Will you use old fishing line?

[JustJames]

Eversince I started throwing big swimbait, I went thru my old tackle box/cabinet mostly my saltwater gear which I have not use for a long time. I found brand new 20lbs trilene XT(filler spool) 25 big game(1/4 spool) 17lbs BPS excel1700 yds spool and 14lbs stern, along with some reels. This line might be very old from 4-5 years up to who know? All the line were in tackle box inside cabinet in garage.

Do you think these line still usable?

[BrackishBassin]

If it wasn't exposed to water/sunlight, then it should be fine. If you're worried about it, just tie up a few knots and see what their breaking strength is. Then compare that to some 'fresh' line. If they're close, you're probably good to go. 

[Red Bear]

if properly stored and not dry rotted, then yes i will use old line

[S. Sass]

I've used older line so I don't want to sound hypocritical but line is relatively cheap compared to a lot of fishing equipment. Since your asking your obviously not 100% confident it's good to go. And no one here can say for sure 5 to 10 yr old line is good. So what are you going to think when you have your PB break off? Maybe something like, "Man I should have got new line".  

 

Just my opinion I'd buy new line but I've been wrong before. 

[fishballer06]

Mono and FC I am leary of once it gets more than a year or two old. It can get stiff and brittle with time. Like others have said, sunlight can be an enemy of nylon lines. 

 

Braid, however, is a different story. I've used braid on the same reel for years. 

[roadwarrior]

No, not to "fish", but it can be used for backing.

 

[Red Bear]

37 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

Mono and FC I am leary of once it gets more than a year or two old. It can get stiff and brittle with time. Like others have said, sunlight can be an enemy of nylon lines. 

 

Braid, however, is a different story. I've used braid on the same reel for years. 

ive used mono on the same reels for 4-5 years and only changed it because it got low or i wanted to try a different kind or size of mono...it will last a long time if properly stored. if your mono is getting stiff and brittle in a year or two then you arent storing it properly...also, it can take a very very very long time for sunlight to destroy mono, a few days in the sun wont hurt it...

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

 

4-5 years?

[The Next KVD]

Mono is cheap enough to just go buy new. That said if properly stored I wouldn't have a problem using it if it was a 3-4 years old. 

[WRB]

Polymers don't dry rot!

What degrades mono fishing lines is high/low temperature extremes, UV and chemicals.

Storing mono in a cool constant 70 degree temperature with low humidity and no sunlight will prolong it's shelf life. You can test the impact strength by wrapping the line around gloved hands and snapping your hands apart.

If you are using your old higher # test mono for expensive swimbaits, it's high risk.

Tom

[MassYak85]

3 hours ago, BrackishBassin said:

If you're worried about it, just tie up a few knots and see what their breaking strength is. Then compare that to some 'fresh' line. If they're close, you're probably good to go. 

 

[NHBull]

Line is cheep, use it for backing.  The last thing you need is trouble when on the water

[J Francho]

Test it, it's probably fine if it wasn't exposed to extreme temperatures or damaged by UV.

[JustJames]

Thanks guys for all the reaponses. I think I know the answer myself since I already got a new spool of Izorline #15 to use on my cardiff 200 and luna 253. Where Im gonna be using a lot for small and medium size swimbait.

FYI, most of the line still soft and still pretty strong at knot the only stiff one is XT but that also a nature of this line. I didnt test it since Im not brave enough to break 17lbs line with my hand even with glove on lol.

Ill save that for when I fish for catfish which I dont care much if I loose them.

[J Francho]

17 minutes ago, JustJames said:

Im not brave enough to break 17lbs line with my hand even with glove on lol.

 

Tie one end to a scale, the other to an immovable object.  Pull.  If several test pulls reveal full break strength, then the line is ok.

[Raul]

Properly stored nylon line lasts for a very long time, the worst enemies of nylon are UV light and ozone. Lines like braided and FC last almost indefinately.

 

[Jeff H]

I found a brand new 1000 yard spool of Trilene XT in my garage that was, at the time, at least 12 yrs old.  I figured I'd at least try it before throwing it away.  Glad I did, was absolutely nothing wrong with it and never had a problem. 

[new2BC4bass]

Mono lasts a long time if not left in the heat.  I'd hate to admit how long I have left line on spinning reels and yet had no problems with breakage.

 

[WPCfishing]

I wouldn't use it.. one lost quality bait and your that much further behind the cost of new line. 

If you do choose to use it pull 20% off and chuck it. 

 

[A-Jay]

Low Quality & Poorly Stored ~ NO

 

Time Tested & Handled with Care . . . Yes

 

A-Jay

 

 

[Red Bear]

23 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Hmm...

 

4-5 years?

yes, absolutely. it will last that long and keep its strength. lets just say there are a lot of worry-warts on here who think it gives them an advantage to change line every trip, or every few weeks. in reality theyre just wasting money and time, sure its their money and time, but it could be better spent doing something else. there has been a lot of misinformation spread, mostly out of paranoia, about the life of mono, and fishing line in general. all i can tell you is test it for yourself and see, the only reason to change it in most instances is if your spool is low or you want to try different line.

[JustJames]

47 minutes ago, Red Bear said:

yes, absolutely. it will last that long and keep its strength. lets just say there are a lot of worry-warts on here who think it gives them an advantage to change line every trip, or every few weeks. in reality theyre just wasting money and time, sure its their money and time, but it could be better spent doing something else. there has been a lot of misinformation spread, mostly out of paranoia, about the life of mono, and fishing line in general. all i can tell you is test it for yourself and see, the only reason to change it in most instances is if your spool is low or you want to try different line.

You are d**n right about that. Just all the pro changing line every tournament then come other follow with change line every season. The only concern I can see if ppl keep their reels or line in garage with can get extremely hot or cold might damage the line. 

[RoLo]

I normally buy fishing line in Bulk Spools, which not only reduces line cost, but reduces the instances

where the supply spool runs out just before the reel spool is full 

As a result of buying in bulk, the lion's share of my fishing line is several years old (mono & braid).

 

All the same, my line spools are stored in a cool, dark drawer where their integrity is indefinitely preserved.

As a case in point, I have a bulk spool of 15-lb Trilene Big Game that I purchased in the late 1970s.
Today (~40 yrs later), you would be very hard-pressed to break that line with your bare hands.

 

Roger

[Jeff H]

8 hours ago, JustJames said:

You are d**n right about that. Just all the pro changing line every tournament then come other follow with change line every season. The only concern I can see if ppl keep their reels or line in garage with can get extremely hot or cold might damage the line. 

 

I live in MN.  That spool I found in my garage endured temp extremes from -30 to 100 +/- for many years.  Was nothing wrong with that line at all.  I used it for 2 seasons on several of my reels.