I put new Trilene 10 lb. test on my spinning rod for our spring trip back in May. Fished for one week. The pole has rested since then. Do I need to string new Trilene XL line for September trip? Thanks in advance for any help.

In my opinion, if the line is on the reel that you use primarily for jigging, I would replace it. When you're jigging for a week, the line is sure to get some twist to it. I've been on trips where I changed spools halfway through the week for this same reason.

If the line in question is on the reel that you use primarily for casting or trolling crankbaits, you probably are ok. In both cases, it really boils down to how much you used those rod/reel setups.

Look at it this way... line is cheap. If you think it might be best to replace it, replace it.

EDIT: My comments are in reference to monofilament.

I change my monofilament line every spring on my ice fishing or open water reels. Feel for any nicks in your line and cut it off. You still will have plenty of line left on your reel that has never been in the water. If you choose to use braided line in the future you can get 2-3 years out of that line.

I never trust any line until I've tested knots with it.
Many years ago I took a trip to Florida to visit my sister whose home was lakefront on a good bass lake. I was so excited to go there and I wanted my gear to be just right. I went to a popular, local tackle store and had them spool brand new Trilene on 2 reels and I headed to Florida with brand new, untested Trilene.
As it turned out, the weather was horrible down there and fishing was dead for the first few days, but then we had one single afternoon when the weather broke.

I tied on a plastic worm with a Palomar knot and within a couple of casts I hooked onto something sizable, but the line broke...right on the knot. I quickly re-rigged and cast again with the same results. I assumed I was tying the knot wrong. I tried to re-rig over, and over, and over with the same result...line broke on the knot EVERY TIME and I was definitely tying it correctly, wetting the line etc. That evening, just for confirmation, I tied at least a dozen more attempts and the line broke, at the knot, each and every time. I was furious and thoroughly disgusted.

When I got back home, I went back to the tackle store where I bought the line to complain and they just told me to contact Berkley which I did along with a letter describing the chain of events. The only satisfaction I got from Berkley was 2 new spools of line in the mail. No "We are sorry about you experience" or any words what-so-ever. Just the new line in a box on my doorstep.

That was almost 20 years ago and I have NOT forgotten about it.
I now only patronize Berkley as a last resort.
Moral of the story...tie and test knot strength on even brand new line before you go on a special, long awaited, fishing trip.

In my opinion no. Just check for nicks or wear. It is only a couple of months old, unless it has been out in the sun it will be fine. If it is twisted a lot, just let out a bunch of line with nothing tied on and drag it through the water a ways as you paddle or motor along. That will remove all twists from the line. Mono that heavy should be OK for a season. If it were 4-6 lb I would change every few months of use.

Thanks to all.

mgraber: "...Mono that heavy should be OK for a season. If it were 4-6 lb I would change every few months of use."

+1 ... could last a couple seasons, IMO.

Definitely not. Changing line once per season is plenty often unless you use it a lot (like multiple times per week).

TAS58: "I never trust any line until I've tested knots with it.
Many years ago I took a trip to Florida to visit my sister whose home was lakefront on a good bass lake. I was so excited to go there and I wanted my gear to be just right. I went to a popular, local tackle store and had them spool brand new Trilene on 2 reels and I headed to Florida with brand new, untested Trilene.
As it turned out, the weather was horrible down there and fishing was dead for the first few days, but then we had one single afternoon when the weather broke.


I tied on a plastic worm with a Palomar knot and within a couple of casts I hooked onto something sizable, but the line broke...right on the knot. I quickly re-rigged and cast again with the same results. I assumed I was tying the knot wrong. I tried to re-rig over, and over, and over with the same result...line broke on the knot EVERY TIME and I was definitely tying it correctly, wetting the line etc. That evening, just for confirmation, I tied at least a dozen more attempts and the line broke, at the knot, each and every time. I was furious and thoroughly disgusted.


When I got back home, I went back to the tackle store where I bought the line to complain and they just told me to contact Berkley which I did along with a letter describing the chain of events. The only satisfaction I got from Berkley was 2 new spools of line in the mail. No "We are sorry about you experience" or any words what-so-ever. Just the new line in a box on my doorstep.


That was almost 20 years ago and I have NOT forgotten about it.
I now only patronize Berkley as a last resort.
Moral of the story...tie and test knot strength on even brand new line before you go on a special, long awaited, fishing trip."

+1 Trilene is garbage. Make the switch to fluorocarbon. You’ll wonder why you didn’t switch years ago.

Buhlie: "+1 Trilene is garbage...."

Trilene always seems brittle to me. Cheap mono and change yearly... line gets twisted.

I have always wondered why on earth they just put a manufacturing date on the line box, or a best by date on the box. That stuff goes bad just like everything else. I went into one store and the box ink had faded compared to other boxes. Some of that new line on the shelves could be years old by the time you spool it.

No you shouldn't unless you have been fishing a lot since then. Also the suggestion to use fluorocarbon might not work if you're using a spinning reel, for me the line wants to unravel off the spool. Rather I will put an 8 to 10 ft. fluoro leader on.
I've had good luck using trilene by the way.

the BW/Q can be very tough on mono fishing line. your going in and out of a lot of rocks/structure. how much line is still left on your spool ? wet your fingers run the line through your fingers to feel for abrasions.
fishing is a top priority for me and my group , so i'm always respooling for each trip. braid,,, if spool is full you can get away with.