What Is The Shelf Life Of Line??

[retiredbosn]

How long do you keep your line? I typically respool every year, with the exception of braid, which I replace every other typically. I know mono doesn't last long, when I used that I respool a few times a year. I use YZ almost exclusively unless I get a bad overrun, or if the line gets low on the spool, it stays there for one season.

[roadwarrior]

No specific time frame, just "as needed".

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Still use the first spool of PP I bought 10 years ago. Its on my son's reel the stuff doesnt go bad.

[Goose52]

Yeah - "as needed" for me as well. Unless continually exposed to adverse environmental conditions (like excessive heat, UV, etc.) I don't think any line, including nylon mono, goes "bad" all of a sudden. I think braid would probably last forever; you will trim back or backlash it and eventually need to replace it, but it doesn't go bad. For flouro and nylon mono installed on a reel, it might eventually take a set (coiling) and present manageability issues before it actually became brittle or otherwise lost enough line strength to matter.

Given the above, I replace braid when it gets too low on the spool for my purposes (and I'll add backing in some cases to bring it back to full spool). I don't use flouro too often but when I do it rarely lasts more than 3 or 4 months on a reel due to trim-backs and perhaps a backlash. For co-poly YZ and nylon mono - it's as needed. I respool a couple of my most used reels every 2 months or so due to trim-backs. Other niche reels that I don't use too often might have the line on there for a couple of years, and then I might respool just for grins or because the line took a set...not because I think the line went bad.

Regarding shelf-life on line still on a bulk spool, I think with proper storage it will last a long time. I have been buying 1-pound spools (up to 8,000 yards a spool) of YZ and it will take me a number of years to use it up - I have no concerns about shelf-life at all.

[retiredbosn]

Thanks, I have some YZ spools unopened, keep them in box in the house, I was hoping they were still good.

[LgMouthGambler]

Thanks, I have some YZ spools unopened, keep them in box in the house, I was hoping they were still good.

As long as its not exposed to UV light your good.

[tbone1993]

The self life of line depends on how you store it. It can last forever essentially if you store it properly, if you store it in a moist environment i feel that it will deteriorate faster also if it is left in the sun. As for replacing line I do it multiple times a year depending on how much line is left on the spool and the abuse I have put it through. For the amount that I retie I end up clearing a spool before I get to the point to where the line has gone bad.

[Bankbeater]

I go through about a spool a year. I keep the line down in the basement in a drawer. That way it is cool, dry, and out of the sun.

[Marty]

I've used line that's been on a reel for years. Stored in a basement when not in use, not a problem.

[11justin22]

I change as needed or when it gets too low on the spool.

[SirSnookalot]

I change as needed, in saltwater that's often for me and I mainly use braid. There are times when I do use mono offshore, spinning reels get changed more often due to line twist, I can troll them out just so often. Mono on conventional reels lasts much longer, in a pinch when I haven't bought a new spool I've used mono that has been in my Florida garage for several years, absolutely fine.

[roadwarrior]

Thanks, I have some YZ spools unopened, keep them in box in the house, I was hoping they were still good.

I have a 1 lb spool of #6 and #12. I am expecting them to last forever!

[aavery2]

Borrowed from another site with the same question.

There was a post talking about fishing line and its "shelf life".

i.e. how long would the line be "good" if it were stored in the dark in with good storage and humidity control.

I thought that I would go to the manufacturer, so I sent an e-mail to Berkley - makers of Trilene and Fireline.

The following is their response with respect to mono shelf life.

Take care

REW

2/3 years.

Nylon monofilament has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years. You can find this date code on the bottom of your spool label. It will be something like K-12-3-11, the second number, in this case 3 tells us this line was made in 2003.

Nissa Lundquist

Customer Service Representative

Berkley Corp.

Called "Pure Fishing" parent company of Stren, Berkley etc...customer service, they said 2-3 years. But they are also in the NEW fishing line business.

They told me there is a date code with dashes on the back of the spools.

a-10-09 would be Jan. 10th. 2009

b-10-09 would be Feb. 10th. 2009

c-10-09 would be March 10th 2009

Ending with L being December.

FYI they said the same date codes are used on there bait/lures.