New line? How do you know when to change your line? I see that my line (4lb fluorocarbon) starts to get kinky/wavy from being on the spool. Does this mean it needs to be changed? If...

FS Digest

How do you know when to change your line? I see that my line (4lb fluorocarbon) starts to get kinky/wavy from being on the spool. Does this mean it needs to be changed? If not, how will I know?

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by jeraco7212

JackM Loc: North East Florida

I've never seen my braid get kinky or wavy but I use a much heavier line than 4 pounds. One thing you can do so you don't have to invest in new line is reverse it. Take an empty water bottle and put a bolt through the lid. Attach it to your drill and remove the line from the reel. Take a second bottle and remove the line from the first bottle to reverse it. Then put it back on the reel. It should last as long as the original line.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

FS Digest wrote:

How do you know when to change your line? I see that my line (4lb fluorocarbon) starts to get kinky/wavy from being on the spool. Does this mean it needs to be changed? If not, how will I know?

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by jeraco7212

JackM. has given you excellent advice. You do not need to use fluorocarbon, as it is more expensive. I use fluorocarbon only as a leader, tied on to either braid or Mono. And most fishermen probably use heavier strength lines, but I am not familiar with where you fish and for what you go for. Just Sayin....RJS

OK John Loc: Oklahoma City,OK

To me, flouro tends to be more brittle than mono. So change the line; use line conditioner.

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

FS Digest wrote:

How do you know when to change your line? I see that my line (4lb fluorocarbon) starts to get kinky/wavy from being on the spool. Does this mean it needs to be changed? If not, how will I know?

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by jeraco7212

If you are in a boat, spool your line off behind the boat while it's moving. allow it to drag behind the boat for a couple minutes then reel it back in. If your line is still kinky and wavy it's time to change it, If this takes most of the kink out you are probably good to go.

lorafa93 Loc: North Venice, Florida

Switch to braided main line and use a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

FS Digest wrote:

How do you know when to change your line? I see that my line (4lb fluorocarbon) starts to get kinky/wavy from being on the spool. Does this mean it needs to be changed? If not, how will I know?

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by jeraco7212

Flurocarbon has a tendency to. keep the coiled memory if you have a boat let the line trail out in the water that will remove some of the memory. An other way to try,. take the spool off and put it in a a cup of hot not boiling water for a few minutes and that should relax the line They also sell line conditioners you spray on.🇺🇸😀👍

prtib Loc: Ormond Beach

FS Digest wrote:

How do you know when to change your line? I see that my line (4lb fluorocarbon) starts to get kinky/wavy from being on the spool. Does this mean it needs to be changed? If not, how will I know?

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by jeraco7212

When I used mono I changed my line every 3 or 4 trips, switched to braid years ago, rarely change my line anymore, doesn't seem to be bothered by the high UV levels here in Fl.

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

FS Digest wrote:

How do you know when to change your line? I see that my line (4lb fluorocarbon) starts to get kinky/wavy from being on the spool. Does this mean it needs to be changed? If not, how will I know?

--
by jeraco7212

See how easy it breaks. For my super braid it eventually got a little fuzzy on the end, so I would cut off a few feet of it and keep fishing.

JackM Loc: North East Florida

I've been using braid for about 10 years now. You should use fluorocarbon leader for a couple of reasons. Braid is not as abrasion-resistant as fluoro. Fluoro is close to invisible underwater.

JackM Loc: North East Florida

I almost forgot. Here are two videos for easy knots to tie braid to fluoro. And one that is not so easy (FG).
https://ameliafishbites.com/braid-to-fluoro/

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

The above are good recommendations. I switched to braid with a Fluro Leader several years ago and have not had another problem. Just Sayin...RJS