A blog about boats, fishing, water sports and having fun on the ocean
How often should I replace my fishing line?
by
Mono and fluoro lines become brittle over time and weaken when they’re exposed to saltwater and UV rays. I’d recommend changing it out at least once every 6 months to 1 year. And if you notice that it starts to coil, it’s time to go ahead and replace it. For braided line, there’s no reason to replace it within a year.
Check for abrasions. Most nicks or cuts are going to be in the first few yards of line.
Check for UV damage. You don’t need to worry about this so much for braided and fluorocarbon lines but keep a close watch for UV exposure on monofilament.
Check for memory.
Check your knot strength.
How long does it take fishing line to degrade?
It is estimated that monofilament line takes 600 years to break down once discarded! This means that monofilament line can cause problems throughout the environment when it is lost during fishing (e.g., when cutting loose a snagged lure) or improperly discarded overboard.
Just like everything else in the world, with enough time, fishing line will start to break down, lose its elasticity, and become brittle and prone to snapping.
How often should I replace my fishing line? – Related Questions
Does unused fishing line expire?
Yes, unused fishing line can go bad on a fishing reel. Indeed, it goes bad considerably quicker than it would sitting on shelf. All of the issues that could make fishing line go bad on a spool are going to be amplified when its on your fishing reel.
Can you use wd40 on fishing line?
Some fishermen use WD-40 to clean their reels, others spray it on their fishing line, and many even swear it works if you spray it on lures as a fish attractant.
Does fishing line deteriorate in sunlight?
Monofilament is affected by exposure to ultraviolet light (UV). Under normal circumstances, monofilament loses about 20% of its tensile strength for every 100 hours of exposure to sunlight. Most anglers do not leave monofilament on their reels long enough to expose it to 100 hours of sunlight while fishing.
What causes fishing line to fray?
There are several different causes of drag fray, but the primary culprit is poorly stacked line or loosely wound line that gets crossed and bunched up on the spool. (Everyday wear and tear when using heavy drag settings can also cause drag fray.)
Why is my fishing line breaking?
Knots. Tying knots is part of fishing, but tying a knot in nylon line will always weaken it. So it is no surprise that line often breaks on the knot. The very worst knot to use is the overhand knot, avoid this knot at all times, that includes using it to tie loops.
You want to store fishing line in a cool, dry, relatively dark place. If you prefer to buy a lot of bulk spools of line, this will help protect your long-term investment and keep it as good as new for years and years.
How long are braided fishing lines good?
Braided line can last on your reel for years, so you don’t need to change it out often. However, here are two scenarios when you would need to change it out: A lot of line is frayed. You don’t have that much braid left on your spool.
What do you do with old braided fishing line?
To discard non-monofilament line, such as braid or wire, cut the line into 12-inch or smaller pieces and place into a covered trash receptacle. Line placed in trash receptacles without lids can blow out into the environment or entangle wildlife that are foraging in the open trash receptacle.
When should you not use braided line?
While braid lines’ taut pressure is useful for wearing out smaller game, their lack of stretch makes them far less ideal for fighting bigger game like tuna or swordfish. If you’re trying to catch a bite that’s upward of 600-1,000 pounds, their strength can easily rip the line in two, damaging both the rig and the fish.
Should you soak braided line before spooling?
Braid does not need soaking like you do with mono prior to spooling up. Thread your braid through the eye on the but section of the rod. Double check that your spool is as far forward as possible. Tie a slip loop knot in your braid.
There are some minor drawbacks (they’re more expensive, harder to cut, may produce wind knots, and are prone to rod-tip fouling), and types of fishing where other lines are more appropriate.
Why do fisheries ban braided line?
Good question, and here’s my explanation for why: Braid is of a very thin diameter and because of this there’s a danger of its misuse as a mainline. Irresponsible anglers can be tempted to use it in very high breaking strains and to fish in very snaggy / heavily weeded areas.
Are fish scared of braided line?
Braids are very visible in the water. For that reason, many fishermen do not like it in clear water. It may spook the fish, especially on finesse baits where you are trying to entice a fish to bite a lure they can see for a long time.
What is the best color fishing line to use?
Yellow. The high-vis yellow color is great for anglers who watch their line to detect bites. The bright color makes it easy to see from above and slight bites are easily noticed.
What color attracts more fish?
Green Light and White Light are the most common colors used to attract fish to Boats, Docks and Piers because they are brighter and will attract fish from a greater distance.