BWCA Fishing Line - How often do you change it? Boundary Waters Fishing Forum
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02/28/2021 05:57PM  
I just put new line on three of my reels. I have no real plan or schedule as to when I do it...it's more a of a feel thing. Like I haven't used that rod and reel for a few years, I should probably put new line on or I can't remember the last time I put new line on...I should probably do it.
 
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02/28/2021 06:03PM  
Braid can go 2-3+ years , Mono yearly. and any fishing trips , like the BW , new on all mono set ups with a spare spool in the pack.
 
cyclones30
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02/28/2021 06:21PM  
I don't change it as frequently "as I should" and I don't really have any issues. I do typically rip off the end 20'+ or so at least every few months and toss in the trash if I've been using that rig. But a full replacement? Braid I'll take off and run back on the other way...but at least 2-3 years each way. Mono.....I just kind of go by feel but it's at least 2 years probably. Always stored in cool, dry, dark place so I'm not worried about it breaking down. Some of these rigs only get used for a week or two a year. (and I'm still getting rid of the line that's been out on the rod and on the outside of the spool in that time)

That's the problem with a whole wall of rods, I grab 3 for this trip and use them for 2 days. Then they go back in and I grab 4 others, then a couple others. Then I get the ultralights out....rinse and repeat. If I had 3 rods I was using every week it's a whole different story.
 
Savage Voyageur
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02/28/2021 08:46PM  
Mono-1 year
Braid-3 years
 
03/01/2021 09:52AM  
Timely question, thanks for asking - I'd like to know too!

But the follow-on question: The line I have on a big spool at home (in my case it's mono)...how long is that good when it just sits on the shelf? I've been respooling from that for quite some time but it occurs to me that at some point it may no longer be good.
 
Savage Voyageur
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03/01/2021 10:50AM  
sns: "Timely question, thanks for asking - I'd like to know too!


But the follow-on question: The line I have on a big spool at home (in my case it's mono)...how long is that good when it just sits on the shelf? I've been respooling from that for quite some time but it occurs to me that at some point it may no longer be good."



Line that you buy in the store never will have a date on it. Ever wonder why no dates are on line packages? It’s because if people saw how old it was sitting on the shelf they would pass on that spool and it would never sell. So then you need to ask the question, is the line on the store shelf that could be 5 years old any good? I would say yes it’s still good. The sunlight isThe biggest thing that breaks down the plastic polymers in the mono line. Out and back in through the line guides rubbing on a thousand things damages the line. Spooled on a reel tightly wound puts a set in the line. Sitting on a shelf in your basement probably will be fine. I know personally I have used line on my reels that was over ten years old. This is why I re-spool mono every year. Braided line is designed to be stronger and starts out stronger, so it lasts longer.
 
03/01/2021 11:30AM  
sns: "Timely question, thanks for asking - I'd like to know too!


But the follow-on question: The line I have on a big spool at home (in my case it's mono)...how long is that good when it just sits on the shelf? I've been respooling from that for quite some time but it occurs to me that at some point it may no longer be good."
i was at fleet farm , ready to buy a large spool of magna thin , then i noticed on the box how much dust was on it. also brought some from basspro and it was difficult to hold a knot , this is 2 reason why i quit buying magna thin , it is a good line but not that popular and does sit on the shelf during many season ? and fluorescent bulb do give off different degrees of uv light ,
so now i strictly buy triline , i know it's going to be the freshest line in the store. IMO ;)
 
03/01/2021 11:51AM  
I usually replace it every year, but sometimes I keep it on for an extra year if I haven't done any other fishing than the boundary waters, it's a shorter trip, or if it's my second rod. I know I should replace it every spring with fresh bought line, but sometime I am a little cheap and don't go and buy new line.
 
QueticoMike
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03/01/2021 12:35PM  
I guess it depends on how much you fish and where you fish. I fish around 200 times or more a year. Before I lake fish in Quetico or the BW, I will change the line before each trip most likely. That's mono I'm talking about, if I was using a braid and it doesn't look bad I will leave it on the spool until it doesn't look good. If I am river fishing here at home with all of the rocks and the number of times I fish, the line gets changed pretty often. I typically only put new line on maybe a half spool leaving the lower part of the spool with the same line all of the time.

Line will remain good if it is stored properly. Keep it in a cool, dark place and if you can put it in a sealed container or a ziplock all the better.
 
ericinely
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03/01/2021 12:41PM  
I was told by the old fishing pro at Joe's Sporting Goods in St. Paul that you shouldnt ever have to replace braid unless it starts fraying. "If you don't like it fading in the sun, unspool it and reattach it backwards" to get the stuff that hasn;t been exposed to sunlight on the outside. I am about 4-5 years into my powerpro and I've not had a single issue. As long as you don't store any of your fishing line in sunlight, it lasts a lot longer.

Mono needs to be changed almost every season due to UV degradation. That is one of the reasons I no longer use mono in any application. It doesn't end up saving you and money over the more expensive flouro/braid if you have to replace it all the time.

Not sure what the rule of thumb is on flouro, generally I use that most for leader. I do have a few ice rods that have had the same flouro on them for 2-4 years and they seem to be doing fine. They dont get hardly and sunlight though fishing out of a shack and always keeping them in a hard-sided rod case.
 
cyclones30
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03/01/2021 12:49PM  
I get the UV issue w/ mono but....if it's stored in "dark and dry" areas....is there a UV issue? At least anything noticeable. If the reel is sitting out on the deck of a bass boat for its whole life that's a whole different story. In a basement or closet or....is not UV
 
scotttimm
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03/01/2021 01:43PM  
I used to be religious about changing my mono. Not so much anymore. I haven't noticed any difference. I have a couple of reels that are BWCA-only, and for one-two trips a year I think they are just fine for a couple of seasons worth of trips. Hell, I'm sure that I haven't changed the line on my spare reel in at least five years. I still catch plenty of fish, I think it's usually more a factor of how well I tied my knot or checked my knot/line after release. But now you've got me thinking about it, so I'll probably change it before this summer ;)
 
03/01/2021 02:28PM  
Maybe I missed it , but nobody discussed Florocarbon. All my reels get braid backing and then either mono or floro leaders... the floro leaders are much longer because I want them to sink. Mono leaders are short because both braid and mono float so no biggie. I haven’t changed my braid in years. The mono never gets changed, just cut off when I gets to short. Floro has MUCH more memory so gets changed every year. Last thing , any spinning reel with braid to floro gets much less line as a leader because the memory can get tricky compared to when it’s on a baitcaster. Floro is the way to go for me except for topwater.
 
BAWaters
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03/01/2021 05:51PM  
Mono every year
Braided every couple of years
 
Abbey
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03/01/2021 09:03PM  
New line every time I lose a rod.
 
WIMike
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03/01/2021 09:36PM  
Almost never since I switched to braid. When the spool gets low I'll put new braid on but that doesn't happen often. On the rods that I use a fluoro or mono leader I replace the leader when it gets down to about 2 feet. I have straight mono on a couple rods and I replace it every 2-3 years but those rods rarely get used. Keep line out of the sun when not using and it will last a long time.
 
03/02/2021 06:52AM  
Exactly WIMike... learn to tie a double uni-knot and splurge for some nice braided line and you rarely buy line ever again. People that fish often and don’t switch to a braid/ floro combo don’t know what they are missing. Invisible line and incredible feel with few line issues.... just saying
 
WIMike
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03/02/2021 07:59AM  
marc24: "Exactly WIMike... learn to tie a double uni-knot "


It's a pain to tie but I use the FG knot for braid to leader. Works best when the leader is thicker than the braid. When I need to re-tie on the water I use the uni-uni knot because I can tie it much more easily. The FG is stronger and passes through the guides better but the uni-uni works fine too. On some waters, dark or dirty, I use straight braid but I do blacken the last 3-4 feet with a magic marker.
 
03/02/2021 09:50AM  
Having to tie a double-uni in a canoe with the wind blowing is tough enough. I avoid that at all cost. Never tried that other knot, guess I know what I’m practicing today.
 
MarshallPrime
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03/02/2021 10:20AM  
Almost never. I use braid. I have had many discussions with walleye people that I need to either use a 5 foot leader when jigging or switch to mono but it seems like our catch rate is about the same.
 
mgraber
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03/02/2021 02:16PM  
Light line, like 8lb or under twice a year, medium line 8-15lb once a year, and 20 plus from once a year to once every 2 years. Braid, when it looks worn or the spool is low. I base this on having actually tested my line many times over the years. So, this is of course, based on my personal usage, environment, and storage. I tested a spool of 22 year old 20# braid that was not in packaging and it tested over 24# even with the knot. There was some 10 # mono in the same drawer, and same approximate age that when knotted broke at about 3 1/2#. Sunlight and ozone breaks down mono, not much breaks down braid. I have no idea about fluoro. If you look at mono under magnification, after a few moths in the sun and air you will see surface cracks. On light line these cracks can go mostly through, but on heavier line they are only on the surface. Store mono out of sun, cool, and as air tight as possible. Reel Magic can really extend the life of standard mono, just spray it on. I suspect it seals the line to some extent, as well as keeping it limp. If you have older mono on a reel and find your knots are breaking because the line is old, try a Palomar knot as it doesn't have as many sharp bends in it which causes the old stiff line to break. It will also pull down easier. It can make a huge difference.
 
Basspro69
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03/02/2021 02:59PM  
With mono once a year unless my line is getting low on the reel. Braid every 3 to 5 years. My rods are stored inside out of sunlight when not in use, as well as my spare spools of line .
 
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