I have several spools of monofilament that are  ten to twenty years old. They look good and have been kept in a drawer.  Most of it is Big Game . Does it deteriorate even if its in a cool , dark and dry environment ?

If it was not in the sun the line should be fine...

Temperature changes can also affect mono line, freezing or over 100 degree extremes. Kept stored inside your home in a dark area is ideal storage. Test it by wrapping around your hands and snap apart. If the breaks easily, toss it!

Tom

Monofilament absorbs moisture after time so even if its has been stored inside it will still deteriorate and weaken over time plus mono gets a memory.  For the price of mono I would just toss it.

I have several spools of monofilament that are  ten to twenty years old. They look good and have been kept in a drawer.  Most of it is Big Game . Does it deteriorate even if its in a cool , dark and dry environment ?

 

I have a big drawer full of nylon spools, a lot of which is even older than yours.

As long as it hasn't been exposed to the ultraviolet rays in sunlight, your mono should be just fine.

 

If you doubt the integrity of the line, the light test nylon can be given a jerk test

and the heavier nylon can be used for backing, but I've yet to have a problem with nylon stored in a dark drawer.

 

Roger

I'm with Tom and Rolo, check it first.  See if it has a rough feel and any memory, the line tests they talked about and if it's questionable then toss it.  Backing is always another way to use it as well. 

I have bulk spools of Original Stren that are easily 15 years old an have had no problems aside from the normal memory  that mono has.