A co-worker was offering up a bunch of old un-opened seguar  fluorocarbon line.  It's been sitting around for about 12 years indoors.  Is this ok to use? Is it more prone to break? Or would it be just like new?  

Fluorocarbon can last a long time

 

https://sunlineamerica.com/history-of-fishing-line-and-fluorocarbon-fishing-line/

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorocarbon#:~:text=Fluorocarbons%2C sometimes referred to as,contain only carbon and fluorine.

I wouldn't use it - just on general principles - but I ain't broke and I don't desperately need line right now.  I'd let someone else claim it.   If I was on a fixed income and I needed some fishing line and it was the pound test I needed I'd use it in a heartbeat.

While I am frugal in some areas, I never skimp on line.  You never know when that trophy is going to hit.  If you have doubts, don't use it.  I wouldn't.  

A bunch of unopened Seaguar flurocarbon for free?  Sign me up.  Unless it was stored in an oven (that was used to bake), not much could be wrong with that line.

Milk, eggs, meat or fishing line...

When in doubt throw it out

 

 

Mike

Use the same test whether new or old line. Take a 6 foot piece of the line and tie it to the weight it's rated for then use a rod to lift it. If it holds it's good if not toss it.

But as mentioned above Floro does last. 

 

Ive got mono spools that are 10 years old and have been stored inside and theyre fine. I'm sure you'll be okay. I say take it.

Heat, UV light, and ozone are what break down plastics when not in use.  If it's been kept out of the sun, away from heat, and hasn't been exposed to a lot of moving air (kept in the original box), then it's probably still good.  Probably.

Stored properly on original filler spools FC should be good to use. What kills monofilament line including FC is time under pressure stress deforms the line and it takes a set in tight coils.

Ambient heat doesn’t affect FC, it can affect Nylon line.

Tom

I have a jumbo spool of it on my line peg board that is 6 years old and i am still spooling reels with it each year with no performance failures at all.  My jumbo spool of BPS 20lb Mono is 19 years old and still going strong.

I have a bunch of P-Line flouro in that date range. It was stored in a garage cabinet out of the elements. I’ve been using it a leader to braid and have had no issues.

Thanks!  I'm going to claim it.