Date of manufacture for mono.

[Clint]

There is another thread about a fellow looking for a specific brand and weight of mono. Some offered different places where it was available, but some one told how he bought some line that had been on the shelf for a long time, and had taken a set and lost some of its strength. Mono is only good for about three years from what I've read. Below is how to read the date code on mono reels.

The code is listed in very small print directly below the diameter of the line. It is displayed in a 4 dash sequence.

Example...C - 4 - 10 - 1 Date of MFG: March 4th, 2010 First shift

The letter C represents the month it was manufactured. In this case March.

The number 4 represents the day of the month it was made.

The number 10 signifies the year in which it was manufactured.

The last number signifies the shift in which it was produced.

All this only works if you can look at the line before you buy it. I don't imagine a mail-order company is going to go into its stock to read the code to you when you order over the phone. And of course ordering over the internet won't work.

One more reason to shop at your local tackle dealer, even if you pay extra.

My2¢

[BobC]

It was me. Thanks for this info, Clint. Useful to have.
Bob

[Alphahawk]

There is another thread about a fellow looking for a specific brand and weight of mono. Some offered different places where it was available, but some one told how he bought some line that had been on the shelf for a long time, and had taken a set and lost some of its strength. Mono is only good for about three years from what I've read. Below is how to read the date code on mono reels.

The code is listed in very small print directly below the diameter of the line. It is displayed in a 4 dash sequence.

Example...C - 4 - 10 - 1 Date of MFG: March 4th, 2010 First shift

The letter C represents the month it was manufactured. In this case March.

The number 4 represents the day of the month it was made.

The number 10 signifies the year in which it was manufactured.

The last number signifies the shift in which it was produced.

All this only works if you can look at the line before you buy it. I don't imagine a mail-order company is going to go into its stock to read the code to you when you order over the phone. And of course ordering over the internet won't work.

One more reason to shop at your local tackle dealer, even if you pay extra.

My2¢

That's not even a remotely industry wide standard. A few may do it but the majority of line manufacturers have no date code at all.


Regards

[Rojo]

I have mono that's 10 years old. I don't have problems with it when I spool it on a reel. Actually I replace my line quite a bit once it's out of the AC and in use. I use spinning reels on my jig poles and after a while the twists, nicks, and loops the wind blow that wrap around the guides drives me nuts. The memory in the line after being on such a small spool is mostly the problem. For, forever I just keep replacing the line so I buy line deals when I find them. My go to line is Mr. Crappie Camo, it never lets me down in the field but I don't let it age like wine on the reel.

[Alphahawk]

I have mono that's 10 years old. I don't have problems with it when I spool it on a reel. Actually I replace my line quite a bit once it's out of the AC and in use. I use spinning reels on my jig poles and after a while the twists, nicks, and loops the wind blow that wrap around the guides drives me nuts. The memory in the line after being on such a small spool is mostly the problem. For, forever I just keep replacing the line so I buy line deals when I find them. My go to line is Mr. Crappie Camo, it never lets me down in the field but I don't let it age like wine on the reel.

I'm with you. I had a 20,000 yard spool of SOS Trout Magnet 2# test that was 6 years old when I quit using it and went to all Japanese made lines. During that time I lost count of 20 inch smallmouth I caught using that line off that spool for those years. Like you I replaced my line quite often. Gave that bulk spool away to a gentleman who is still using it with no issues. That spool of line is over 8 years old now. I just kept it in the garage.


Regards

[Grainraiser]

I have a bulk spool of vintage Stren gold line in 4lb test. The spool is around 35 years old. My dad bought it in the early 80's and keep it in a shoebox. Believe or not the line is still in good shape.

[Ketchn]

I have lots of old mono laying around , I give it a real good pull test if I think its past due .
If one uses the same general weight class of mono frequently one can tell if its ok or not pretty easily .

[trypman1]

UV is the line killer, not years.

[NIMROD]

UV is the line killer, not years.

i keep a bunch of spools inside in a dark closet inside my home with no problems . Heat and sunlight will damage mono