger

[bigturtle]

Braid doesnt stay on my reels long enough to go bad, if thats even possible. I go through a 150yard spool in 2-3 years

[Ski213]

I appreciate the replies guys. I shouldn't have said the spool went bad. Might've been just the outer little bit. I just jerked on the first several yards to check strength then stripped the rest into the trash like an idiot. Didn't even think of reversing it or checking strength deeper in. 

 

This particular outfit stays rigged pretty well the same year round and I probably haven't retied enough to get much line off of it the last two seasons. Maybe thats the deal. 

 

 

[Angry John]

 

I appreciate the replies guys. I shouldn't have said the spool went bad. Might've been just the outer little bit. I just jerked on the first several yards to check strength then stripped the rest into the trash like an idiot. Didn't even think of reversing it or checking strength deeper in. 

 

This particular outfit stays rigged pretty well the same year round and I probably haven't retied enough to get much line off of it the last two seasons. Maybe thats the deal. 

 

 

Sorry to hear that you trashed it.  Step one is turning it around.  I fish more that i should and have only had one reel i had to replace the braid in two years.  I look for a little fray and then turn it around.  I use the entire spool with braid though and depending on what i am doing i cut off a foot or so on retie.