Do most of you change the line on your poles at the begining of each new season? I still have the same line on my poles that i had on them from last year, and it had not been on them very long before my last time out, had just changed it in fact. I won't get out to start fishing till the begining of March and want to get my gear set up and ready to go.
line change
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I change my line several times a year. Definitely at the beginning of the season and then depending on how much I fish a couple or three times more during the year. I find that te longer line is on the spool the more memory it developes and that I find lots of nicks that might break when I least want it too.
Sunlight, temperature changes, pulling through cover tends to weaken the line and causes more breaks.
Dan
Sunlight, temperature changes, pulling through cover tends to weaken the line and causes more breaks.
Dan
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I agree with dan on changing frequently.I spool up before ice fishing and then after ice fishing,then 3 or 4 times through the summer.The lighter the line the more you must re-spool.I use 6lb line 90% of the time.A trick I use when respooling is to leave about half of the old line on the spool(depends on how deep the spool is).I put a piece of scotch tape over the old line and use this as my new base,effectively creating a shallow spool.Tie your line on like normal and fill 'er up!This way I always have my spool filled for optimum casting and I dont waste good line filling up the lower half of the spool.About 60 yds or so of new line is all you need,as soon as it starts losing casting distance or frays simply re-spool.
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I change my line constantly, at least once every 10 trips or so. Line gets stretched out and weakened by nicks over time. I like to know that my line is in top condition every time I'm on the water, you just never know when that big fish will hit (which usually happens when you're least ready for it).
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Koni, don't forget to strip 10-15 feet off the end of your line after every trip fishing. The last several feet gets beat up pretty good and when you have a line failure its always in that section. If I have been getting lots of hits, snags etc. I will strip my line more frequently and retie. All it takes is one drag across a rock or branch to nick my line. You have plenty of line on your spool and can strip line many times before you are getting to the end of your useful line. Even when I am long-line trolling I rarely have more than 150 feet of line out and have never had a fish run so hard that I have been all the way down on the spool. (How I wish I would hook a fish that would do that)
Dan
Dan
The first big wiper my friend Dennis out at Aurora hooked on 4 pound line spooled him...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz went the drag...it never did turn...just took all his line...in retrospect we should broken him off but you think there is always hope...and standing on the shore he just swam for the center of the lake...it was the only one that did that to us...we since have had ways to turn them...it was just like tieing your line to a moving car bumper...I change my line before ice fishing and after ice season...although I have started to keep my older reels for ice fishing alone and then I can do both seasons easier this time of year...and I change line about every six weeks in the summer and I pretty much use 4 pound Trilene green or Vanish...I bought a spool of the new high visability Vanish...I really like it...the fish dont seem to mind it even though it is highly visable above water...the proof will come fishing jigs and scuds for the big boys at Spinney in shallow water at ice out...it is kind of pricey though...
Thanks much! That is a great ideal of leaving on some of the old line for base. I usually check my line frequently and take off line that looks discolored and worn, i use the braided lines, and change my hooks and sinkers and all that a lot. I had just had the line put on them at Sportsman Castle before the end of the season, so i wasn't sure if i would need to change the line or not, so thanks again.
Koni, how big and how often do the cats you catch pull your drag out? I am use to river fishing catfish in which they have the current to use to their advantage and little 3 lb cats can give you a good fight, I image its a little different in big lakes. However if your drag does get used alot I wouldnt recommend splicing line together, as it creates a weak point on your line. So not only will you have 60 yards of new line missing off your reel you'll have put 60 yards of line in the lake to get snagged and kill what ever fish you just hooked.
I feel this technique is a great technique to use when targetting trout, walleye, panfish, and bass. Since fishing for most these, except walleye, you normally will never hit 60 yards of line fighting these fish. With walleye trolling with 60 yards plus, you dont always have to worry about it since they are not the greatest fighters in the fish world.
I feel this technique is a great technique to use when targetting trout, walleye, panfish, and bass. Since fishing for most these, except walleye, you normally will never hit 60 yards of line fighting these fish. With walleye trolling with 60 yards plus, you dont always have to worry about it since they are not the greatest fighters in the fish world.
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Alot of people fish way to light of line for the species they are after, (especially if Wipers are around)! I buy all my spinning reels from Shimano in the 2000 series so I have about eight spools with different kinds of line on them.
One of tricks I have learned is to use Fireline when it is windy (example Spinney) and the water is clear. I tie a three foot leader of 8 lb florocarbin or 10 lb. This gives you alot more control of line when it is windy, but you can still break your line if you snag. I also have started using P-Line Floroclear. It is a copolamar (so it casts well and has less stretch) but has a floro coating that fish don't seem to be able to see. I have been using the 8lb Floroclear at Spinney and 11-Mile and it seems like the trout can't see it at all?
On my baitcaster I use 14lb Sensation.
One of tricks I have learned is to use Fireline when it is windy (example Spinney) and the water is clear. I tie a three foot leader of 8 lb florocarbin or 10 lb. This gives you alot more control of line when it is windy, but you can still break your line if you snag. I also have started using P-Line Floroclear. It is a copolamar (so it casts well and has less stretch) but has a floro coating that fish don't seem to be able to see. I have been using the 8lb Floroclear at Spinney and 11-Mile and it seems like the trout can't see it at all?
On my baitcaster I use 14lb Sensation.
I tried out my new Berkeley Line Winder from Cabelas yesterday. It works really great for baitcasters and open faced spinning reels. I've never had it so easy, and it sure beats screwing around with sticking line spools on pencils and other stuff.
I usually fish a heavier line, 14# - 17# is not uncommon, and I change several times as season, if it gets low.
Berkley Line Winder Item: IF-113107
Price: $24.99
Qty:
I usually fish a heavier line, 14# - 17# is not uncommon, and I change several times as season, if it gets low.
Berkley Line Winder Item: IF-113107
Price: $24.99
Qty:
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i change my line around 4-5 times a year and always re tie my lures on every outting before i start fishing for the day or evening
The sizes of catfish i caught last season were 2 that were 6 to 8 lbs, 2 that were 11 lbs and i don't know how many all total of smaller ones ranging from 15 inches to 17 inches. To my surprise the smaller ones are the ones that put up more of a fight, took the drag out probably at least 50 ft and a couple of times i nearly lost my pole over the railing of the pier to them. The two largest ones just didn't fight that hard, but because i was on a pier they were too big to pull straight up to net them, so i had to back up off the pier to get them to shore where they could be netted. I always leave some slack in my line so that when they do take the bait they can run with it some before hooking them and someone had told us to do the same thing when fishing for wipers, to leave some slack in your line.ePiC said:
My lighter gear (4lb to 8 lb etc.) I change at least twice to three times a season.
As for my heavy stuff (10lb and above) it'll usually last me throughout the summer. If I feel that so far, I've been catching plenty of heavy fish, I'll finally decide to change the line.
One way to do it is to run your index finger and thumb on the line up and down for at least 20 yards or so. If throughout that whole stretch, it feels brittle or you notice it's kindy bumpy and not smooth, you're on the margins. Or if you notice whiter colored spots on the line on every feet or so appearing on the line then it's time to replace it.
Hope that helps.
As for my heavy stuff (10lb and above) it'll usually last me throughout the summer. If I feel that so far, I've been catching plenty of heavy fish, I'll finally decide to change the line.
One way to do it is to run your index finger and thumb on the line up and down for at least 20 yards or so. If throughout that whole stretch, it feels brittle or you notice it's kindy bumpy and not smooth, you're on the margins. Or if you notice whiter colored spots on the line on every feet or so appearing on the line then it's time to replace it.
Hope that helps.
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Alot of folks have been fishing pretty hard this year so I thought I would resurrect this thread from last year. I just got done checking and replacing my line. Its amazing how bad of shape it gets in..........
Dan
Dan
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Good idea Dan! When I go back home for bass tournaments, I usually change my line after every event. That stuff gets pretty knicked and brittle.Dan said:
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SHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhh... we're not gonna talk about that one LOLafishman said:or if you just about spool yourself in 150 fow with braid >
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