How Important Is Your Monofilament Fishing Line?

An anglers fishing line is perhaps the most important piece of equipment that they have. Amateur anglers may not realize this fact, but it's none the less true. I've seen many anglers who go for months if not seasons without changing their fishing line. To me going for an entire season without changing my fishing line seems crazy (especially seeing as how I change my line every month or so), but again it's none the less true.

This usually has to due with one of two factors. Either the fishing line being used is too heavy for the type of angling being done, or two you just don't pay attention. If the problem is the first one, your line is too heavy for the type of fishing that your doing, this little mistake is costing you bites, just by virtue of the fact that the fish are much more apt to see heavy line. If the problem is the second, and you're just not paying attention, then you don't deserve the bites in the first place.

I personally use four pound test for 85-90% of my fishing. If my line is old or frayed in any way, it will cost me fish. The line is too light to be old in any way. Believe me; if I hook into a four pound rainbow trout with four pound test that's more than a month old, the fish will break my line, it's as simple as that. When the proper pound test is being used, it must be changed a lot, mainly because of fraying and stretching. When fishing line gets used, it becomes less strong as time goes on.

Here's a real life example for you. I was fishing with a friend last year and when he cast his line out, the line was coiled. It was coiled because it had been on the reel for so long. I made him change his line as soon as he could and this obviously alleviated the problem. If your line is coiled, like a slinky, for God's sake, change it! It's been too long. As far as paying attention goes, keeping an eye out for coiling is a big one. Another is keeping your eye out for frays in the line or brittleness. If you see either of these factors, it's time for a change.

The bottom line is that your fishing line is incredibly important to your fishing success. It needs to be changed often to keep its strength. As I said, I change my four pound test every month or so. Anytime it starts to coil or fray, I change it as well. Never forget, your fishing line is as important as the type of bait or lure that you may be using, and you need to pay as much attention to your line as you do any other aspect of your fishing.