I started using fireline last year on a couple of my reels, and realy like it, but was wondering how often you guys changed it out. Also, on one of my reels, after making a long cast, i got a big knot of some kind, so i had to cut it out of my line, and tie a uni knot. I fished with that in my line for the rest of the season, with no problems. Do you think thats ok to have that uni knot tied in the line, as i did take some pretty good fish with it in there. Also, would that damage the top guide of my rod ? Thanks in advance.

Pops, in my experience, reeling that know through will damage the knot, not the guide, i'd respool, as far as replacing it? I've done two seasons on lightly used braid... buit if had heavy use, wind knots etc... dump it and start over...

My experience with the braids (I prefer Fireline) is to spool most of if not the whole thing with braid. A lot of places will say that you should use backing and only need like 150 yds of actual braided line, the theory being you'll never use the rest of it, so why pay for it. Well, I have found that if I only get 150 yards and get a knot or two and have to cut down line, I am now down to less than a hundred yds of actual braid. Not good, cause then you start casting down to your backing and have to throw out the remaining good line. If you get the whole thing spooled, you can have them run it off and just add backing. I feel I get more use out of more of the line that way.
I usually have them run the line off half way through the season, and put it back on the other way, that way my old ( but still good line) has now become the backing and I have fresh line. I am still using one spool that I have had on there for 2 years now with no problems.
Good advice is to just test it like mono. Give it a tug, if it breaks, peel off some new line. If not, should be good to go.