Old line

[Linewinder]

Long, long ago, my brothers and I learned we preferred Trilene XL for spinning reels and XT for baitcasters.  When we did use XT on spinning we quickly learned not to because of the stiffness would spring off the spool, while XL would lay nicely.  Fast forward to recently when I found a remaining spool of 10 lb XT in the garage -- chalked over but still seems strong (although I didn't do a weight test yet).  I put it on a vintage reel (Garcia Mitchell 300A) so that I had something to work with, but it is working very well on that reel.  It's not coiled and it's not springy.  The reel twists it but it still lays nicely through and beyond the guides.

 

I also use regularly on baitcasters the remaining of a very large spool of Berkley Trimax (tripolymer) 10 lb that has always been kept in the basement in the original tub -- I've never noticed a difference because of its age. 

 

Both of these lines are easily over 30 years.  Oh don't throw things at me -- I'm telling you these things work.  Is it possible some monofilament lines get better in some aspects with age?  Do you use old line?  I don't mean old line on your reel, but old line from the original spools.

 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

If stored properly, mono line can last a long time without breaking down. However, the stuff is cheap and I wouldn't chance a big fish to an old spool of line.

[mrpao]

Too me once it starts to get chalky, it got to go.

Even though it might lay and cast ok, its probably lost alot of its strength.  Tie a knot and do a quick snap test. More than likely it will snap at the knot. I don't trust old line that has been sitting around somewhere where the temperature has fluctuated up and down for years.

Mono is cheap. Just get more trilene XL at Walmart. Its pretty inexpensive there. 

[Mike L]

30 yrs old!

Why would you take a chance as others have said?

 

Use it to hang pictures on a wall

 

 

 

Mike

[Mbirdsley]

Generally speaking if you keep the mono out of the sun it will last a while.  However, I would not use 30 year old line 

[OnthePotomac]

I have the remainder of a jumbo spool of BPS 20 Excel mono hanging on my peg board in its original box I bought 18 years ago and still use it with no problems.

[Bankc]

I just recently replaced some 30 year old Spiderwire.  Nothing was wrong with it, other than the spool had gotten thin and the line lost its color.  I had some 30 year old mono that I found still on the factory spool that had been kept in a tackle box this whole time.  It was also fine.  I used it for a while, but switched it out because I wanted to spool the reel with fluoro.
 

If it's kept dry and out of the sun, and not baked in high temperatures, this stuff will last a really long time.  It's plastic, after all.  And plastic doesn't break down easily without some assistance.

[MassYak85]

Light or very excessive heat are the real enemies of line. Keeping it in a cool basement in a box shouldn't do much. I wouldn't TRUST 30 year old line but that doesn't mean it's bad. 

[RoLo]

 

One of the oldest lines I've every used: "Are there any more at home like you?".

 

Roger

[Scott F]

I have old mono like that and I use it for backing for my braided lines