How Long Does Fishing Line Last?

A fishing line is a long threaded material (usually nylon, silk, or wire) used to catch and reel fish with a fishing rod. It’s what’s thrown from the rod, flies through the air, and eventually lands in the water’s depths.

The fishing line is the material that comes spooled on a reel and comes with a variety of materials and strengths, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

If you want to save money on fishing lines, you’ll need to know how long you can use them before they need to be replaced. You will spend more money than required if you substitute your line too soon. 

The length of time your fishing line lasts is determined by the type of line you use, the care you take to protect it, and a few factors beyond your control. The predicted life spans of braid, monofilament, and fluorocarbon are all different. As a general rule, you can change it once a year.

Going by a fixed number and adjusting only after the allocated time has passed is a smart idea, but it will also result in a lot of failures.

Rather than a statute, we can use it as a reference. The best practice is to keep an eye on your fishing line at all times, double- and triple-checking its integrity to ensure it does not expire. Let us learn more about how to take care of fishing time and its types.

Types Of Fishing Line

Types Of Fishing Line

Monofilament

These fishing lines are the most popularly used lines. Monofilament lines are the cheapest and lightest lines available, but they are also the least durable. 

You’ll have to replace them even more often than you would for other lines. Monofilament thread, on average, lasts about two years.

Fluorocarbon

Fluorocarbon lines are extremely difficult to see underwater, which could make them ideal for capturing such fish. 

Fluorocarbon lines can last a few years longer than monofilament lines, and they need less maintenance because they are not as susceptible to sunlight. 

A well-maintained fluorocarbon line would last approximately 5 years.

Braided

The most costly, thickest, fastest, most huge, and most reliable fishing lines are braided fishing lines. 

Braided fishing lines can last a decade or more, and even when they get frayed or nicked, they aren’t a lost cause. Braided fishing lines often have a high resistance to line memory and do not lose their flexibility over time.

Dacron, Spectra & Dyneema

DuPont (the same company that invented nylon) developed Dacron in the late 1950s, just 20 years after nylon was invented. It’s a long-chain polyester that offers slightly better strength, versatility, and low stretch than nylon. 

Modern brand names for ultra-strong polyethylene fiber used in the high-tech fishing line include Spectra and Dyneema. Spectra and Dyneema are stronger and more resilient than polyester, but they are more expensive. 

These products can be worth the extra cost because they lighten the tackle while increasing the number of lines that can be spooled onto the spool. With low stretch, they provide increased sensitivity, abrasion resistance, and knot strength.

How Often To Change A Fishing Line?

Few things compare to the sense of accomplishment you get when you catch a giant fish. 

Your win, on the other hand, could be snatched from your grasp if your fishing line breaks. 

You have the power to keep this from happening. All you have to do is inspect your fishing line for wear and tear and replace it when necessary. 

Since fishing lines come in a variety of materials these days, consistency is crucial. 

Even if you have the most expensive fishing poles and hooks, if your fishing line isn’t up to snuff, your catch will most likely escape.

Fluorocarbon and braided fishing lines last much longer. Frequency of use, type of fishing line, storage, and line thickness are all factors that influence how much you can change your fishing line. 

If you have a high-quality braided line with a 10-year shelf life, you should probably replace it after 7 to 8 years for the best results. 

Replace the fluorocarbon line that has an 8-year shelf life every 5 to 6 years. It’s a smart idea to replace a monofilament line with a shelf life of 2 to 3 years once a year. 

When it comes to fishing lines in storage, most experts recommend replacing it every two to three years at the most, but this could be overkill for high-quality lines.

How To Prolong The Life Of Fishing Line?

There are a few things that can shorten the life of your fishing line, and you can avoid them to get the most out of it. However, we don’t suggest using them past their expiration date. 

Frequency of Use

The more you use your rows, the faster it degrades. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since you are making the most of it. 

Line Type

Denser or abrasion-resistant lines last longer than lines. Furthermore, since they can absorb damage, flexible and stretchy fishing lines last longer than rigid fishing lines.

Storage

A wet fishing line can absorb moisture and decay more quickly. Heat and UV rays may also cause the fishing line to break down.

As a result, no matter what line you purchase, make sure to store it somewhere cool and dry. You can also hold your braided line on a spool; but, this is not possible for monofilament and fluorocarbon lines. 

Inexperienced anglers can miss the guide and thread the line through the gap between the guide and the fishing rod when setting up the pole. It can cause the line to brush against the sides, causing abrasions.

How To Store Fishing Line?

The length of time your fishing line will last in storage is, of course, dependent on the type of fishing line and, to some degree, the brand. 

The way you store the fishing line, on the other hand, would affect its shelf life. 

Some Tips & Tricks

If you’re fishing heavy cover often, keep an eye on your line for nicks, creases, and other flaws that can cause backlashing or poor casting. 

Always buy and have more lines on hand than you think you’ll need. You’ll almost certainly discover that you go through a lot more than you thought. 

Protect your fishing line, particularly the nylon line, from harmful UV rays while storing it. UV rays will weaken the line’s strength over time. If in doubt, begin each season with a new spool.

To reduce line strength loss, use perfected knots no matter what sort of line you’re using. 

Try to adapt the sort of line you’re using to the type of rod and reel you’re using.

A fishing line is just as good as the consistency of the knots used to tie your lures and bait, so make sure the knots are strong enough. 

If you will be casting regularly, choose straight, light lines that are easier to unwind from the spool, allowing for more precise casts over longer distances.

Main Characteristics Of Fishing Line

Before we get into the various products available, there are a few keywords to understand. They define the key characteristics of each line form and explain why they are better or worse in different circumstances. 

Can you remember whether your line hangs straight or curls up when you take it off your spool? That’s how memory works. As you reel in, a line with a lot of memory can kink or knot. It also messes with the presentation and makes casting a long distance more difficult. 

Stretch

When fighting a shark, a stretchy line maintains tension better. It reduces precision making it more difficult to set the hook.

Shock Resistance

Getting some stretch means your line would be less likely to break under sudden strain. It is shock or impact power, and it prevents you from being broken off by hard-hitting fish. 

Abrasion Resistance

Modern fishing lines are abrasion-resistant but higher-end materials are more scratch resistant. 

Some lines float in the sea, while others sink. For topwater fishing, a floating or buoyant line is ideal. The sinking line allows for greater depth precision.

Visibility 

People normally use a low-visibility line in clear water to prevent scaring away the fish. The colored line is used to balance the depth and hue of the water you’re fishing in.

Conclusion

It’s just as necessary to use the right fishing line to use the right fishing tools and bait. The two most popular forms of fishing line are monofilament and braided. Store your fishing lines as much as possible in a cool, dark position away from UV rays for the longest shelf life.

Related Articles: