Sharpie your line?

[Bazoo]

I've heard Roland Martin, and a few others, say to color about a foot of your line with a sharpie to camouflage it. I have done it occasionally, but I don't think it matters. Does anyone here do this and think it really helps?

 

I wonder if the smell of the sharpie could be a fish attractant, rather than the color of the line making any difference.

[Dan N]

I have at times. I feel like on a clear bright day, lighter color braid might actually be better against a bright background. In any kind of stained or dirty water, I don’t think it really makes a difference. I’m not convinced a bass has any clue of line anyway. Maybe in very clear water.

[WRB]

Bill Murphy colored his mono line with a series of dashes to help his line blend into the background. Was it necessary? It mattered to Bill.

Tom 

[Team9nine]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

Bill Murphy colored his mono line with a series of dashes to help his line blend into the background. Was it necessary? It mattered to Bill.

Tom 

…and Doug Hannon, too 👍

[Backroad Angler]

I've been thinking about this as well, Roland Martin is one of my idols for fishing and always thought about the black sharpie trick.

[Pogues2300]

27 minutes ago, WRB said:

Bill Murphy colored his mono line with a series of dashes to help his line blend into the background. Was it necessary? It mattered to Bill.

Tom 

I think just confidence in how you fish may matter the most.

[fishhugger]

no way i'd bother with the sharpie trick. who ya gonna listen to, me or roland martin?

but...........  i figure it's a detail thing... like, details matter, and to mr martin, i guess it sure did. 

[Pogues2300]

51 minutes ago, WRB said:

Bill Murphy colored his mono line with a series of dashes to help his line blend into the background. Was it necessary? It mattered to Bill.

Tom 

Wrb I  like how well rounded you are and thanks for all the info

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The problem with these little tricks is it’s almost impossible to prove or disprove. The confidence factor is the tie breaker imo. 

[Bazoo]

Interesting, thanks everyone for sharing their insight.

[scbassin]

Daiwa J-Fluoro Samurai Hidden Concept Camo Fluorocarbon Line 220 Yards  This is easier.

[Catt]

If you’re fishing water that has absolutely nothing floating around in it then maybe. 

 

Everywhere I fish has Hydrilla, Coontail, Milfoil, lily pads, water hyacinth, reeds, brush, timber, Cypress trees, ect.

 

I highly doubt any bass can pick my line out of that mess.

[LrgmouthShad]

I sharpie my braid when it starts to get faded. I agree it’s just a confidence thing

[Reel]

Why would black be less visible than say brown or green ... or even tan or yellow.  Plants and floating debris are all colors.

 

Why would a coloured fluoro be less visible than a clear fluoro ??? Clear fluoro is supposed to have almost the same refractive index as water.  Wouldn't coloring it do the opposite... make it more visible. ? 

[r83srock]

I agree with the thought that if you think it matters then it probably does.

 

I can see flouro in clear water on a bright sunny day. Maybe a sharpie on flouro would help it camouflage with the water you are fishing haha.

[MickD]

There are other colors of sharpies than just black.  I think the idea of intermittent color changes on line is that something with a broken color (like camoflage clothing) might be less visible or attention getting to fish that a solid straight line.  As DVT says, cannot be proven.  

[Reel]

38 minutes ago, r83srock said:

I agree with the thought that if you think it matters then it probably does.

 

I can see flouro in clear water on a bright sunny day. Maybe a sharpie on flouro would help it camouflage with the water you are fishing haha.

I can also see braid ( even  the one coloured black) and mono in clear water on bright sunny day.  I like the intermitent colour suggestion.

[12poundbass]

I’ve done it for years. I typically use high vis braid though. Recently I’ve been using Seaguar Bassx line on a few of my setups, and that’s a camo pattern. 

[Bazoo]

Thank you all for the conversation. It’s something that I’ve done and thought about for a while. But I don’t do it religiously and can’t say it boosts my confidence or not.

[scaleface]

I was trying to catch a bass uner a dock at Table Rock using a plastic crawfish on a round head jig. It showed interest but would not commit. I did the Doug Hannon" sharpie trick and caught that bass first try. Maybe it was the difference maybe not. 

[Dan N]

I used to be worried about fish seeing braid, but this summer started throwing swim jigs a lot on straight braid, and my mind is quickly changing. In darker water for sure at least. Still not sure about super clear water. Although I have caught some on straight braid. And that’s in water I can see bottom at 14 feet.

[Bazoo]

I think bass hear the line and get spooked by the sound more than the sight of the line. 

[GRiver]

10 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I think bass hear the line and get spooked by the sound more than the sight of the line. 

This is why I don’t like braid, I can hear it going thur the eyes. Whrrrrrrr! 

Remember the string and the tin can telephone? How it transmits the sound along the string, do ya think maybe the fish can hear it too, or at least sense it thru their lateral line. 
Now I know I’ve caught plenty of fish on straight braid, but maybe a confidence thing like putting sharpie your line thing.

[Tennessee Boy]

This falls in the category of can’t hurt and might help.  I do it but not religiously.  
 

One thing I’ve looked into is alcohol based markers.  They are preferred by artists and come in a wide variety of colors.  You can buy a pack of nature tone colors that have a variety of greens and browns that would be perfect for adding a camo pattern to the line.   I haven’t tried them because I’m afraid the alcohol in the marker could damage the line.  I’ve thought about buying  some and doing some testing but haven’t gotten around to it.

 

Any chemists out there have an opinion on this?

[ChrisD46]

I might color braid with a fat green color sharpie to restore the braid color a bit - but that's about it .