Camouflaging Fishing Line

[hoosierbass07]

  I recently bought Big Bass Magic by Doug Hannon and read something in it last night I found interesting.  He talks about mono line and says he likes to camouflage his line with felt markers.  He winds all his line up on the reel and paints the line on half the side of the spool with green for clear line and purple or blue for green line.  

 

 I know there are some companies that offer camo mono line too.  And I know some people use a black marker to paint lure end of braid they are using.  

 

So what are your opinions on this?  I don't hear too many Bass Master pros pushing camo line.  I don't even see too many online videos of people using camo line.  

 

Could Hannon's general idea have some validity?  Instead of one continuous line of clear or green mono you present a broken up patterns that will seem less alarming to the bass.  

 

Thoughts?  

[K_Mac]

When his book was first published mono was as good as we had. Now we have fluorocarbon that is thinner and better camouflaged by its nature. We have braid that is much thinner. Advances in materials and technology make this recommendation moot IMO.

[papajoe222]

If you buy into a line's visibility being a deterent then I guess it's a good recomendation.  Remember though, the Dr. fished mainly Florida's clear waters and I'm sure that, like others he was opting to put as many factors in his favor as possible.  It's kind of like the scent debate.  At the very least, it couldn't hurt. As far as not hearing about pros using camo line..............well, you don't hear about a lot of little tricks they use.

[F14A-B]

Absolutely, Doug Hannon has probably caught way more Giant FLMB, than anyone ever. I still use Triplefish mono. It's very good line. I have used a plethora of lines, many lines are effective..

If you wish to color you're lines, it won't hurt.

Also, mono was and is plenty good enough to catch Giant fish... Was then and is now as well.

As if Bass can't be caught on mono...hmm...

[K_Mac]

I do not suggest that big bass or anything else can't be caught on mono, or that coloring it is a bad thing. If that makes you happy or confident then by all means do it. My guess is that Hannon would recommend using the best tool for the job available today and that really isn't camouflaged mono in my opinion.

[Bluebasser86]

I use a black sharpie on the last foot of my braid when it starts to fade and get light green. Does it make as difference? I have no idea, but I have confidence in it and I don't feel like it hurts anything. 

[fishballer06]

I tried some of the camo colored Suffix 832. In clearer water, I think it sticks out like a sore thumb. I would only advise using it in heavy weeds or muddy water. 

[Crestliner2008]

Over 30 years ago when we use to troll for big pike with dacron, we use to use markers to break up the outline of the line. We believed back then, that this did, in effect, camouflage the white dacron. However, if you read the teaching of Buck Perry, he was of the mind set that he wanted the fish to see his line....which in turn, directed the fish to his lure. No one really knows for sure.

[Raul]

As if Bass can't be caught on mono...hmm...

 

C´mon you silly, of course it can´t be caught on nylon, giant bass even less and if it´s not camouflaged then the chances of you catching a niceun are infinitesimal.

[GoDeep]

Love some Smoke Yo Zuri hybrid. 

[J Francho]

Here's a pimp trike: color half your spool of braid with a marker. Now you have an alternating pattern that's easier to see. I don't know if it helps hide the line, bass in weeds don't seem to care.

[scaleface]

Bringing up this old thread.

 

 I dont know how a basses brain works . I have used Doug Hannons trick and will in the future. Not all the time but in clear water with slow moving baits like Texas rigs,it appears to have worked . On Table Rock I saw a bass under a dock. I flipped a Salt Craw to it on light spinning gear , probably 6 to  8 lb test , repeatedly and the fish ignored it. I then used a black marker and colored the line in about two inch alternating strips for a couple of feet  breaking up the solid visual . Flipped it back in and the bass did not hesitate in taking it. I dont know why it took the bait this time ,it  could have been the break up pattern of the line .

 

With that lesson , I have bought some Triple Fish  Fluorescent but did not like the line properties.  Id sure like to see some Trilene xl in a cammo pattern. Markers wear off after a few cast .

[moguy1973]

If a fish doesn't care that the baits are attached to five stainless steel wires they won't care that your fishing line is camouflaged.

 

Remember, the red fishing line is designed to disappear in green water but the red hooks on lures are not.

[scaleface]

You dont think line visibility is a factor in bass fishing ? 

[KDW96]

In my experience,i have not noticed any difference as far as color of line in catching fish. Ive caught many big fish using line that looked like it had a lazer beam runnin through it and some line as dark as blacktop. Decades ago reels were spooled up with black dacron and caught fish just fine? I have used camo line and caught fish, but i really think its a personal choice? The reason i use yellow powerpro- i can see it better-im a line watcher. Because of the choice i made,have i missed alot of fish? no one can give a 100% definite answer. Just experiment, and you will find what you have confidence in.

[cyclops2]

 I really get a big smile when I see fishing topics like this.

 

 Line color or marking patterns are critical to success !!

 

The 2 or 3 HIGHLY VISABLE TREBLE HOOKS hanging down ARE NOT !!   Same for no mouth ??   No scales ??  No true correct fins ??  No gills ??

 

 

 

Sure......................The bass has a check list he goes thru before making a bite.  That skinny disappearing line is what turns him off ??????????

 

 

Old mind.   

If he makes a attack from the rear.  So the fish ahead has almost no sensing of him approaching. Lateral lines are not sensitive  detecting from directly behind ?

[cyclops2]

Kind of like a bunch of historians discussing war...........& never been in a battle for months on end.     Have to do something with the spare time.

[scaleface]

Weve all caught fish using line that looks like rope. That does not prove that Doug Hannon was wrong. I dont know if breaking up a single strand of mono filament works or not but I do understand the concept and will not disregard it .  

[F14A-B]

Kind of like a bunch of historians discussing war...........& never been in a battle for months on end. Have to do something with the spare time.

What a moronic statement , why don't you stay off the threads since you never add a thing except how miserable you are

[cyclops2]

Thank you for your opinion.

[papajoe222]

There appear to be two trains of thought on this subject and if you are objective in your thinking, you will see that both are correct. For reaction types of baits and retrieves, the fish focus on their attack and even in super clear water line visibility shouldn't be a deterrent.

For slow moving baits and retrieves that are targeting a feeding response the fish also are focusing on the bait, but their focus is in determining whether to eat it, or not. Just ask anyone that has watched a smallie eye their jig for what seems like an eternity, only to swim away. Would you use a highly visible line in that situation?

The bottom line here is your confidence in your choice for the conditions you're faced with. as with lure selection, scent, rods and reels. If you approach your decision objectively, the answer presents itself. Whether you choose to ignore it is up to you.

[fisherrw]

I use suffix seige in camo it is great line!

[moguy1973]

You dont think line visibility is a factor in bass fishing ? 

Not after seeing the way that bass attack an Alabama Rig with all the very visible wires I don't.  The biggest fish these gimmicky fishing lines catch are the FISHermen that buy them. 

[scaleface]

Not after seeing the way that bass attack an Alabama Rig with all the very visible wires I don't.  The biggest fish these gimmicky fishing lines catch are the FISHermen that buy them. 

Then there is no sense in fishing light line in clear water if it makes no  difference.

[moguy1973]

Then there is no sense in fishing light line in clear water if it makes no  difference.

 

You are right.

 

Unless you need light line to preserve the action of the lure/fly/bait, use the heaviest line you can get away with.

 

Youtube Chris Zaldain Umbrella Rig and it will show a video of him dragging a GoPro in front of his A-Rig on Table Rock to show what it looks like underwater.  The bass could give a care less if he was dragging the rig with an anchor rope.