Braid Replacement Frequency

[Gibby]

How often should braid line be replaced in a saltwater environment? 3 reels, 2 different vendors, 1-3 years old and all 'look' ok but curious how often other replace their braid line.

[texnomad]

Saltwater or freshwater, sun or no sun makes no difference to the material in braid. Braid is all about wear. Check your line often and when it gets fuzzy from the fibers breaking and not casting as smoothly just change out that part of the line. My 20# Windtamer made almost three years of hard use in fresh and salt before I replaced the first thirty yards that gets used all the time.

[TroutSupport.com]

Saltwater or freshwater, sun or no sun makes no difference to the material in braid. Braid is all about wear. Check your line often and when it gets fuzzy from the fibers breaking and not casting as smoothly just change out that part of the line. My 20# Windtamer made almost three years of hard use in fresh and salt before I replaced the first thirty yards that gets used all the time.

Very good answer. Also, for inshore you can typically reverse the line on the spool and use the end thats not worn.... do trip that last 30 yards of as texnomad indicated when reversing it. I like the original suffix the best even though it's louder through the guides, seems it wears the best and has the least breaks that i've experienced. It's also easier to get backlashes out of than others.

[osochuck]

Reefs will speed up replacement time, when I was fishing Porno flats alot had to replace quite frequently, especially during low tides.

[Mythman]

I only fish offshore, deep waters so the wear and tear on my braid is minimal as I have about 70-100 yds of mono topshot that takes all the abuse. I have powerpro braid that has been on my reels for over 5 years and it looks and acts fine.

On the other hand, I replace my mono topshot about 3 times per year.

[mpg2yahoo]

I only fish offshore, deep waters so the wear and tear on my braid is minimal as I have about 70-100 yds of mono topshot that takes all the abuse. I have powerpro braid that has been on my reels for over 5 years and it looks and acts fine.

On the other hand, I replace my mono topshot about 3 times per year.

I'm not BTB...yet..., but use 30# powerpro on my regular setup. What # on mono you use for your topshot when mixed with braided?

I have a medium size spinning reel that I plan to prepare for some BTB action and also get something decent for an ugly stick later on when I'm hook on BTB. Want to put something on the general recommendation side to land the big fish.

Thanks.

[Mythman]

I only fish offshore, deep waters so the wear and tear on my braid is minimal as I have about 70-100 yds of mono topshot that takes all the abuse. I have powerpro braid that has been on my reels for over 5 years and it looks and acts fine.

On the other hand, I replace my mono topshot about 3 times per year.

I'm not BTB...yet..., but use 30# powerpro on my regular setup. What # on mono you use for your topshot when mixed with braided?

I have a medium size spinning reel that I plan to prepare for some BTB action and also get something decent for an ugly stick later on when I'm hook on BTB. Want to put something on the general recommendation side to land the big fish.

Thanks.

All my kayak rods have 50-65 lb braid with 20 lb. (winter weight) to 30 lb. (summer weight) mono. May sound like an over kill but I seldom have breakoffs, even with the bigger fish I catch!

[Spectre5922]

"with the bigger fish I catch"..... Now you're just braggin! lol
Seriously, I change my braid at least every 2 seasons whether it is necessary or not. With all of the money that we spend on this hobby, the cost of a spool of braid is minimal. I have had my reels with the same line for 2 years now, but I'm about to respool them soon.

[bloozeharp]

This is a great thread. For years we have come to the coast several times a year for 1-2 weeks of fishing. Mono on my red reels. I always stripped all the line off and tore all reels down and re-lubricated when we got back home, whether they got dunked or not. Like I if didn't, my reels would turn into a red pile of ashes from the salt.

[bernie32]

I had mine on for 4 years just take some of the old off about 5-10 yards and its new again. Or unspool and respool it the opposite way.

[SmithFamilyTackle]

Depends on the braid I have had braid on a reel 5 years and had braid on a reel for 2 months so it just depends. I use leaders that will extend the life of the braid.
If it looks fraid then cut that section out.