mono--how old is too old?

[goosefish]

When does mono go bad? Most of my bulk spools are about eight years old.

[RIJIMMY]

I have over 10 Ande pink bulk spools, from 12- 20lb, that were my Dads, they're 12+ yrs old and I have no problem at all with them.

[redlite]

ANY mono is too old......get with the braid train.....it only left the station about 10 years ago..........

[piemma]

John, I think that if they were kept in the dark (fairly important) and cool (very important) then they are fine. The real question is do you want to take a chance on a fall fish that could be a moose with old mono?

[Back Beach]

Rarely would I recommend following Redlite's advice to a tee, but hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Get some braid and send the mono over to RI Jimmy...

If Jimmy doesn't want it, Piemma will probably make a nice batch of aglio e oil with it...

[redlite]

....By the way, nice to see you still kickin' John.

[Rockport24]

maybe I should be ashamed to admit I still use mono (tried braid, didn't like the knots!) I change my spool out a few times a season, when it starts to get kind of brittle. You probably don't need to change the whole spool though, prob only the first 100 yards or so that are used the most.

[BigFish]

I am not ashamed! I use mono and I always will!!! Bright, shines in the sunlight mono!!! While I am casting and catching I love to hear my associates whining about the knots and the breakoffs and the "ripped lips" and lost fish from their $50 spools of braid! $7 a spool #20 Berkeley Big Game Green.......ahhhhhhh so nice!!

To the point...old is old but still usable! Too old is too old and should be changed!! See??!!! Pretty easy!!

[goosefish]

I figured as much. I'm going to risk it. Good to see the same crew on here. Though I'm sure there are about 1,000 new faces since my last post in '04.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by BigFish

I am not ashamed! I use mono and I always will!!! Bright, shines in the sunlight mono!!! While I am casting and catching I love to hear my associates whining about the knots and the breakoffs and the "ripped lips" and lost fish from their $50 spools of braid! $7 a spool #20 Berkeley Big Game Green.......ahhhhhhh so nice!

I've used braid almost from day one and rarely ever had any of those issues. Windknots come when you first spool it up or from gear/tackle that puts extra twist in the line. When first spooled, the braid will screw up until the line finds its happy place and length. Also never had a braid palomar knot fail. $23 for a 300yd spool of Powerpro on sale, line has been on there for 3 years with no issues with break offs and no concerns about it turning brittle.

At the canal, less resistance when jigging and can jig with less weight.

Best of all, my 30# braid with 8# diameter and no memory will cast significantly further than equivalent mono.

[MarkB]

I'm a happy mono user. I like that it has give to it, and I don't have to worry about cutting my finger off when I cast. When I finish the spool of mono I have left - some time next year - I may get some braid, but I'm in no hurry to do so. People caught plenty of fish using mono line - it's not like fish like braid better.

[Raven]

it's too old when it has to much memory or is sufficiently frayed imho...

although i have often trolled it behind the boat to release all the twist on many occasion

[Pete_G]

In my earlier, freshwater days I was always under the impression mono aged quickly, especially if exposed to sun and varied temperatures.

And for that matter, at the SWE we've always tossed a really slow moving spool of mono (year plus on the shelves) out of fear.

But, all this paranoia could be based on nothing, I'm really not sure.

[ivanputski]

I think that it dries out and gets brittle... so instead of a long stretch, you get a dry "snap" Is all the time and effort spent on finally hooking that fish of the year worth fishing old line? not for me. There's a hundred ways to lose a good fish once hooked... I never want neglect of my own gear to be the reason. When in doubt, throw it out

[MarkB]

Light and heat could damage mono, but other than that I see little reason to worry. If I had any question, I'd just tie it off a section and give it a good pull. I know when 25# line breaks off when I lose a jig in the canal - it's damn hard to do. If I start pulling and it breaks off easily, I'd replace it. Otherwise, I'm using it, no matter how old it is. I see no reason to throw money away just because of a theoretical problem. I wouldn't fool around with 30 year old line that's been sitting in the attic, but if it's a few years old and looks and feels good, I'm using it.

Eight years? Look at it, feel it, give it a tug test. Unless you're made of money.

[The Dad Fisherman]

I use both....mono has some applications and braid has some.

I hate braid on my baitrunner...I always feel the fish drop the bait quicker because there is no give when they pick it up.

[goosefish]

I use both too.

Just like I have two different kinds of underwear: boxers and briefs. Both have different applications for me.

[Raven]

LOl too funny

[Piscator]

If the mono question is answered then....................................

Braid--how old is too old?

[tattoobob]

I change the mono on my bait fishing reels once a year, Shelf life is a long time if you keep it out of the sun and in a cool place like your Basement. I always buy bulk spools

Who knows how old it is when you buy it, it could already be 10 years old and had been sitting on the stores shelf

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by Piscator

If the mono question is answered then....................................

Braid--how old is too old?

Unless you've had a ton of breakoffs or been fishing rocks, I'd guess never. Even then, just cut off the frayed line and splice on some more if the spool gets low.

[Vogt]

Some braids have a coating that will wear off with time and use. This may affect your cast and knots in a negative way, but ussually not line strength. It all depends on how much you use it I guess.

When fireline wears it becomes very frayed and almost fuzzy looking. Ive seen guys use it like that for years with no noticable reductions in strength. Not that I would recopmmend letting it go that long, but just throwing it out there....

[Pete F.]

I have a rod in the back of my car that I use for pike fishing with 20# fireline, it's been in there all year. A couple of weeks ago I went to tie on a new leader, pulled it tight and snapped the line. I could break it with just a couple of pounds of pull. Peeled off a bunch and got down to some line that was fine. Never happened before. I'll keep an eye on it from now on.

[Piscator]

My cousin recycles his Braid (he is on a tight budget).

He takes the end of the used Braid from rod #1 and ties it to the empty spool of Rod #2. Spools Rod #2 by basically re-winding the Braid on the opposite end of the second spool.