What is the longest you would keep unopened line (mono/fluro) before disposing?

[Ohioguy25]

I have a few spools of line that are at least two years old. A lot of people wouldn’t touch it, I am skeptical that it has been compromised to that degree. What do you think?

[rangerjockey]

 As long as it's been out of the sunlight it will be fine,

[A-Jay]

Might depend on what it is and who made it.

If it's Scuppy's Gumby Mono, I might toss it.

However if it's a quality product that's been kept in a climate controlled space void of ultraviolet light, might be OK.

Finally if it's Tstsu, you should probably go ahead and send it right to me for proper disposal.

After all, I am the Self designated Tatsu recycling center for the Tri site area.

A-Jay

[new2BC4bass]

Kept out of sunlight and high heat...until I die.

[Jar11591]

I have spools of Big Game and Trilene XL that are over a decade old and stored in my basement. It’s still as good as new. No brittleness or yellowing. Still supple and stretchy. 

[PourMyOwn]

I'm using Silver Thread bulk spools well over 10 years old-kept out of the dark and brought in for the winter.

[MN Fisher]

As said - kept from sunlight and heat and it'll last a long time.

[Basshead091221]

On berkley lines they have a letter and two numbers. The first letter is the month (A is January, B is February, C is March, etc) the first number is the day of the month, and the second number is the year. These letters and numbers tell you when the line was made. Like others have said if it’s stored in a cool dark place you shouldn’t have an issue. With that being said after two years I toss it and buy new. For an $8-$9 spool of line would you really want to take the chance of losing a fish of a lifetime? 

[Ohioguy25]

43 minutes ago, Basshead091221 said:

On berkley lines they have a letter and two numbers. The first letter is the month (A is January, B is February, C is March, etc) the first number is the day of the month, and the second number is the year. These letters and numbers tell you when the line was made. Like others have said if it’s stored in a cool dark place you shouldn’t have an issue. With that being said after two years I toss it and buy new. For an $8-$9 spool of line would you really want to take the chance of losing a fish of a lifetime? 

Or a $140 glide 😵

[WRB]

Freezing temperatures and temperature exceeding 105 degrees is stressful to mono lines. FC line isn’t as susceptible to temperature stress as mono. UV affects both Mono and FC so keep your stored line in a cool dark place and it will stay good for years.

Tom

[Bankbeater]

I have a couple of spools of Big Game in 10# and 15# in the basement, in a drawer.  I bought them last year and they are good as new.

[Big Hands]

Maybe some risk assessment is in order. I'm not going to throw an expensive slow sinking glide bait on line that I have had for a while and haven't battle tested it on something like a Texas rig worm/lizard. 

 

I have had fluoro go bad in less than a year if it's been in the sun just while I am fishing. Now, I put it back in my tackle bag after I make a leader with it. I also have mono from . . . well, I am embarrassed to say exactly how long I have had some of those spools, but they seem to still perform well. But I still won't be tying on anything too expensive or hard to get.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I had a bulk spool of #10 BG my buddy left at my parent house when I was 10 years old.  It was kept in a garage for a little more than 20 years, no heat or AC.  I finished the spool a couple winters ago.  Most of it was used as backing, but I winched a 7lb fish out a log jam with it a few summers back.

[Darth-Baiter]

Tatsu or Shooter, i would take a spool out of a dumpster and at least try it. 

 

i have a roll of cheap mono in my turkey hunting kit.  it is at least 12 years old.  i use it to give movement to my jake-decoy.  this year was the first time i noticed it is getting a bit brittle.  figured i have 5 years left.  stored in a hot garage.