changing fireline?

[teamlund]

Hey fellas, Does anyone go more than one year with the same fireline on their reels? I go somtimes 2 or 3 years before changing it out without a single problem.... Anyone else?

I am not sure if that lifespan of fireline is normal or its becasue I have 2 vert jigging rods, 2 rods for poppin jigs, a rod for casting jigs, 4 diff slip bobber rods, ect.....So I dont have a single rod that gets a ton of use out of it. The wear and tear gets spread out over 9 rod/reel combos...Just looking for some thoughts.:huh:

I know all the line companies say that you should change your line every season. Even on my trolling rods I will go 3 or 4 years without issues. So I am not sure if its a sales gimmick or good practice

[coopason]

Just reverse your line ,good for another year.

Coop

[Mich_Fisherman]

I trim 20 or so feet every year and keep using it. It is 5 years on my jigging rods without a problem. I had issues with Power Pro after 1 year...got rid of it.

[slipperybob]

I used to change out the Fireline after reversing it on my Ugly Stick Lites with the stainless steel line guides so I get almost two seasons of use with them. The ones I use on my Cabela's XML rods outlasted by double the life. So I guess that a lot of casting and retrieving can do a lot of line wear, but better line guides can keep the wear and tear to a minimum.

[1625rebel]

Just reverse your line ,good for another year.

Coop

That's what has worked for me. It does fray some, thus switching front to back. Although I've never had a break off from anything other than a toothy creature.

[Mattman]

I use mine for quite a few years. I actually just keep adding to my backer to keep the line at the top of the spool and by the time I get down to where I can cast the majority of my Fireline, then I replace it.

[westside]

I use PowerPro but have found that it lasts essentially indefinately. I do find myself changing it out about every season and a half on my casting gear because after changing baits, the occasional midnight wind knot, etc. thats about when I get to within a long casts length to the mono backing. When I pull off the old it is still strong enough to pull a stump, and just getting 'prime' as far as broken in.

[VernH]

I have some fireline still in use that is way over 10 years old and never yet had a problem. I remove the frayed stuff as needed. I use a fluorocarbon leader on some of my rod/reels so that cuts down on the fray problem.

(Some of my friends got some bad batches in the early 2000's and that stuff didn't last long.)

When I put line on a spool, I have little stickers that I write on the line size and date. I put those stickers on the inside of the spools. Virtually all my reels are the rear drag Shimano Symetre series so it's easy to pop off a spool and see how old the fireline is.

Once or twice I have done a spool to spool transfer to get the old stuff "burried" and the less used stuff on the the ostside of the spool. I use the 10lb and 14lb sizes most. Almost always use the hi vis color.

Vern

[REW]

I agree that the lifetime of Fireline as well as the other braids is very very long.

I suspect that the only reason to change line, is when the line gets too short due to line break off, and or trimming off frayed line from heavy use.

If you fully fill a big spool with any of the braided line, I suspect that you can go years and years without ever having to change line.

As far as I know, I have seen 0 aging effect on fire line or any other braided line.

The line - as it beats against the rock- on the end - will fray over time. When this happens, just trim off the frayed section and continue fishing.

Or, if you prefer, use a 10 foot leader of another piece of line - fireline, mono, floro or anything else. Then, as the leader gets beat up - just replace the leader that you have tied to the swivel.

Take care
REW

[Chad]

I do the same as you Teamlund!

If I ever notice it starting to fail I switch it out. I have been selling my reels and getting new ones every two years so I have never had to put new line on any reels.

[rabbit]

ditto to rew and chad

[REW]

Chad,
Since braided line is expensive, why don't you take the line off your reel - store it on a spool and put it back on the new reel?

Take care
REW

[Pooch]

Have had power pro on several reels for years and other than turning almost white it appears fine. No intention of changing it until I suspect it's deteriorating.

I would suspect that other than normal attrition (cutting off the damaged portion periodically) that only sun light and contaminates (natural and man made) in the water will damage it to the point of replacing.

I'm curious as to just how long this stuff lasts.

Pooch

[jawjmw]

I've been using fireline for over ten years now. Haven't seen any need to replace it. I tie a 3ft. or 4ft fluorocarbon snell to the fireline and replace this as it gets shorter. I use this method on jigging rods, trolling rods, casting rods, slip bobber rods, and ice fishing rods. I use 4 or 6b fireline and 6lf fluorocarbon snell. For backing I use 6lb. braided