Ice Fishing Line: Year to Year

I normally am one to swap out line every year just because I thought it was a good idea as I do it for all of my open water reels but I am curious if it’s important with ice fishing line? I broke out all my combos the other day and the line seemed fine, a little more curly but otherwise it seemed fine. I guess I might just be getting lazy but is swapping out line from year-to-year important?

Fifty trips per Winter, about 8 primary rods, Stren 2# Hi-Vis Gold, change it after the third season, no regrets.

Duke

Wow, that’s pretty solid then. Might just ride it out with the line I have.

I change my line every season. It’s hard to tell if it matters or not cause I never catch any fish

Ryan Lommen wrote:

I normally am one to swap out line every year just because I thought it was a good idea as I do it for all of my open water reels but I am curious if it’s important with ice fishing line? I broke out all my combos the other day and the line seemed fine, a little more curly but otherwise it seemed fine. I guess I might just be getting lazy but is swapping out line from year-to-year important?

I don’t change mine out every season. 2 – 3 years seems to be about the norm. The thing that tips my off to the line needing to be changed is when I start to see problems tying knots. As soon as I start to see any loss of strength at the knot that’s when I re-spool.

I do a line break test. If it breaks below the line test, I change it out. Sometimes it’s a new line once every season, sometimes its original first spool up from who knows when.

Some lines I buy, never gets fished cuz they break too far below line test listed on box. Yes I line break test before fishing it. So I know which line is stronger than listed.

I think it also depends on if you are talking mono vs. braid etc. Braid will last you a lot longer compared to mono. I typically swap my mono rods out each year mainly due to the coiling you get over a year. I hate that coil for light jigs so it gets swapped out. Good luck.

Now that I’ve heard that from you, I will be saving a few bucks on line now.