Does Line Color Really Matter?

[maleko]

Just wondering your thoughts on line color.

I always use braided line in moss green color but have one rod with yellow.

I've seen red , all shades of green and white.

Does it really matter?

[Brian Needham]

you can use any color of line you want to, as along as its fluorocarbon.

[bigbill]

I use green line on my spinner bait rod. I use clear line on my topwater rod. I use Cajun red line on my carolina rigged plastics rod, with a red Cajun leader.

I figure with a spinner bait there is no time for them to see my line.

With the topwater there not going to see my line anyway. On my carolina rig the red line is invisible. Since the fishing can be slow or fast they could have time to see my line but they can't see it anyhow.

[OkeechobeeAngler]

For the most part NO it does not matter. 

[WRB]

Only the bass know the answer to this question.

Tom

[zachb34]

It's mainly a confidence thing. In your head you may already have an opinion about it if you think it's possible that the bass care you'll have more confidence with a low vis line vice versa

[bigbill]

They can see our line. I had a noisy reel because the bass tore this cheap reel up. I seen a sunfish listening to my line right were it entered the water. I'm not sure if he seen it or heard my reel because the noise went down my line like a guitar string. That fish stayed right were my line entered the water for a while. This made me purchase buy

better equipment in the beginning.

[Kevin22]

Nobody can be sure on that one! Only the bass know!

 

IMO no, it does not matter. I've caught tons of bass while walleye fishing with bright yellow hi-viz powerpro braid or blaze orange trilene sensation copoly. 

[bigbill]

If they can see colors and doctor Loren Hill of Ok. Unv. Proved it in his report when he developed the first color c LECTOR. He used different color buckets one has feed when the others had nothing. When he put the color red let's say with the feed the bass came to eat. When he put the different colored buckets they didn't come to feed. Seeing this proved the bass can see colors. His report of his testing was on the net. I believe he also switch the feed to the different colored buckets so the fish adapted to that certain color at that time meaning it's feed. It makes sense to me. The bass can see colors, they can relate to colors. But in the wilds they can only see certain colors at times because of the water conditions, the sunlite and the hues in the water too. I think they see our lines like we see a split screen on tv.

That's all I'm going to say about that. Bb

[maleko]

I've had great luck with my dark green braided, I was just thinking about this today when I saw braided in white

I thought white might disappear pretty good?

[ClackerBuzz]

i like yellow or white b/c you can easily see ur line run sideways during those sneeky bites.

(matched w/  fluoro leader)

[aquaholic]

I use green line on my spinner bait rod. I use clear line on my topwater rod. I use Cajun red line on my carolina rigged plastics rod, with a red Cajun leader.

I figure with a spinner bait there is no time for them to see my line.

With the topwater there not going to see my line anyway. On my carolina rig the red line is invisible. Since the fishing can be slow or fast they could have time to see my line but they can't see it anyhow.

are you saying they cant see the red?

[gramps50]

Started fishing braid with a flouro leader so I don't think the color matter to the fish. For me I am trying to find something that I can see at dusk and beyond without much light. Most green is hard for me to see most of the time. Bought some neon orange and I could see it fine till dark then it disappeared like the moss green. The line is okay but I like 832 better guess I will try some it that in hi viz yellow.

 

Unless someone has a better recommendation

[Mccallister25]

I just saw an article the other day that mentioned that bass can see a whole lot better in the water than we think. IMO yes, they see our line.

[ToadTorcher]

My dad and I always argue about this! He'll almost never fish straight braid unless he's throwing a frog, I on the other hand never use a leader with the exception of very clear water. I've got a buddy who runs lime green braid on almost all his reels and it doesn't seem like I catch anymore or less fish than him on a regular basis. I also recently spooled my wormin rod with p-line CX in the clear fluorescent color... Doesn't seem like I'm catching any less fish either!  

 

So with the exception of crystal clear water I don't think it maters much at all.

[pbizzle]

Does a bear fart in the forest?

[roadwarrior]

I don't know about the fish, but I care. I want my line to match or compliment the rod & reel.

Green looks great on Curados, white or clear for Core and Purple Smoke on my spinning

tackle.

 

 

 

[Sam]

Yes, according to Dr. Keith Jones of Berkley (Pure Fishing) Research Department bass have cones and can see colors.

 

The line color may or may not make a difference.

 

If the bass can see your line then they may not strike your bait as it is not "natural" to them.

 

As for red, it depends on the material for the bass to see it.  An opaque surface will be seen as a dark profile in the water while red line will absorb the light and become invisible.

 

Some guys, including me, have been known to use a black Sharpie to color braid. I have no idea if this enhances my hook up ratio but I have done it in the past.

 

So does line color make a difference? Maybe yes and maybe no.  If you use a specific color in a specific body of water and for some reason others are catching more than you while using the same type of bait then I would take the position that your line color maybe a problem or your technique needs some work.

 

Overall, I would not be that concerned. As stated above, line color is a personal preference so go with what you like and don't worry about it.

[Wayne P.]

Yep, it does matter to me. I want a line that I can see the best to detect subtle bites.

 

The fish don't care what the line looks like.

 

[aquaholic]

Yep, it does matter to me. I want a line that I can see the best to detect subtle bites.

 

The fish don't care what the line looks like.

 

what kind of witch craft is that?

[bigbill]

I up sized my lines to stronger, heavier line and the amount of my catch fell off drastically. I was hitting 8 to 10 bass per outing before I did the switch. After the switch I'm down to 3 to 4 if that the bite is way off. I switched my spinner bait and crankbait rods back and my catch increased again. Seeing this the fish can be line sensitive in the small unfished places.I didn't see any difference in the amount of my catch in the rivers or larger bodies of water. If I didn't go to larger diameter stronger line nothing would of changed. Seeing this the fish are aware of your line. We already know they can see colors. I was using clear line.

Since I'm seeing the bigger bass swim by me at one manmade dam at the road side dropoff

I figure the bigger gals know our lines that's how they got that big. But I think the competition for food with the bass changes them in seeing our lines when they may all be going for the same lure. This is when you see other bass following your hooked one

there all in competition for the same lure.

The red Cajun line disappears in the water.

[Wayne P.]

what kind of witch craft is that?

That is 40# Daiwa Samurai tinted with red dye. That color combination is easier for me to see under most lighting conditions.

It is the same as the line in my avatar.

[Wayne P.]

I up sized my lines to stronger, heavier line and the amount of my catch fell off drastically. I was hitting 8 to 10 bass per outing before I did the switch. After the switch I'm down to 3 to 4 if that the bite is way off. I switched my spinner bait and crankbait rods back and my catch increased again. Seeing this the fish can be line sensitive in the small unfished places.I didn't see any difference in the amount of my catch in the rivers or larger bodies of water. If I didn't go to larger diameter stronger line nothing would of changed. Seeing this the fish are aware of your line. We already know they can see colors. I was using clear line.Since I'm seeing the bigger bass swim by me at one manmade dam at the road side dropoffI figure the bigger gals know our lines that's how they got that big. But I think the competition for food with the bass changes them in seeing our lines when they may all be going for the same lure. This is when you see other bass following your hooked onethere all in competition for the same lure.The red Cajun line disappears in the water.

Red line does not disappear in water. The red color is the first to be filtered out and the line will appear brown to black as the depth increases.

[Arv]

I use braid. If I'm not getting bit, I tie on a leader. Sometimes I start getting bit, sometimes I don't.

[J Francho]

I like a bright, contrasting color for line watching.  If you tie direct, then simply use a permanent black or dark green marker to camo the lest couple feet to the lure.  One cool trick is to color 1/2 your spool.  This gives your line an alternating breakup pattern that is really easy on your eyes and makes line watching much easier.