Most invisable line for leaders?

[James Pondscum]

For leaders  I have bought pline floro or floroclear as it appears to have more of a translucent look then other brands of mono, copoly  or floro.  Any others  that seem very clear.  Any others I should look at?

[WRB]

Do you want the line hard for you to see or fish to see?

Bass are not line shy fish like trout are for example. The line diameter and stiffness may have an affect on lure action or live bait movement and both do affect a basses reaction to a lure or bait. Putting a leader on braid for another example is more of a angler preference than bass.

Sunline sniper clear is clear, my preference tends to be green line so I can see it better with my polarized sunglasses.

Tom

[IndianaFinesse]

Try Tatsu floro, it is nearly invisible (at least to humans) and has the best abrasion resistance and lowest memory of an floro I have ever tried.  But if the water is stained I would recommend green colored line as it blends in better.

[roadwarrior]

Well, I am a HUGE fan of Tatsu, but for stained water Yo-Zuri Hybrid Smoke or Purple Smoke blends perfectly.

 

[Fishes in trees]

The most invisible line for fluorocarbon leaders is fluorocarbon leader line.   It is a specialty line, usually available in 30 yard ( or less) spools and it is strictly for leaders.  It doesn't cast well - it is a lot stiffer than regular fluorocarbon - even in the 2 lb class.   However it is much more abrasion resistant and nearly invisible under water.  I use it quite a bit.   

For instance - for jerk baits, I will use 15 lb fluorocarbon leader connected to 14 or so lb braid.   A short leader - never longer than a foot and a half. generally less.  I don't line the sound of the knot going through the guides, so I reel up to just before the knot and cast like that.

I use spinning gear for my tx rig senko/fluke rig.   Same deal 15 or 20 fluorocarbon leader connected to the braid.  This rig I'll use an even shorter leader, less than a foot.   Reel up to the knot and cast where ever.    I have some 8 and 10  lb fluorocarbon leader in the boat, but I seldom use it.  15 lb seems to work for what I want to do with it.

As I mentioned previously, this is a specialized line for use in leaders only.   A BPS I generally find it in the fly fishing section.   At Cabelas, I never can find it and so I ask the help, "Where did you put the fluorocarbon leader stuff this time?"   Then they find it for me.

I've never been in any local tackle shop that carries it, but I haven't been in very many local fly fishing shops either.

There is a learning curve to gaining competency in tying knots with this stuff.   Use lots of slobber - take your time and be careful when snugging it up.  Have very sharp scissors to trim tight after it is completely snug.

There you go - all you need to know about the most invisible fluorocarbon leaders you can get.  

[Team9nine]

17 hours ago, nickles said:

Most invisible line for leaders?

For leaders  I have bought pline floro or floroclear as it appears to have more of a translucent look then other brands of mono, copoly  or floro.  Any others  that seem very clear.  Any others I should look at?

So the simple answer to your question is 100% fluorocarbon leaders will be the "most invisible" compared to mono/nylon, copolys, hybrids, etc. Throw out the floroclear because it's not pure fluorocarbon, so it couldn't be the most "invisible.". Beyond that, all 100% fluorocarbons will be the same. So while the resins used and the extrusion process by brand may make certain lines seem to have a tint, the refractive index of 100% fluorocarbon is a constant and cannot be altered. As such, one can't be "more invisible" than another.

-T9

[Fishin' Fool]

46 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

So the simple answer to your question is 100% fluorocarbon leaders will be the "most invisible" compared to mono/nylon, copolys, hybrids, etc. Throw out the floroclear because it's not pure fluorocarbon, so it couldn't be the most "invisible.". Beyond that, all 100% fluorocarbons will be the same. So while the resins used and the extrusion process by brand may make certain lines seem to have a tint, the refractive index of 100% fluorocarbon is a constant and cannot be altered. As such, one can't be "more invisible" than another.

-T9

I agree with what you are saying but I wonder if all refractive indexes are the same? What is their QC process for tolerance? Good thinking though. I am a forensic scientist and that is one of the comparison tests they do for fiber analysis. Does it have the same refractive index?

[WRB]

After fishing with 100% FC line since the mid 90's or 20 years and using Nylon mono for over 50 years, I can state without reservation there isn't any catch rate differences for bass related to line visibility. Bass strike lures using either FC or mono line at the same rate.

For me the only advantage FC offers is less drag coefficient going through water resulting in slightly better contact with underwater lures like jigs and worms, due to less slack or bow in the line when making long cast into deeper water. The disadvantage with all brands of FC is reduced knot strength compared to mono.

If you are adding a leader to braid use mono for better knot and abrasion strength.

Tom

 

[Team9nine]

On 3/21/2016 at 12:52 PM, Fishin' Fool said:

I agree with what you are saying but I wonder if all refractive indexes are the same? What is their QC process for tolerance? Good thinking though. I am a forensic scientist and that is one of the comparison tests they do for fiber analysis. Does it have the same refractive index?

While there are several different ways to measure refractive index depending upon material, most national labs would follow strict guidelines and protocols such as those issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Machines have to be calibrated using similar protocols and fall within specific tolerances, and companies (Cargille Labs, etc.) supply a variety of refractive index liquids which serve as certified materials for such calibrations and analysis. So while there could be some variation I suppose based upon who does the measurement and how, it is considered a physical property that shouldn't have variation when tested properly under/at specific conditions.

 

[Team9nine]

24 minutes ago, WRB said:

After fishing with 100% FC line since the mid 90's or 20 years and using Nylon mono for over 50 years, I can state without reservation there isn't any catch rate differences for bass related to line visibility. Bass strike lures using either FC or mono line at the same rate.

For me the only advantage FC offers is less drag coefficient going through water resulting in slightly better contact with underwater lures like jigs and worms, due to less slack or bow in the line when making long cast into deeper water. The disadvantage with all brands of FC is reduced knot strength compared to mono.

Tom

 

I agree, Tom. I think the OP's question falls more under a discussion of theoretical versus practical.

-T9

[WRB]

The bottom line is we do not know how the bass brain interprets the wave lengths the eye send. What is unknown are spectrums the human can detect and brain interprets in good light and somehow compare rods and cones that appear similar to in some like fish like bass.  

What tests on FC light refraction has been done in infrared or ultra violet wave lengths that some fish and birds see that the human can't detect? 

The proof is in the pudding, the important important factor is catch rates per man hour fished....

Tom

[HeavyTwenty]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

After fishing with 100% FC line since the mid 90's or 20 years and using Nylon mono for over 50 years, I can state without reservation there isn't any catch rate differences for bass related to line visibility. Bass strike lures using either FC or mono line at the same rate.

Off topic, but have you noticed any difference with fishing straight braid versus mono/fluoro? Earlier in the week I had some baby bass attacking my braided line because they thought it was a top water bug or something. It just had me wondering if line ever spook fish.

[WRB]

All types of line will cut a V at the surface, the baby bass are curious and looking for the bug making the wake. I use the V as a strike indicator when fishing jigs and worms.

Having growing up fishing braid in the 50's, the only time I use braid now is in very heavy cover and not a fan of braided line.

Tom

 

 

[Fishin' Fool]

15 hours ago, WRB said:

All types of line will cut a V at the surface, the baby bass are curious and looking for the bug making the wake. I use the V as a strike indicator when fishing jigs and worms.

Having growing up fishing braid in the 50's, the only time I use braid now is in very heavy cover and not a fan of braided line.

Tom

 

 

So what type of line are you using then?

[WRB]

13 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

So what type of line are you using then?

Braid: Fins 60 lb, green, heavy cover flipping or punching.

Mono: Berkley Big Game 12 lb, green, crank baits, top water and spinner baits.

Sunline Defier Nylon 25 lb  Swimbaits, glide baits, rats and wake baits.

FC: Sunline Super Sniper, green, 6 lb (spinning)  10 lb, 12 lb and 14 lb (casting jigs and worms.

Tom

[fisherrw]

id use fc sniper for most leaders