Mono line age

[leechlake]

Twice a year I re-spool mono line on my reels. Every Spring I run into the same question. Is the line I'm buying old? How do I know, does it matter? I rarely have line problems but always wonder if the line I'm buying is old or new? Any advise?

[Canuck]

You are right, most people forget about their line and pay so much attention to their reels, hooks and bait but go year after year with the same line and then wonder why they have breat offs.
I almost never use gloves because ever time I unhook a fish I am checking for nicks. It is amazing how many times there is a little nick. About every 2 weeks I strip off about 50 ft of line. Line is cheap comparing to loosing a fish of a life time. I probably re-spool 3 to 4 times per year. I used to wondered about the age of the line I purchased to and was once told, but do not know if it is a sales job or not but was told to run the line through your fingers and if there is a chalky substance left on your hands it is old. We keep our line in the freezer and that seems to keep it much longer.

If U start off with good line in the first place it helps. I use Berkley Big Game High Vis for our kitties and find it is quite good in not getting too many nicks.

[musky hunter]

I always check the condition of my line. Even if it is old, as long as it does not have UV damage it is quite servicable. But it probably has taken a line set. So what I do is go out in the back yard and run the line around a tree (something non abrasive) and walk back about 25 yards. I would now have 50 yards of line out and I give it a good stretch and hold. After a minute or two the line set is gone and it's good for another outing. Also, if there are nicks in the line, cut them off! Maybe if i were going on a trip of a lifetime I'd start new, but if it's just another trip and you are can't make the trip to the store, give the line a good stretch. By the way, line breakage is the least likely reason for me not to land a fish because I have tested the line and know how much pressure I can put on it.