When I first started fishing, I never changed my fishing line until it started to mysteriously break - and of course, I'm quite certain that I had a very large fish on the other end at the time!
Fishing lines get stretched, stained and brittle over time. In short, they wear out. Different water conditions can play a factor too. Fishing in saltwater can really corrode your fishing gear if not properly cared for.
When I was growing up in California, we had this ritual of spreading our rods and reels out on the front lawn to hose them off after each fishing trip. This helped lessen the chances of corrosion from salt.
But since moving to Arizona and fishing primarily in freshwater lakes, rivers and streams, I rarely hose down my fishing gear.
A good rule of thumb is to change your fishing line once a season (or once a year). This will ensure that your fishing line is strong enough to handle a good size fish without breaking. You'll also lose less tackle on normal snags.
But while this is a good practice to follow, there may be other times you'll want to change your line too. For example, fishing in different lakes sometimes requires different tackle.
You can get away with using heavier lines (like 8-lb test) in murky water because the line is less visible. But in clear water, you'll need to use lighter line (2-6 lb test).
A lot of trout anglers use 6-lb test because it can usually handle most freshwater fishing situations. This way, they only have to change the line once a season.
But the really good anglers will carry multiple reels or spools filled with different weights of line. This way they can easily swap out the line for different fishing situations.
When you purchase the better reels, they will often come with an extra spool that you can fill with line. You can also just buy an extra reel or two for your rod.
The more you fish, the more you'll discover the benefits of using fresh and different weights of line. Don't underestimate this simple and often overlooked tackle tip.
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