You’ve been counting down the days until fishing season starts again. Before you head out to the lake you need to get all your gear ready. Looking over those dusty reels it occurs to you.
How long does fishing line actually last? It has to have a shelf life doesn’t it? Your Rod Hooks and lures all seem to be in good shape, but your line has seen better days. Is it still safe to use after months or possibly years in winter storage?
Deciding when you need to change up your line is a recipe for frustration. Changing up your line to soon will force you to spend more money on an already expensive hobby. Waiting too long will cause excessive line breaks and annoying line memory that coils up on every cast.
Don’t get tempted to buy cheap line, this isn’t where you should be saving money. Make sure you get the most out of your line and save your money for lures and that new reel you’ve been waiting for.
Does Fishing Line Degrade?
Fishing line might not seem like it degrades, but it does have a shelf life. There is no official answer as to how long it will actually last, but you will occasionally have to replace it. This question, like many other fishing questions depends on a wide variety of factors.
How Long Does Fishing Line Last?
Fishing line has a shelf life just like your groceries, but that doesn’t mean you should be throwing out all your old line. It takes a very long time to degrade when left in its original packaging.
Most manufacturers agree that monofilament line should last at least 3 years, fluorocarbon line should last 7 years and braided line will probably out last you.
This is just the timetable where you might start noticing slight degradation. Most people would never even notice the slight change in quality.
Instead of just throwing out all that old line after a few years give it a once over. If you don’t see any visible damage you can probably still use it.
Making Your Line Last Longer
Fishing line will last a long time when stored under ideal conditions. “IDEAL CONDITIONS” is the key word there.
Once you take your line out of the packaging and put it to use it’s much more susceptible to damage. Over time line left out of the package will develop small nicks and imperfections. Make sure you examine it before spooling it on another reel.
Dealing With Line Memory
When dealing with old line the biggest issue most fisherman face is line memory. After spending months coiled in one position lines start to keep their shape.
I’m talking about that subtle curl you see in your line after months of storage. The only way to combat that is to use a good line conditioner.
A few sprays of Blakemore’s Reel Magic Line Conditioner and you won’t have to worry about line memory and premature degradation. You’ll be able to cast farther and it will protect your line from degradation from sunlight and moisture.
Line conditioners will also help prevent corrosion in your reel. Therefore reducing backlash, tangles and twists.
To apply your conditioner simply spray the exposed line and make a long cast. While your lines out give another spray to the bottom of your spool. Doing this will spread out the conditioner ensuring both the top and bottom of your spool are evenly conditioned.
After the conditioner is applied you should notice an immediate improvement on your subsequent casts.
What Kind of Line are You Using?
Before throwing out your old fishing line you need to ask yourself what type of line you put into storage at the end of the season. Hopefully you’re a fan of braided line oh, because it’s easily the most durable.
When properly cared for braided line can last for years in the water. Who knows how long it will last just sitting on the shelf.
Monofilament and fluorocarbon on the other hand actually have a shelf life. They can go bad without ever coming out of the box. Monofilament in particular is susceptible to line memory and premature damage.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not telling you to avoid monofilament or fluorocarbon. Both are excellent options given the right circumstances, but they do decay.
Remember To Inspect Your Line
Before every trip out on the water you should give all your gear a good once over. A quick pre-trip inspection of your line is all you really need. Keep an eye out for nicks, crimps, pinches and twists in your line.
All you need is 20 seconds to stop that line from failing you after you get a bite. If you notice obvious damage just spool out a few feet of line and snip it off. Using good clean line will help more than you will ever realize.
Proper Fishing Line Storage
So you spent a good chunk of your paycheck last year on fishing supplies. Now you need to store everything without accidentally causing damage. How do you store fishing line to prevent damage?
Sunlight and high temperatures are known to dramatically weaken your line. Sorry to tell you, but you could be causing permanent damage to all that gear stored in your garage.
People who live in southern states definitely need to bring their fishing supplies inside the house. Temperatures as low as 80 degrees can cause permanent damage to your line, so bring it into the air conditioning.
When Should You Throw Out Fishing Line?
It’s really easy to tell when you should throw out your fishing line. Inspect your line for slight variations in color throughout the line.
Even on clear line you should be able to see spots that have started to fade from exposure to heat and sunlight. Before heading out to your local fishing hole take the time to review your equipment otherwise you might let that big one get away.
Keep Track of Spooling Date
Keeping track of when you spool each of your reels is going to help you stay on top of your line. Place small stickers on the bottom of your reel indicating the date and type of line you spooled up. For instance I would put “10/14/18 FC” if I spooled up fluorocarbon on October 14 2018.
Placing the sticker on the underside of your reel keeps it from being seen by others and helps make me stop picking at it. By using this sticker on your reel you won’t have to guess how old the line is.
Replacing Your Line
Monofilament Line: Monofilament line needs to be replaced more frequently than the other options. Average fisherman should replace their monofilament line at the end of every season. You might even need to replace your line twice per year if you do a lot of fishing or use dirt cheap line.
Braided Line: Braided line should be replaced every couple years if used regularly. It has a really long shelf life and can withstand a lot of abuse.
Fluorocarbon Line: Replace your fluorocarbon line every couple years. It will really depend on how often you go fishing.
Getting The Most Out of Your Fishing Line
- Store Your Fishing Line Properly Remember to store your fishing line away from extreme temperatures. Don’t leave it in the back of your car, in the sun or a hot garage. Store your fishing rods and spools of line indoors in a climate controlled sunless environment.
- Repair Broken Rod Guides Your fishing rods guides are there to protect your line. When the guides are broken the friction will make quick work of your line. I’ve seen broke guides completely cut the line on a cast. Instead of just running with a broken rod replace the guides or buy a new rod.
- Condition Your Lines Use line conditioner regularly to prevent line memory and improve your casting distance. I use Blakemore’s Real Magic Line Conditioner.
- Lubricate Your Reel Regular maintenance on your fishing reel is extremely important. Use a few dabs of Lucas Fishing Reel Oil to make sure your gears are running at their best.