HOW TO
BASS FISHING 101:
HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON FISHING LINE
5 easy tips for stretching your dollar while stretching your line
By Tyler Brinks
F
ishing lines have continued to evolve and get better
over the years. But along with the added performance,
in many cases, has come an increase in cost.
That’s why it makes sense that bass anglers are always looking
for ways to extend the life of their fishing line and get
more out of each spool.
That in mind, here are a few tips from the pros on how to
save money on fishing line.
1. The Sock Trick
Bass anglers have found many ways to protect extra line
from the sun and from damage – from storage bins and coolers
to specialty boxes and more.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro Billy McDonald has a
different (but interesting) approach: He stores bulk spools of
line inside old socks, for a few reasons.
“I cut the top off my old socks and wrap them on the
spools, and that keeps the line from taking a beating,”
McDonald says. “With the spools banging around inside of
your boat or truck, it’s easy for something to damage your
line. You don’t want any unseen nicks causing you to lose
fish down the road.”
PHOTO BY JUSTIN ONSLOW
of the new reel, and the part that was previously protected
winds up on the top.
McDonald likes that trick, too, but he’ll also do it with fluorocarbon
or monofilament.
“If you’re looking at cutting some costs, it’s a great way to
double the life of your line. That back half of the spool has
never been used,” he says. “If you’re using fluorocarbon or
monofilament and there’s a little memory after being down
inside the reel, don’t be afraid to tie it to something and pull
on it to stretch it out a little. Not too much, but just enough to
straighten it out.”
This trick also works well if you want to replace relatively
new line with a different type – for instance, if you want to
put braid on a reel currently spooled with fluoro that’s not
ready to be tossed. Just wind it onto another reel or an empty
spool and save it.
3. Use Line Conditioners
Another tip to prolong the life of your line is to use specialized
line treatments. There are several on the market, but
McDonald prefers the Lew’s Speed Cast Line Treatment
and Conditioner. The product coats your line to reduce friction,
which cuts down on wear.
“It gives your line better castability, and it will help your
line last longer,” he says.
PHOTO BY MATT PACE
2. Flip It Back
A pretty common way to extend the life of braided line is
to wind it off one reel and directly onto another, which puts
the portion of the line that’s seen the most use on the bottom
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FLWFISHING.COM | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING.COM | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2020