You Should Change Your Fishing Line More Often

I remember thinking, “don’t screw this up.” That’s about the time my line snapped. The sudden loss of tension nearly pitched me overboard. The fish was gone. I said a few colorful words and spent the next ten minutes blaming everything under the sun. Maybe the fish was smarter than me. Maybe I tied a bad knot. Maybe it was just bad luck. But the real culprit was the fishing line.

Line failure is one of the most overlooked problems in fishing. We sharpen hooks, obsess over spinner bait colors, and spend hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars on rods and reels. But we’ll keep using the same fishing line year after year and expect it to work just like new. Sunlight, heat, abrasion, salt, and simple wear slowly take their toll on your fishing line, even when you aren’t using it.

The Biggest Line Killers

Fishing line doesn’t fail overnight. It starts weakening long before you realize it. And you don’t have to fish with it for it to weaken, either. It can collect dust in the garage, ride around in the bed of your truck, or slowly degrade on a boat deck. Here is the lineup of the usual suspects when it comes to the death of fishing line.

Abrasion

Every trip across a dock post, laydown, oyster bed, or underwater rock leaves tiny nicks and scratches in your line. Every rub against a boat deck or a truck bed does the same thing. All of those tiny little wounds add up over time.

Sunlight

Monofilament line and UV exposure don’t play well together. Ultraviolet rays gradually break down the polymers that give mono its strength and flexibility, turning perfectly good line brittle over time. Once that happens, the line is more prone to breaking, even if it looks perfectly good to the naked eye.

Heat

When it comes to fishing line, heat rapidly speeds up the aging process. A fishing rod that spends the summer in a hot garage, truck cab, or boat locker is baking under temperatures far hotter than most people realize. Heat weakens fishing line and also increases line memory, particularly in monofilament and fluorocarbon.

Line Memory

Speaking of line memory, when line spends a lot of time coiled up on a reel, it starts to mold to that shape. Some line memory is normal, but when it gets out of hand (think line rolling off your reel looking like a 1970s Slinky), it can cause a whole host of problems, including tangles, casting issues, missed strikes, and crappy lure action.

Saltwater

Briny water is extra hard on fishing line. Salt crystals form along the line as water evaporates. This not only corrodes reels and other hardware, but acts like sandpaper on your fishing line.

Everyday Wear

You don’t have to abuse your line for it to degrade. Every cast, snag, hook set, and fish puts a little bit of stress on your line. That damage adds up after a while.

Every knot creates a stress point. Repeated tightening, retieing, and fighting fish gradually weaken the line near the knot, which is one reason many break-offs occur surprisingly close to the lure.

Not All Fishing Line Ages the Same

There isn’t a fishing line on the market that’s invincible. Think of fishing line like truck tires. Some wear out faster than others, but eventually they all need replacing.

Monofilament

Mono is tough, cheap, and will catch plenty of fish. But it’s also quick to show wear. Sunlight and heat will work a number on this type of line.

Fluorocarbon

Fluorocarbon is a little pricier, but generally holds up to sun exposure better than mono. Things like dock pylons, rocks, shell beds, and hard structure will put a beating on this type of line. It also develops some solid memory over time. Just because fluorocarbon costs more doesn’t mean it will last forever.

Braid

Braided fishing line has a well-earned tough guy reputation. It shrugs off UV rays, has little memory, and can last for years under good conditions. That doesn’t mean braid is bulletproof. It can fray after scraping rocks, docks, and wood. When it starts to look fuzzy, swap it out.

How Often Should You Replace Your Line?

The answer to that question: It depends.

Monofilament that sees heavy use should probably be replaced once per season. You may want to swap it out sooner if it does a lot of sunbathing. Fluorocarbon can sometimes last longer, but if you fish around rocks, shell beds, or heavy structure, you may want to swap it out more often.

Braid generally lasts longer than its mono and fluorocarbon cousins. But wear matters more than age when it comes to braid.

A better habit than circling a date on the calendar to change your line is to check it regularly. Run your fingers over it. Look for rough spots, fraying, discoloration, or excessive memory. If it feels off, it’s better to replace it than gamble by fishing with it and break off on a lunker. Fishing line is one of the cheapest pieces of gear most anglers own. It’s also one of the most expensive to ignore, especially when you have a big fish on the line.

Final Thoughts

Changing out fishing line is boring but necessary maintenance. It isn’t flashy, nobody brags about it, and it definitely won’t impress your buddies. But if a bad line is the only thing between you and a big fish, you’re gambling big time.