Does line make the difference?

[Backwoods bassin]

Well although I have been fishing for almost all my life,  I've only used a clear line literally the whole time and have been a fairly successful fisherman.  Catching many 7lb bass within a years time.  But my question today is that I'm wanting to know if changing my line would really make a difference.  Any recommendations?  Colors?  Brands? 

[louieb416]

I would do what you think is working best for you. I use braided line, monofilament, and flourocarbon. It really depends on what your going to be catching and where. For example, If i'm going to fish maybe a drop shot or finesse type lure in clear water, I would probably choose flourocarbon or at the very least mono. Braid would be unsightly to the fish in a clear water presentation. But, again just do what makes sense and what you think is working.

[Dye99]

This same question has irked me for years and years...

I run 30lb mossy green braid on pretty much everything I use except my drop shot rigs.

So to change things up, I  changed out to flouro on one of my crank bait reels. I ran the same bait on both the braided and flouro, and I caught the same amount of fish...

But I think the lake you are fishing has a lot to do with it as well. For me I just found it easier to run all my BC's with braid.

[flyingmonkie]

Technically yes, it does matter.  EVERYTHING matters!  You're trying to get a wild animal to eat a piece of plastic, so the odds are already stacked against you.    

It's really a question of HOW MUCH line color matters.  In my opinion, it matters less than line type and line weight.  So my recommendation would be to choose the right type/size line for the job, and if you're afraid it's too visible, tie on a flouro leader. 

 

[blckshirt98]

Line for me makes a big difference in the quality of time on the water.  With braid I don't have to deal with "managing line".  As for confidence I believe line makes no difference in a reaction bite, but does in a finesse bite so I'll always use a fluoro leader when fishing finesse.  I've been happy enough where I haven't felt the need to compare mono vs fluoro, using braid for finesse presentations, etc.  I found what works for me and what I have confidence in.  If all of these new lines have you curious, it can't hurt to spool a reel up with some of the newer stuff and give it a try.  If you've been fishing mono and don't feel a need to change and are happy with it, by all means stick with it.

[Florida Cracker2]

I used to use clear on shallow lures and green on deep runners thinking that if fish were looking up at the line it would blend in with the surface and looking down the green would blend in with the bottom. I haven't noticed any difference so I cannot say either way. I wonder if fish even comprehend the line at all since it moves in a straight line...? But then again, a little piece of grass on your lure and nothing will hit it.

[hawgenvy]

When I use braid, all of which in my case is green, I have taken to blackening the terminal ten or twelve inches with a Sharpie, as some others also do. I persist in this because when I look down at my line in the (stained Florida) water I can see the green part but not the blackened part. Keep in mind that I am not a bass in the water, so I cannot say if that translates to more bites, or if it is useless folly.

[OperationEagle]

You didn't give us much info such as what you are using today (besides it is clear...so maybe mono?) and the applications you are mostly fishing.

I jig fish quite a bit and feel like my hook up ratio improved when I switched from mono to braid.  Braid has little to no stretch which results in greater sensitivity and a faster/harder hook set.

No way to tell whether it was the greater sensitivity or the hook set that made the difference...either way, after seeing the improvement, I wondered why it took so long for me to make the switch.  Shows we are just creatures of habit.  Good for you for wanting to try something different.

 

[geo g]

Over the years I have experimented with about every type of line out on the market.  They have strong and weak points and are appropriated for certain conditions.  A few points I have found:

1). In real clear water I love floro line and not just floro leader.  Floro is super sensitive and great for plastics because in sinks.  I can feel the bottom and whats down there, and feel the subtle bites.  It doesn't spook fish.  Not all floro acts or feels the same.  My personal fav is Tylene 100% professional Grade.  I have used it for many years and although it is expensive, I think its worth it.

2). Top water Mono!  Berkley Big Game.  It holds up, performs well, its cheap and always on sale,and it floats.

3). Reel heavy Junk, I love 65 lb braid, any braid will do.   It cuts through grass and pad stems.  You could pull a truck with it.  Visibility is not a problem, mostly reaction bites.  It is very sensitive!

So does line make a difference.  I am convinced that it most certainly does.  Just use the right line for the right situation.

 

[Further North]

On 3/7/2016 at 1:59 PM, Florida Cracker2 said:

But then again, a little piece of grass on your lure and nothing will hit it.

I used to think that...then I watched a 35" pike clobber a Strike King Smokin' Rooster that I'd just dragged out of a patch of weeds on Lake of the Woods.

It easily had 8" of weed hanging from it...

[S. Sass]

10 minutes ago, Further North said:

I used to think that...then I watched a 35" pike clobber a Strike King Smokin' Rooster that I'd just dragged out of a patch of weeds on Lake of the Woods.

It easily had 8" of weed hanging from it...

I cant count how many Bass I have caught with weeds or what have you on it. Heck most of my strikes when fishing ponds is right as the lure is entering the crud or coming out of it. 

I fish braid 90% of the time with no leader stuff. To me its a waste of time and effort and adds weakness. My catching fish hasnt slowed a bit. And I don't have knots banging through my guides or a weak leader between me and my line holding my fish.

Bass are not like on the list of smartest animals, they could care less if the line was yellow red green blue etc. They aren't watching the line they are looking at the bait. I think some of  you guys give the fish wayyyyyyyyyyyy to much credit for brains. imho

[A-Jay]

On ‎3‎/‎7‎/‎2016 at 10:09 PM, Backwoods bassin said:

Well although I have been fishing for almost all my life,  I've only used a clear line literally the whole time and have been a fairly successful fisherman.  Catching many 7lb bass within a years time.  But my question today is that I'm wanting to know if changing my line would really make a difference.  Any recommendations?  Colors?  Brands? 

Make a difference how ? 

Longer casts, More accurate casts, Better hook sets, Last longer, Handles better, Better impact & knot strength, More abrasion resistance, Less stretch, More stretch, More fish, bigger fish ~ ? ? ?

The clear line you've been using literally the whole time to catch many 7lb bass within a years time seems to be working well.

I'd like to ask - what is this high performing product ?

A-Jay

[Darren.]

Agree with @A-Jay and others. If it's a workin'
why change it?!

Pray tell this magical clear line you use!!  

Me, it's yellow braid and a leader. Every combo I've
got. Tis the way I fish and catch many 5 and 6 pounders.

Perhaps I've got the wrong line!  

[rippin-lips]

They'll eat this contraption sinking down through the water... So most of the time I don't think they care about the line attached to it. 

[Backwoods bassin]

On 3/8/2016 at 9:17 PM, A-Jay said:

Make a difference how ? 

Longer casts, More accurate casts, Better hook sets, Last longer, Handles better, Better impact & knot strength, More abrasion resistance, Less stretch, More stretch, More fish, bigger fish ~ ? ? ?

The clear line you've been using literally the whole time to catch many 7lb bass within a years time seems to be working well.

I'd like to ask - what is this high performing product ?

A-Jay

This bass along with many others was caught off bill dances 15lb high seas grand slam mono

Just now, Backwoods bassin said:

This bass along with many others was caught off bill dances 15lb high seas grand slam mono

 

[IndianaFinesse]

From my limited experience line color doesn't matter much unless you are fishing in extremely clear water.  Line size, however does seem to affect the number of bites, sometimes dramatically.  My personal favorite is the new Gliss Monofiliment.  It has the sensitivity of braid, no memory, floats, and is smoother than braid.  It even casts farther than nanobraid without the abrasion issues.  The only downside of gliss is that it sometimes slips at a leader knot if put under sudden pressure, unless you glue it.  And although it is substantially more expensive than mono, it is about same price as braid at 14.99.  But use whatever works for you, everyone has a different opinion.

[GetJigginWithIt]

Yes, line makes a huge difference. Without line you could not fish.

Use what you are comfortable with.

[Catt]

Bass anglers are a gullible crowd if you appeal to their belief "it's the tackle not the angler"!

I throw Berkley Big Game in mean green but sometimes I'll switch to amber only because it contrasts better against the surface of the water.

If it ain't broke quit trying to fix it!

[.ghoti.]

It is all in your mind. If you don't mind, it don't matter. The converse is also true.

I've used Trilene XL for years. I use 4, 6 and 8 on my spinning reels, and 8,10,*** on my castings reels. The only exception is when I go trout fishing, I'll spool up a couple  of spare reels with 4lb  Invisx, because sometimes it makes a difference when fishing for trout  in clear water.

After reading the many threads about line, I'm amazed that I catch any fish using this line. According to the "wisdom" often dispensed hear, I have many problems.

1. I can't feel any bites because my line is so insensitive.

2. I can't set the hook when I do managed to detect a bite, because my line is so stretchy.

3. in the unlikely event that I do manage to get a hook set, I can't land the fish because my line will break if it comes in contact with anything, because my line is so non-abrasion resistant. And, because my line absorbs water, which makes it even weaker and stretchier.

I guess I'm really lucky to catch any fish at all.

[cadman]

I totally agree with Ghoti. I use similar lines on similar reels just like he does. I am not a phenomenal fisherman, but I catch a lot of fish. I tried fluoro used it for a year, but it started to break on me in mid spool went back to mono. I tried Power Pro braid, I could not get used to it went back to mono. Now I'm back to my Trilene XL in 6-8 lb for my spinning and 10 lb for my baitcasters. I couldn't be happier. If it works for you don't try to fix it, you will get nuts listening to everybody's advice.

[J Francho]

I use mono, copoly, fluoro, braid, fused, coated, and probably a few other types of line.  I catch on them all.  Run what feels good to you.  When you come across a situation where the line you use isn't working, then change.

[Lendiesel22]

I fished ande mono from 10 to 33 and it never let me down for bass, rockfish, crappies, pickerel,perch,sun fish, ect. Then 2 years ago I got "serious". Now I have a spread of braid, fc, and mono. I could have trusty ol ande on em all, but i like certain things about each line I use now. Those things help me fish more confident. Does it make me better? IMO yes. The more confident you are the better you fish. If you fish a variety of techniques there is a line out that can help you fish it to the best of your ability.

 

[new2BC4bass]

Like ghoti I used 4# and 8# Trilene XL for a good many years.  Still have it on a couple reels.  Reason for trying other lines wasn't because XL quit working for me, but because I wanted to try other lines.  I can't recall being disappointed with any line I've tried.  I did have one brand break down in the reel, but more than likely that was my fault.  It was the first line I used while learning to use a baitcast reel.  Had a few backlashes.

I seriously doubt that line scares a fish away very often.  I've had fish come out of the water after a lure as I lifted it out right at the boat.  They didn't seem to be scared of the boat much less the line.

[HeavyDluxe]

There are days when fish will bite any rubber worm you throw in the water.  There are other days where they seem to only bite Senkos.  Then, there are terrible days when they only seem to want to bite Purple-Elephant-with-Tangerine-Flake Senkos...

And, of course, those are the days when you just have Green Pumpkin Wack-e-stiks you bought on sale (like the rest of us). 

I think fishing line is similar.  Each line makes the likelihood of a successful presentation/hookup slightly higher in certain situations.  Clear water and skittish fish?  Yeah, that invisible fluoro leader might just explain why you're getting bit and I'm not.

But, I think that there are soooo many things going on when fish are considering whether to eat what you're casting (weather, pressure, current, clarity, temperature, mood, and on and on) it's unlikely that your choice of line is going to make the deciding difference very often.  It could, and it almost certainly WILL.  But not often.

Use what you're comfortable with... If you look at your baits in the water and think, "Yeah that just doesn't look edible", then change something - even if that means changing your line.

 

I fish in very, very, very clear New England waters... I think using leaderless braid there would lead to (a few) fewer bites.  But mono is good enough for me.