If you are a new fisherman, a question may come to your mind: how long does fishing line last? If you ask this question to a seasoned angler, he too will be unable to give a clear answer to this question. It is because there is no set of rules or criteria that help someone to figure out the lifespan of a fishing line. The longevity of a fishing line depends on several factors like the type of fishing line one is using, the materials from which the line is manufactured, and the proper maintenance of the line. Let’s discuss these factors in detail.

Factors That Determine the Longevity of a Fishing Line

The Type of Fishing Line 

The type of fishing line you are using will give you a good idea regarding the durability of the fishing line. There are different types of fishing lines out there. These include braid, monofilament, and fluorocarbon.

Braid

Among all types of fishing lines out there, braid fishing lines come with the highest durability. If something did not happen unexpectedly, a braid fishing line could last up to a decade.  Happening something unexpectedly means since fishing itself is quite unpredictable, so is happening of incidents like tangling of fishing line with a submerged object that may require you severing the line. So no matter whether you are using a tough fishing line like a braid, a sudden incident can drastically reduce the lifespan of a fishing line.

One common mistake of many people regarding braid is when they see their braid is losing color, they think that the line is worn out and needs to be replaced. But, it’s a wrong idea because a particular color does not stick well to a braid that quickens the fading of it. So discoloring the braid does not tell anything about the endurance of the line.

Braid receives harsh treatment from rods guides if they are sharp and chipped. They eat away your braid unnoticed. The bale of your reel may also limit the lifespan of your braid. If the bale has sharp chipped edges, your braid may be snapped anytime. One effective technique you can apply to increase the lifespan of your braid is flipping the line on the fishing reel. If a flipping task is difficult for you, go to a tackle shop. It will do the task for you. Or you can do it yourself. Transfer the line to a spare reel or object. Then transfer the line to another spare reel or object. When you spool the line back to the reel again, the line will be ready to use.

Monofilament

This is the most popular type of fishing line. Fishermen simply call this fishing line mono. The monofilament line is like a long continuous cord that is made of nylon or synthetic fiber. Since monofilament is one single strand. The line comes with a nice stretchable property when subject to pull. How much stretch the monofilament can withstand is indicated by a parameter which is called test. The text refers to the amount of poundage that the line can sustain before the breakage.

Though monofilament is the most popular type of fishing line among other types of lines, it takes the least amount of time to turn into a bad line. It does not resist the wear and tear resulting from exposure to elements and UV rays for a long time. One important tip for fishermen who use monofilament is to change the line once in a year to ensure getting trouble-free fishing experience. The durability of a monofilament line also depends on the proper use of the line and the extent of abuse you exert on it.

Fluorocarbon

This line is 3 to 4 times stronger than monofilament. In other words, it’s strength is similar to monofilament. So, you can apply the similar care and maintenance procedure as you do for monofilament. The longevity of a fluorocarbon line is not a big issue since the line is mostly used as a leader which often undergoes frequent changes. Fluorocarbon has a structural similarity with monofilament. Like monofilament, it’s one continuous strand of the line but since the line is made of polyvinylidene fluoride, it is much stronger than monofilament.

Though fluorocarbon is much stiffer than that of monofilament, one limitation of this line is it does not wrap well around a reel. But this is a minor limitation of this fishing line while fluorocarbon is a number one choice of many fishermen due to the fact that the line supports all fishing conditions-whether it is saltwater fishing or freshwater. Its Near invisibility coupled with the rigid stiffness of the line makes it a highly efficient line to catch different types of fish species like walleye and bass. If you want to use a fluorocarbon line, choose your fluorocarbon line after reading reviews of products of several brands.

Another plus point of Fluorocarbon is that UV rays can’t damage the line. So this line does not lose its shape over time allowing anglers to catch fish for a long time. Unlike monofilament, fluorocarbon lines are a bit heavier but they are easy to spool, and using them is hassle-free.

When to Replace Fishing Lines

It depends on your fishing habits. Based on the type of fishing line you are using, follow below replacement recommendations

Braid

Monofilament

Fluorocarbon

You have an upcoming hunt and it’s time to prepare. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned hunter, a male hunting enthusiast or a woman hunter, it’s important to bring the right hunting tools and gears. Wrong choices can spell the difference between a successful and a failed hunting adventure. Researching ahead of time is, therefore, crucial.

There are certain tools and gears that should really make the cut in your list of must-haves. Take a look at them below.

1. Hunting Backpack

A hunting backpack is just what you need if you want to take that next big step into hunting. First of all, hunting backpacks are designed for one purpose only, and it’s for hunters to have the best quality equipment on them for whatever they’re doing, and hunting in a backpack lets them do just that. They’re also designed to be lightweight and easy to pack away in your vehicle.

A hunting backpack is perfect for someone who doesn’t want to feel like a wimp while hunting. It’s also perfect for those that don’t have the physical strength to carry around all of their equipment. There’s no need to spend hours and days carrying around the same gun, gear, and clothing every time you go out and go hunting. Hunting backpacks are designed to take everything you need for the entire hunting session in a compact manner. The backpack will be big enough to hold everything necessary for you to successfully hunt, but small enough to fit you comfortably and give you the mobility you need.

2. Electronic Hunting Call

If you want to attract an animal when hunting, there’s no better way to do it than to trick the creature into thinking it’s approaching one of its own prey or species in distress. You can lower the guard of an animal on top of attracting the creature to you when you use an effective hunting call. If you’re a photographer, getting a photo becomes easier. If you’re purely a hunter, it becomes possible to get a good shot.

Note that hunting calls actually come in several variations. Some are operated using breath, creating an elk’s bleat or duck’s quack. Others are using specialty rattles to create noise similar to what antlers make when they’re clattering as their bucks tussle. If you’re looking at snow geese for your next hunt, check out Decoy Pro and its guide on how to make a snow goose electronic caller.

Remember that using electronic hunting calls effectively takes practice and patience. If you improperly use these devices, it can scare an animal away instead of attract it.

3. Hunting Binoculars

What’s the significance of a hunting binocular?  This item is used by hunters in order to see their target and track it down. Without a hunting binocular, hunters will have a very hard time locating their target. Most hunters don’t really understand the significance of this device. They’ll only realize its importance when they’re already out hunting for their next kill. With a hunting binocular, hunters can have a clear view of their target and are able to make better shots than they could without it.

The importance of a hunting binocular when hunting should never be underestimated. If you want to get the most out of your hunting trip, you’ll want to invest in a great hunting product like this one.

4. Rifle Scope

There are many rifle scopes available for hunters today. You just need to know what to look for and where to start looking. If you’re going hunting in the woods, you should definitely have a rifle scope with an adjustable reticule. The great thing about this scope is that you can adjust it at any time during the day or night so that you can find the perfect spot to shoot in. If you’re hunting in a small area, then, you should also have a scope that’s made for the purpose. You don’t want to go hunting in a big field only to find out that the scopes in there don’t do what you want them to.

Having the proper scopes for your hunting needs will pay off for you in the long run.

5. Hunting Knife

A hunting knife has many functions other than the simple cutting and skinning of the prey. There are many types of hunting knives: the Bowie knife, the buck knife, the folding hunter knife, and the hunter butterfly knife, among many others.

Hunting knives are very important, whether you’re using a rifle or crossbow for hunting. They’re used to ensure that there’s no confusion during the entire hunting process, and that the hunting and skinning go smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Most people who go hunting have no idea what tools they must bring with them. Hunting is such a specialized activity that it’s important to make sure you have everything in your toolbox that you can use to make sure you don’t mess up your hunt. You wouldn’t want to waste all your time and ammunition and end up not getting a successful kill because you don’t have the right tools with you. This could end up costing you more money than intended.

Back when humans still lived in caves, we’d catch fish with our bare hands. Fish were a staple part of our diet, and would give us the energy we needed to get through the day.

As a species, we still enjoy fish – but they’re generally caught on a mass scale. However, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to catch a fish in order to survive.

Luckily, fish thrive in most lakes, rivers, ponds and the ocean – so wherever you are on the globe, you’re probably going to be able to catch some dinner.

Knowing how to fish can be the difference between life and death, so keep reading for a guide on how you can catch fish for survival, without a fishing rod.

Why Fish?

One fish could sustain you for a whole day, spread across as many as three meals.

Fish is a generally low fat food, rich in omega-3 fatty acids which is great for your body and your brain.

Fish are also full of protein, which is the building block of our bones, muscles, skin, and blood. Protein is a necessity if you’re hoping to survive in the wild. Protein promotes muscle growth, and helps maintain muscle mass.

On average, one fish provides around 19.5 grams of protein per 100 grams, which is almost as high as the amount of protein found in steak per 100 grams.

If you’re near the ocean, then you’re in luck – as you can eat most ocean fish raw. This is great, especially if you don’t have any fire-lighting equipment.

Methods

Fish can be difficult to catch at the best of times, even with the most hi-tech equipment and gadgets.

In a survival situation, the key is to keep your head on your shoulders and stay calm. Remember these fishing tips, and you should be able to catch fish with little-to-no equipment.

Hand Fishing

Hand fishing is just about as primitive as fishing gets, and can be a life saving action if you have no supplies whatsoever with you.

If you’re desperate for food, you may be tempted to wade into the water and try to grab a fish yourself.

This sounds like an ideal solution when you can almost taste the fish, but it’s a bad idea. You could get hypothermia from standing in the cold and wet clothes for hours. You’re far safer keeping dry.

Lie down with your arm in the water, and wait. That’s all there is to it. You must stay as still as possible and let your arm adjust to the water temperature. Fish will sense that your arm is warmer than the surroundings, so keep your arm submerged until it cools down and stops radiating heat.

When your arm has cooled down, nearby fish will most likely assume its a rock or vegetation, and swim near it without caution.

Then you should do a “come hither” motion with your finger, and chances are, the fish will mistake your finger for a struggling worm or insect.

Try to fight your instinct to just grab the fish by the torso, and instead, grab the fish from under the gills. The hard cartilage and bone there make it the perfect area to get a strong grip of the fish.

Once you’ve got a good hold of it, throw it onto the shore/ river bank – you’ve caught your dinner and you’ll live to see another day.

Fish Spear

Spearfishing can be a difficult task, and has a relatively low success rate due to lack of technique. It requires patience and concentration, so be sure that your head is in the game before you submerge yourself.

The best place to spear a fish is in a shallow and enclosed body of water, like a pool or pond – where the fish can’t really get away from you. Shallow water is also a perfect location as it means your body won’t be fully submerged, which means less chance of getting hypothermia.

The good thing about spear fishing is that you can do it with virtually no equipment – even a stick could impale a fish.

Once you’ve spotted the fish, aim for the skull – where the spine connects. This is the most humane way to kill a fish, as it kills the fish instantly and is virtually painless.

Fish Wall

Creating a small wall will block the fish and prevent them from escaping your grasp. This works best in a river – you dam the river a few feet after a bend, so the fish won’t even realize that the river flow has been obstructed.

You can create this wall with either stones, rocks, or sticks. The fish will keep circling, swimming near the dam – so you can successfully grab the fish with your hands, or spear it with whatever sharp object you have to hand.

Conclusion

You can successfully catch fish with no equipment – if humans could do it thousands of years ago, why can’t we do it today?

Learning how to catch fish is the key to surviving in the wilderness – it’s possible to survive off fish alone.

Hopefully you won’t ever need to use these tips, but if you do, they could save your life.

Happy surviving!