fluorocarbon life?

[bkft]

Hey everyone. Getting excited for open water! Before I go spend a lot of money on new line, I just have a question regarding fluorocarbon lines. Should a guy replace fluoro line as often as mono, or can it last over a year? I haven't heard much about when to respool. Thanks in advance for your answers!

-John

[Central Bassman]

Yes, i would make sure to replace any fluorocarbon that you have had on your reels all winter long. It has a lot of memory and it will be a pain in the butt if you try to fish with it.

[solbes]

I would also replace it if it's been spooled. Follow up question (not trying to hijack here): How long can line last on the original product spool? Like if it was stored in a cool dry spot, no light, etc. Does it go bad after a couple of years or is it good to go?

Any differences with mono, braid, flouro?

[slipperybob]

I've got some copolymer line still performing at specs, Silverthread. I'm still using Berkley Whiplash braid on reel. I think both are about ten years old now. One reel has 10lb Fireline maybe getting to the 10 yr mark also, but I don't use that one as much, maybe once or twice a year. The Silverthread on spool gets replaced maybe every other year depending on usage, but I had a reel with about four or five years old line on it. The once I used it on stained water and did it ever get discolored really fast. The line still had a lot of strength in it, guestimated about 70% original strength. Silverthread from my bulk spool still has near 100% original performance, only that it tends to develop more line memory now.

I have Trilene XT spools that performed near original after five years while others break easily. Still have a couple spools over ten years which gets the occasional art project decor.

[EBass]

Every year I replace all the line. Sure sucks though. For me I don't want any of my equipment to fail, if the fish comes off it's my fault and not some old line that I didn't replace. Granted - I fish a lot.

[GoFish4]

I try to replace each year on my steady rods that I use a lot. I have left some of my less used rods go for 2 years and not have a problem. I don't store under stress, remove bait, hooks and keep them in my shed in pole holders. It would sux to get that first big fish of the year and end up with a knot or worst yet a "snap" and gone

[Central Bassman]

 Originally Posted By: solbes

Any differences with mono, braid, flouro?

Mono and Flouro have a lot more memory then braid does. You don't need to change you braid every year. It really depends on how much you use braid. Just keep and eye on it, most braids are dark green in color when you buy them and if they look really light green I would put new braid on.

I change line all year long because I fish a much as I can, and I agree with Ebass if I lose a fish and money is on the line, I don’t want it to be my lines fault. Mono just has so much memory that its just a pain to deal with if it has been on a spool for a long time.

[Chode2235]

The age of fluorocarbon is not the big limiter though, it is the small nicks and frays that occur that are the real problems.

I have fished the same spool of fluorocarbon on a couple of my spinning outfits for 3 years. It does not degrade from sunlight and air exposure. I do check it frequently for knicks though, as I have found out that even a tiny knick will cause the line to break much easier than a comparable knick in mono.

As far as memory, just tug on fluoro, the memory will come right out.