How often do you change line?

[Spankey]

Pretty often. I’m anal as heck about my line. I fish mono, good mono but I generally strip myself back to a tie knot so that I’m not taking the spool all the way down. After 2 or 3 outings on my setups I use the most. My crankbait rods get replaced the most often. Used the hardest. I buy my line in bulk. Cheaper and easier all the way around.  

[Woody B]

Another thought.  I'm pretty sure heat hurts line....or at least mono.  I "thought" I had a bad spool last summer.   I had bought a big bulk spool on trilene online.  It was in my boat for a month or more before I used any.   My boat is black, under a black cover so it's pretty hot.    The line was basically no good.  It was really easy to break.   I ended up decided it was counter fit or old.  I quit buying line online.   Fast forward to this year.  I bought a fresh spool, locally and spooled 3 of my reels before I took a vacation week at the end of June.   I hadn't had any problems,  but respooled all 3 of those reels the last week of July, off the same spool.   It was no good.  I was breaking off on hookset, and trying to get loose from snags.  It was the same spool, so it wasn't a bad one.   It had been in my boat,  under the cover, buried under the deck for a month.   I can break that line pretty easy by just pulling it apart with both hands.   (12 pound Trilene)    My reels stay in my boat, but they're on top of the deck, under the cover.  It's hot there too but probably not as hot as under the deck where I was storing my line.  I got another bulk spool, re spooled the 3 reels.  I'm keeping the spool inside my air conditioned house, and also bringing my reels end when I won't be fishing for a few days.  (dang work).   

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Woody B said:

I'm pretty sure heat hurts line....or at least mono.

Mono, FC and Hybrid all deteriorate under sun and/or heat conditions. All I take on the boat are small 'filler' spools of what ever line I use for leaders on braid...and like my tackle and rigs, they come out the end of a trip My main spools stay in my dark/cool basement.

[santafish]

Went braid to leader for almost all my applications a few years ago and I'm still waiting for my braid to wear out so I can try some of the new fancy stuff I bought... I retie leaders quite often but the main line just seems to last forever.

[Bankc]

Unless medical science makes some significant breakthroughs in human longevity, I won't be.  All braid over here.  

[volzfan59]

Floro: Never, don't like it, refuse to use it. 

 

Mono: As needed, minimum of twice per year. When I'm finished for the year, I strip all the line off of my reels and back off the drags completely. Start of the season I clean and lube all reels and spool on fresh line. Same for the halfway point.

 

Braid: I only have one reel left with braid. It's been on the reel for approximately two years. When it is no longer trustworthy, that reel will be back to mono too.

 

 

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings @ol'crickety and et al.,

I add my $0.02 worth of personal experience to changing my mono fishing line "as needed". Others have made some very good and relatable points on the matter so I'm echoing some that apply in my case.

 

I simply do my mono line changes as needed because I'm using different fishing gear at different times of the year. So some get used frequently while others don't. Things that compel me to change out mono:

 

- Low level of line on the spool. This affects casting distance and accuracy which can be bothersome.

- Line degraded in some way. Kinked up, dragged over a branch/rocks, and such. Since most of my gear is ultra-lite there is just not much in the way of tolerance for the lighter thin lines so I need it in reasonably good shape. Most of the time if it is damaged I'll simply cut it off but because I'm using smaller reels you can only cut off so much before the low spool condition triggers a line change.

 

Much of the time if there are line loops or wind knots the recommendation for dragging the line out in the water is very helpful. I have found that I can do something similar in the yard too. I'll basically pull a good amount of line out across the yard and I'll be generous in pulling out the line and simply let it lie out on the ground. Nothing is tied at the end of the line. Then from across the yard, I'll reel it back up while making sure there is reasonable tension on the line as it goes back on the reel. I put tension on by using running the line through a very wet hand towel or shop rag (occasional a old sock converted to a shop rag). You don't need to add too much resistance, just enough so that the line packs on the reel smoothly. Usually this only takes one session every so often if your not able to do the water drag. Again I'm using light line so it is not as stiff. If you're using heavier line say 8 pound or greater then you may have to repeat to achieve success. The wet rag serves to reduce friction (damage) and the water helps to relax the line some as it gets packed on the spool. It also serves to clean your line of debris too, again helping with casting distance and accuracy.

 

I hope this helps! Be well and cheers!

[NoFroFishing]

I went with Braid to leader about a year ago and haven't changed line at all. Only the leader. 

Saves money and frustration. 

 

[Bankbeater]

I'm still using the same line on my baitcasters that I put on earlier this year.  I've had to put line on my spinning reels twice this year so far. 

[padlin]

Braid, reverse after 1st season, replace after 2nd. A season for me is 6 or 7 months.

Mono, every winter.

[FishTank]

Depending on the brand...

 

I change mono about 2-3 times a year for Sufix Siege but have had Sunline Defier on a reel for almost 2 years. 

 

Most FC I change once a year but had one today that left me scratching my head. I put some 14lb Daiwa J-Flouro on late last year on a reel I only fish once in a while and it seemed fine but after I took it out yesterday and when did some long casts I noticed the line was seemed kinked every few inches. First time I have seen FC deteriorate like this. I have had some FC (Tatsu) last 4 seasons. 

 

Braid, I change as needed. Maybe every two years. With leader though, it might be never on some. 

[Bazoo]

An interesting discussion. I especially appreciate the tips on keeping line from twisting on a spinning reel. I've been having trouble with that, but chocked it up to using a cheap spinning rig. I'll have to go all hand closing and see if it cures the issue. I got in the habit of hand closing some years back when I had a vintage reel that needed it from wear, so it's not hard change for me.

 

I generally use mono and I change it either once per season or when it starts getting a little worn. I don't like chancing line that is questionable.

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

but chocked it up to using a cheap spinning rig.

I occasionally dig out the Avocet RZ combo I bought on Amazon years ago...cost me all of $30 for a 2000 size reel with a 6'6" ML/F rod...don't come much cheaper.

 

Hand closing the bail...I rarely have line-twist problems even on that 'piece of cheap plastic'...so it's not the 'cheap combo' that's the issue.

[Bazoo]

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I occasionally dig out the Avocet RZ combo I bought on Amazon years ago...cost me all of $30 for a 2000 size reel with a 6'6" ML/F rod...don't come much cheaper.

 

Hand closing the bail...I rarely have line-twist problems even on that 'piece of cheap plastic'...so it's not the 'cheap combo' that's the issue.

I'll definitely have to try it. My cheap one is Eagle Claw branded so I got ya beat for cheaper. I got it at a yardsale for 75¢ last year. I actually got 4 combos for $3.00. That one, and 3 spincasters.