i like the 2 lb. clear Vanish for my panfish rods. some people dont like it but it has never let me down, so i will stick with it. its very stealthy and it holds up against huge fish also in case you catch something much bigger than you expected. i always put fresh line on before each season, i would never use "last seasons" line. that might help with your memory trouble. also, always check your drag every trip and make sure it gives fairly lightly.