Mono shelf life?

[NCSrfsh]

I've heard and read many opinions on this. The only thing I could find from a manufacture was from Berkley. They say 2-3 years. They say they have a date code on their spools. One guy says he's had some for 10 years and it's just fine. What got me thinking about this is I have a couple spools of 4lb and 6lb I've had for 10 years or more and decided I'd replace the line on a couple fresh water reels. The rubber bands had left a stain on the line. Not just on the top layer of line, all the way through to the spool. After pulling the line off one of the spools for recycling I started having second thoughts about not using it.
Mark

[SmoothLures]

Proper storage is key. I have some Sufix Magic Touch from 00-01 that is still good, the only problem is I don't have but 100 yards left. Keep it inside, away from the sun and if it's a good quality mono to begin with it'll keep as long as it takes for you to run through it.

[BubbaHoTep]

If you keep mono at room temperature, it will keep for years. I wouldn't trust it if it's been kept in places with extreme temperature fluctuations, though. I've used 8-10 year old line that I kept in a closet in the house with no problems, but then line that was in a plastic storage box in a garage that was not heated in winter for several years just snapped on me.

I'm not an expert on this. It's just my experience.

AJ

[RuddeDogg]

Yep what Smooth and Bubba said. I have had Ande fade and dry rot with extreme temp changes. Keep it out of direct sunlight when storing.

[bjake]

I have a spool of Ande that is 10 to `2 years old that has been kept in a box in the basement and still seems good.Spooled a couple reels with it this fall and found no problems with fishing it.Landed a 25 lb. redfish on it so it can't be too bad.Heat and sunlight is what I think causes mono to go bad.Some keep it submerged in water for storage.
Jake

[9 rock]

I have 30 mono that is on a trolling reel my uncle gave me that is a least 12yrs old
I caught many fish last year on that reel and had no problams and I have several reels that I spooled 5 yrs ago and they look good too.


9rock

[AbuMike]

I have 30 mono that is on a trolling reel my uncle gave me that is a least 12yrs old
I caught many fish last year on that reel and had no problams and I have several reels that I spooled 5 yrs ago and they look good too.


9rock

Big difference between life of 30# mono and 6#-10# or even 17# mono. I change mine 5 or 6 times a year.

[SmoothLures]

I change my line on my spools 4-5 times a season as well, I was just talking about bulk spools to put on your rod.

[AbuMike]

Bulk spools are fine as stated before. Keep them inside and out of the sun. Temp. control is the key I think.

[9 rock]

I thought we were talking shelf life .
obviously fishing life is different and surf and boat life is different.
I have boat rods that I cant remember the last time I spooled them or had a break off .my surf rods I check for nicks and such .
here is one of the many articles posted thru out the country on the dangers of monofilament line in the Eco system

It’s thin, nearly invisible and strong and can take up to 600 years to biodegrade. It’s monofilament fishing line – and it is deadly to fish, birds and other animals who become entangled in it. County Executive Andy Spano was at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle today to roll out a new fishing line recycling initiative designed to keep fishing line out of county waterways, eliminating its danger to wildlife and helping the environment


9 rock

[SmoothLures]

Yep, it's always good practice to recycle the mono or at least wrap it around your hand and take a knife to it cutting it in 6" or less pieces then trash it.

[rattler]

here goes. I spent 10 years manufacturing plastics for the auto industry. every fishing line maker has their own recipe. they all start with nylon and put things in to get what they want out of it. UV protectors are usually first. they also make ti soft, add color, abrasive resistant, etc. all work on each other. some last a long time if kept out of the sun. some will rot. and the rubber band was not good. if its old, use at your own risk.

[Mudd]

Sunlight is a killer. Store line out of the sun.
Extreme Temps are killer. Store at room temp.

If you have old line in the very light pound classes, 4, 6, 8 etc, and it looses say 20% of its strength, you have very little left. get rid of it.
If it is heavier line 20, 30, + lbs, then you still have some useable strength left. Its a judgement call.

Why spend several hundred dollars on a trip to the coast two or three times a year and ruin it trying to save $10 on old line? :confused: