How long would bulk spools of line last if kept in a cool, dark place (such as a desk drawer, etc.)? Are we talking a year, 2 years, 5 years, ... ?

I have a spool of #6 yozuri that I've had for at least 4yrs now. I just re spooled a reel with it a month ago. No issues with it so far.

The oldest spool I have is a 3000 yds spool of Trilene Big Game I purchased by mistake, it's maybe 10 yrs old, and the line is in perfect condition.

How long would bulk spools of line last if kept in a cool, dark place (such as a desk drawer, etc.)? Are we talking a year, 2 years, 5 years, ... ?

How about 20 years.  My best fishing bud bought some inexpensive 20# mono in bulk 20 some odd years ago when he lived on Long Island for stripers and bluefish.  He's been in Florida for about 20 years and he is still using it, now it's for barracuda, I've never seen the line fail.

I would say anywhere from 5 to 10 years. Probably more, but that's where I'd still feel comfortable using it in a tournament.

There is no experation date on the line package or spool?

I think it depends on the type of line and how it is stored. Heat and mono is not a good combination for long life. The examples of 20lb mono may be good or it may be that it is such a high strength that it is not noticeable yet. Any body got any 6lb that is 20 years old and still as good as new? I bought some tapered leaders for fly fishing with a 5x tippet. They were stuck back on a shelf and were covered with dust and dirt. Got a great deal on them but had to toss them all as they wouldn't hold a knot with out breaking. If you are talking braid then it will last for a long time for sure.

Frank

I have a large master spool of yourzi hybrid 10lb test that is at least 15 years aged stored in my boat garage that is still good.

It will last as long as you need it to is my guess. I wouldn't worry about that when purchasing line. By the time it goes bad there will be so many new lines on the market that you will want to switch anyways. 

Yea I have some Triplefish that's 15 years old...

Also others.... No worrys here!

It will last as long as you need it to is my guess. I wouldn't worry about that when purchasing line. By the time it goes bad there will be so many new lines on the market that you will want to switch anyways. 

 

Perfect answer.

Sounds good, thanks everyone!!! 

and some people here have thought i was crazy for using the same mono on a reel for 3-4 years and because i only change line when it gets low or i want to try a new line or size on a particular reel which isnt often. here we have success stories of people keeping line, and mono at that, for 10-15-20 years and it still working fine. this can be an important thread for people new to fishing, in the aspect that some people here will have them convinced their line will go bad after every trip and that is just not the case...

Line on a reel (except for braid) gets changed every 6mo for me. That line gets UV exposure which breaks down the line, line in storage does not. 

and some people here have thought i was crazy for using the same mono on a reel for 3-4 years and because i only change line when it gets low or i want to try a new line or size on a particular reel which isnt often. here we have success stories of people keeping line, and mono at that, for 10-15-20 years and it still working fine. this can be an important thread for people new to fishing, in the aspect that some people here will have them convinced their line will go bad after every trip and that is just not the case...

 

Line on a reel that's getting exposed to UV light isn't really the same as line being stored in a drawer in the house.