How often do you change/replace your fishing line? Once each season or do you extend your line over a season or two? This question is based on using the line for just one 7- day BWCA/Quetico trip per year.

If you're using mono, fresh line every season.

I understand that spooling braid and using flouro leaders will allow you a much longer time before you should change.

Try to find a couple more opportunities to wet your line during the year and you won't feel so guilty about the waste.

At least twice a year.

There is no doubt you should go in with fresh mono on every major canoe trip.

Wether you change it once or twice a year depends on how often you fish.

I'll change mono 2-3 times a year. Braid gets changed less often...probably once every few years, though it depends on how much it gets used. The stuff on my heavy bass rods that's constantly getting pulled over logs, through weeds, and out of the occasional overhanging tree gets changed more often than the stuff on my walleye and jigging rods.

If you're *only* planning to fish for one trip, just do a cost-benefit analysis. The cost of a spool of mono is....probably $7. You can get two rods spooled for that, so it's $3.50 per rod. How much is increasing the chance of hooking and landing a big fish worth to you?

I never go to the Quetico or Boundary Waters without a fresh spool of line. You might spend a $1000 on a trip and the most important thing is your fishing line and the knot you tie. Is it worth 6 bucks to land the trophy of your life?

QueticoMike: "I never go to the Quetico or Boundary Waters without a fresh spool of line. You might spend a $1000 on a trip and the most important thing is your fishing line and the knot you tie. Is it worth 6 bucks to land the trophy of your life?"

Yup.

I replace mono line every year. Braided line every 3 years. I also bring an extra spool of #8 Trilene XL just in case. Nothing worse than running out of line on a trip.

mastertangler: "

QueticoMike: "I never go to the Quetico or Boundary Waters without a fresh spool of line. You might spend a $1000 on a trip and the most important thing is your fishing line and the knot you tie. Is it worth 6 bucks to land the trophy of your life?"

Yup. "

You sound like Dave from that Storage Wars show :)

YUP

I didn't replace the line last year after using it for 1 trip to the BWCA last year. After 2 days of trouble I spent an entire day fighting tangles inside the reel. Then pulled half of it out to throw away and it still was trouble.

I am replacing the line this year.

How long does the line on the original spool from the store last? Do I need to buy fresh?

proepro: "I didn't replace the line last year after using it for 1 trip to the BWCA last year. After 2 days of trouble I spent an entire day fighting tangles inside the reel. Then pulled half of it out to throw away and it still was trouble.


I am replacing the line this year.


How long does the line on the original spool from the store last? Do I need to buy fresh? "

If you keep your line in a cool, dark place, preferably in an air tight container the line will last for a long time. If the line is left some place hot, with maybe sun on it and not in a container, it will be degraded. So it depends on how it is stored.

QueticoMike: "

proepro: "I didn't replace the line last year after using it for 1 trip to the BWCA last year. After 2 days of trouble I spent an entire day fighting tangles inside the reel. Then pulled half of it out to throw away and it still was trouble.



I am replacing the line this year.



How long does the line on the original spool from the store last? Do I need to buy fresh? "

If you keep your line in a cool, dark place, preferably in an air tight container the line will last for a long time. If the line is left some place hot, with maybe sun on it and not in a container, it will be degraded. So it depends on how it is stored."

Yep :-)

Braid: 3-4 years (used to change more often) at 1.85 years reverse the line in the spool.
Mono: 2-3 times / season
It wasn't part of the original question, but how to spool properly is important and many instructional vids miss the most important first minute highlighted in this video: How to spool a spinning reel

I change mono every few years (contrary to others here) and have had no issues. Granted....I only use each rod probably 1 week every year. Otherwise they're in the basement where it's dark and cool.

Part of me wonders how long the line you buy at the store has been sitting there too. What makes it different if it's on the shelf at the store or on my reel spool in my basement? (dry, dark, and cool)

Braid I change about the same, depending on use.

I have plenty of rods for various situations, I fish more than 7 days in a year. But each rod probably only sees a total of 7 days of use....

Guys, a followup question here....what type of line should I purchase to replace the stuff on my reels? Any specific recommendations?

talltom2: "Guys, a followup question here....what type of line should I purchase to replace the stuff on my reels? Any specific recommendations?"

If you are not as hardcore a fisherman whatever 8-10lb test mono is on sale. Personally I prefer Ande Green for freshwater, but whatever you find will be fine. Just beware the multitude of specialty lines that are out now, they are all finicky in their own particular ways. Monofilament for a couple trips a year is fine.


One trick I've found that pretty much reduces most problems for occasional anglers, is to right off the bat drag most of the line behind the boat and wind it back in. Just open the bail/freespool atleast half the spool out behind you with nothing attached, and wind it back in. It will be straight, limp, and tightly wound on the spool.
Works with straightening out badly twisted line as well. No more springing into curly cues or twisting into knots.

Yes, letting your line out behind your boat, at least 1/2 the spool (as suggested) will help immensely in keeping your mono manageable. This should be done right off the bat if you put the line on yourself. Otherwise I just keep an eye on it and when you sense "issues" put it back and paddle for 5 or 10 minutes with nothing attached and things will improve considerably.

They don't call it spinning gear for nuthin.

talltom2: "Guys, a followup question here....what type of line should I purchase to replace the stuff on my reels? Any specific recommendations?"

I use clear Trilene XL 10 #

I must be doing it all wrong. Mono I fish three to four times a week, spring thru fall, then the same reels two to three days a week on different rods thru the ice. I change every couple of years. Braid I reverse after two years replace after four. I always use a leader four to six pounds lighter than the main line and this is replaced as needed. Don’t remember the last time a fish broke my line except a sturgeon a couple of nights ago when walleye fishing and then because After about thirty minutes of little progress I just tightened the drag too much the six pound leader broke.

mutz: "I must be doing it all wrong. Mono I fish three to four times a week, spring thru fall, then the same reels two to three days a week on different rods thru the ice. I change every couple of years. Braid I reverse after two years replace after four. I always use a leader four to six pounds lighter than the main line and this is replaced as needed. Don’t remember the last time a fish broke my line except a sturgeon a couple of nights ago when walleye fishing and then because After about thirty minutes of little progress I just tightened the drag too much the six pound leader broke."

i guess just do what works. I can usually tell, with braid or mono, when it's not right when I test the knot. If I keep busting knots before I know it should break I know I'm due.

I would definitely put fresh mono on before a canoe trip though, no doubt about it. I have had line start a trip fine and dandy and then within 4 days go south. No good!

Anyone have an answer for my earlier question? What's the difference between line sitting on its original spool in my house or at a store vs it sitting on my reel spool?

cyclones30: "Anyone have an answer for my earlier question? What's the difference between line sitting on its original spool in my house or at a store vs it sitting on my reel spool? "

Probably the only difference will be mostly line memory.

cyclones30: "Anyone have an answer for my earlier question? What's the difference between line sitting on its original spool in my house or at a store vs it sitting on my reel spool? "

Whats your point? Go ahead and don't change your line before a trip if you think it doesn't matter........and it might not. But then again it just might. I was respooling my outfits last night and could tell some of my mono was definitely breaking before it should when I tested it and it only had 1 season on it and not used excessively.

The difference between line stored in a store vs your house is history. How much use does it have?........and where it is stored? If it is stored in air conditioning with previous little usage it might just be fine. But if you fished a decent amount last summer and store your reels in the garage I would be suspect.

I am also a big believer in getting line where the turnover on product is high thus insuring fresh line. That little bait shop might not be the best choice. I also like bringing in a fresh spool of line as an insurance policy. I have had line go south in a very big way after a couple of days of rain to the point I couldn't even get a knot to stick. I was very fortunate my buddy had a spare spool of mono or I would of been out of luck.

I really think mono is much better than it was 10 years ago. It sure seems to do better against UV.
I usually end up changing it when it develops memory. I remove a few feet regularly and when my spool gets down I change.
I would guess I fish way more than most and its rare for me to chnge line "because it's time"

I replace my braid when my reel isn't full enough for efficient casting. I fish a lot, and I fish a lot on rivers that eat braid. I end up re-spooling my favorite reels once a year or so. My dad and brother fish less than two weeks per year. They have been on the same spool of braid forever. I say, spool with braid and replace it when you run low. If you fish the BWCA one week per year, you'll get 5+ years out of the braided line. That is a better deal (and a better line) than getting cheap mono every year.

Maybe I'm paranoid, I change line before a trip and sometimes during the trip. If I'm trolling and the line is running over rocks and snags, a single spur in the line weakens the overall strength of that line.

Three hard days of fishing in the border country tears up the line pretty badly.

I definitely bring a spool with. just in case!