We all know the #1 way to save on line is to buy in bulk.  If you didn't know that, you're welcome ;-)

 

#2 line conditioner - protects the line, and "apparently" reduces backlash/memory

 

#3 Use both ends of braid = twice the life

 

And... Feel free to add-on

 

However, I'm still experimenting with different brands and that can get expensive (except fluorocarbon, I swear by seaguar).

Does anyone have any tips for how to save on smaller spools 2-300yards? Places to buy? Times of the year? It seems like line pricing is pretty standard...

 

Also open to hear/try your favorite braids and monos!

 

All the best! 

 

Use backing.

Yup...buying in bulk is key. There are a lot of Big Game users here. Its easy to do find, comes in bulk and is very hard (if impossible) to beat price wise per foot.

 

An alternative to braid is finding some bulk encapsulated Spectra.  It can be a little cheaper than braid, especially in bulk. There are different products out there, I'm trying out some Diamond Illusion Spectra, haven't fished it yet but seems promising in the yard.

Backing + plan ahead for Tackle Warehouse's annual 25% off Black Friday deal on bulk spools.

 

I keep my rods in a spreadsheet, and what line they use, and if they use backing. 

 

I also keep all my spools of line in the spreadsheet, and try to keep track of how much yards remain in each spool.

Efficient knot tying.

Keep your line in cool dark storage. UV from sunlight and severe heat over 105 degrees and below zero temps are the enemy of mono/Copoly line. 

FC line is less affected by UV and temp extremes, is weakened by stress from being stretched and stored on wound tight on small diameter spool like bait casting reel spools.

Braid isn't affected by temps as it is a high temp material and is affected by some chemicals.

I would only recommend buying line in bulk spools if you are confident using that line. Experiment with 200 yard filler spools until you settle on a particular line.

Untwisting your line at the end of a trip will extend it's useful life.

Tom

You don't actually need fluorocarbon. 

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

You don't actually need fluorocarbon. 

What makes you say this?

13 hours ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

 

Does anyone have any tips for how to save on smaller spools 2-300yards? Places to buy? Times of the year? It seems like line pricing is pretty standard...

 

Yinz gotta go dahn to the bait shop and sweet talk my buddy Chuckie. But if Tom's working, forget abbaht it. He's a jagoff.

1 hour ago, beginningfisherman said:

What makes you say this?

Because you don't? I fish fluorocarbon on only 3 combos and I don't need it on those. I mainly use much cheaper mono and copolymer for all the presentations you're "supposed" to use fluorocarbon for.

while I don't agree with most of the suggestions above... the simplest way to save money on line I know of is use fewer reels.

 

oe

17 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Because you don't? I fish fluorocarbon on only 3 combos and I don't need it on those. I mainly use much cheaper mono and copolymer for all the presentations you're "supposed" to use fluorocarbon for.

And you don't think it affects your fish catching ability with them? I've never used it because of the price but some guys make me think it's necessary 

The simplest way I know of to save $$ on fishing line is to buy less expensive line than you are currently using. 

7 minutes ago, beginningfisherman said:

And you don't think it affects your fish catching ability with them? I've never used it because of the price but some guys make me think it's necessary 

Nope, none whatsoever. Maybe if you have extremely pressured fish and extremely clear water, but we have neither. I have no problems catching fish at lakes like Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Beaver Lake without it, so I'm convinced it's mostly unnecessary. I like the fall rate and action of some baits with it, that's the only reason I use it anymore.

If we spend the dough just to go fishing why use cheap gear?

I spend anywhere from $10-$50 just on gas to drive to a fishing location so why would I skimp on cheap line?

 

At the end of the day, whether it's the line, the lure, the rod, reel or knot, it's all about confidence for me.

 

My goal is to find my favorite braid, mono and fluorocarbon (check that one off) and not break the bank doing it. 

 

Any more, most products are high enough quality to work just fine, but I'm curious to learn about some of your personal favorites? Or, maybe the other end of the spectrum... What to avoid!

During a good season of guiding, I was respooling all of my rods every other month.  I was lucky because I was sponsored by Bass Pro Shops so my line was very reasonable as long as I used BPS branded line.  I got the BIG spools of Excel and had no problem with it.  Something to keep in mind, any "store" branded line is made by someone else and if packaged in the name brand box you will pay more for the exact same product offered by the store brand.  The trick is knowing who produced the line for the store brand.  Try some filler spools of store brand line and when you find one that you like, step up to the bigger bulk spools.  That added to using backing and finding special sales will be your best bet.  The problem with sales is that you "could" be getting overstock or older line and that is not a good thing.  

This video explains how to store your spools of line in a manner that will make them last indefinitely:

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/line-storage.html

 

On 12/13/2017 at 12:55 AM, WRB said:

 

Untwisting your line at the end of a trip will extend it's useful life.

 

Don't sleep on this one. 

 

I must admit that a great deal of the line that I've 'lost' or cut from a spool is line that got kinked, knotted, or otherwise rendered useless....almost always caused by twist