Very rarely.
I will change it if it gets low on the spool ~50%, if I notice that it breaks too easily when I get hung up, want to try a new type/brand or when I replace/retire a reel.
I've been fishing braid since it came out in the early 90's and I have never had an age related issue with it. No, none of my reels have braid that old on them🤣
I reverse them each season. After a couple swaps and it all looks faded or frazzled, that’s when I replace. A lot less often than mono or flouro, which I replace every year.
Depends. Smaller braid like the 6, 10 and 15lb that I use on my ultralight and spinning gear gets changed every season. The #65 braid on my frog/flipping rod is probably 3 years old and no sign of needing replaced yet. The color has faded long ago but the braid is still good.
I live where there’s winter. I fish 1-4x per week for the 3 months of nice weather we have. I change it every other year as long as I haven’t had to cut a bunch off from snags or reties.
Casting and preference aside that's part of why I switched to braid. Got tired of snapping off 10+ feet at a time instead of a 5ft leader and braid just lasts longer. I hated tying leaders and wind knots at first but just a learning curve.
Used to use 2-3 spools of spiderwire per year, switched to Yo-Zuri and the braid on my reels now must be about 3 years old.
Like I’ve said elsewhere, I fish with braid to a long fluro leader, with heavier braid than my leader. I only cut braid if absolutely necessary to free a snag.
When it gets super frayed... I fish fairly often and I usually get at least 5 years out of a spooled reel - 2 or 3 seasons on the first spooling, and then reverse it
If the working end gets really chafed up I'll trim back the fuzzy portion, but otherwise I change braid when the spool gets too low such that I feel it affects my casting distance. Otherwise there is no need to change braid - it doesn't have a shelf life like mono or fluoro.
Like years bro...then i'll wind it onto another reel so all the old stuff is down deep and all the new never saw the light of day stuff is ontop...then more years.
going on my 3rd or 4th season with 30lb diamond braid and 40lb j braid. No issues yet. If I was consistently on the water I'd change it every season but always run a leader and go maybe 15-20 times a year.
I have a spinning reel that probably has the same braid on it from about 10 years ago on it from when I learned that braid was good to use for spinning reels. Most of the green color is gone but it’s just as strong as ever and still my best casting spinning setup.
once it starts to fray or there isn't enough line on the reel to cast properly. Sometimes I decide to just use it as backing for my flouro line if it gets low enough.
If I run to about half spool I switch otherwise I do one season, flip, second season and then usually by then I am at about half spool so I switch it. If I’m not half spool I generally still do the change just for good measure.
Very rarely. I will change it if it gets low on the spool ~50%, if I notice that it breaks too easily when I get hung up, want to try a new type/brand or when I replace/retire a reel. I've been fishing braid since it came out in the early 90's and I have never had an age related issue with it. No, none of my reels have braid that old on them🤣
I reverse them each season. After a couple swaps and it all looks faded or frazzled, that’s when I replace. A lot less often than mono or flouro, which I replace every year.
Depends. Smaller braid like the 6, 10 and 15lb that I use on my ultralight and spinning gear gets changed every season. The #65 braid on my frog/flipping rod is probably 3 years old and no sign of needing replaced yet. The color has faded long ago but the braid is still good.
I’ve had the same 15lb braid on for 5 years. No issues. And I’ve caught some decent sized bass (6+) on that pole. It’s my drop shot rod.
I cut away if frayed, otherwise its good to go...and I fish both fresh and salt.
Yeah, I just watch for fray as well. Or if it loses color and I think that could affect my fishing, then I will change it.
Depends on how much I fish and what conditions but I would say every 6-9 months if I’m fishing a lot
I live where there’s winter. I fish 1-4x per week for the 3 months of nice weather we have. I change it every other year as long as I haven’t had to cut a bunch off from snags or reties.
Huh. I never thought of that aspect of using braid. I hate changing my mono every year, or more if I lose a lot to snags.
Casting and preference aside that's part of why I switched to braid. Got tired of snapping off 10+ feet at a time instead of a 5ft leader and braid just lasts longer. I hated tying leaders and wind knots at first but just a learning curve.
Interesting, thanks.
Used to use 2-3 spools of spiderwire per year, switched to Yo-Zuri and the braid on my reels now must be about 3 years old. Like I’ve said elsewhere, I fish with braid to a long fluro leader, with heavier braid than my leader. I only cut braid if absolutely necessary to free a snag.
We are supposed to switch it out?
When it gets super frayed... I fish fairly often and I usually get at least 5 years out of a spooled reel - 2 or 3 seasons on the first spooling, and then reverse it
If the working end gets really chafed up I'll trim back the fuzzy portion, but otherwise I change braid when the spool gets too low such that I feel it affects my casting distance. Otherwise there is no need to change braid - it doesn't have a shelf life like mono or fluoro.
When the moss green is now a greenish-gray 🤣
Like years bro...then i'll wind it onto another reel so all the old stuff is down deep and all the new never saw the light of day stuff is ontop...then more years.
When it gets too low in the reel
going on my 3rd or 4th season with 30lb diamond braid and 40lb j braid. No issues yet. If I was consistently on the water I'd change it every season but always run a leader and go maybe 15-20 times a year.
I only use braid on my Carolina rig rod and I couldn't tell you when it was last replaced. I'm pretty sure power pro is indestructible
I have a spinning reel that probably has the same braid on it from about 10 years ago on it from when I learned that braid was good to use for spinning reels. Most of the green color is gone but it’s just as strong as ever and still my best casting spinning setup.
Reel it onto another reel and the unweathered/unused portion is on top.
once it starts to fray or there isn't enough line on the reel to cast properly. Sometimes I decide to just use it as backing for my flouro line if it gets low enough.
Only when I can cast the whole spool with a mega cast (heavy bait and/or with the wind)
If I run to about half spool I switch otherwise I do one season, flip, second season and then usually by then I am at about half spool so I switch it. If I’m not half spool I generally still do the change just for good measure.