Suffix Fluorescent Line For Carolina Rig

[Abu Vasili]

Hi everyone,

I found some ultra bright fluorescent orange line (30 lbs braided) in my basement the other day. I was thinking that it would be pretty cool to have this as my main line on my Carolina Rig, however, I am extremely leary of the bright color. Does anyone know if the main line color on a Carolina Rig can have an effect on the fishing? I still want to be able to catch fish on the Carolina Rig... Typically I use spider wire low vis green with a 12 lbs Vanish fluorocarbon leader.

[Grey Wolf]

It shouldn't have an ill effect.

[Abu Vasili]

It shouldn't have an ill effect.

I appreciate your post, however, I am looking for something with a little more information. Will the bright colored main line deter fish even when using a leader?

[Grey Wolf]

I appreciate your post, however, I am looking for something with a little more information. Will the bright colored main line deter fish even when using a leader?

No it will have no effect especially with a leader attached , especially a long leader. I hope that's detailed enough for you , if not

[Abu Vasili]

No it will have no effect especially with a leader attached , especially a long leader. I hope that's detailed enough for you , if not

haha awesome! I really appreciate it. I think this stuff would be awesome for the Carolina rig, I still dont know if am confident enough to try using it though. I still think it may have an affect depending on water clarity.... usually i am fishing really murky waters.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'd say line visibility can be an issue in gin clear water when fish are negative. I'm not convinced that color, as we see it, translates directly to visibility by fish. In a heavy tackle setup more typical of braided line applications it's more important for me to see the line than the fish not to. I see a lot of bites that I'd never have felt.

[TommyBass]

No matter what, line color almost always matters. As I see it there is really no reason to NOT play it safe. When your talking about a carolina rig, yes you do have a leader in any length you choose. However, most of the bites you get are going to occur because you drug your lure TO the fish. So before your lure gets there, obviously, your leader is going to have been through there first. Will that effect the fish enough to make it not bite? Who knows... But in a whole days fishing even if it effects only 1 or 2 fish, thats 1 or 2 too many, especially in a tournament.

No one really knows exactly what extent bass see what colors and what depths... but I'd almost guarentee its no worse than grayscale... and even colored lines show up differently in grayscale than their clear counterparts.

I've never really got the point in using leaders in most scenarios anyway. Your setup is only as strong as its weakest link... so attaching 15lb flouro to 50lb braid dosnt give you 50lb strength.... you might as well be using all flouro. The only benefit I can possibly see is visbility to the fisherman (which most bass fisherman arnt usuing fluorescent colored line anyway). And in this scenario with the Carolina Rig, your waiting too long to set the hook if your waiting to see your line swimming... that fish has already felt your egg weight by then.

In summary... fun fishing, no I wouldn't really worry about it that much unless its uber-clear water... but if thers any bragging rights or tournament on the line I wouldnt risk it... at all.

[bigbassctchr101]

Fish do see color...They have the same components that we have that allows them to see colors. No, we do not KNOW the extent at which they can see. But, colors are determined by the amount of light that is reflected or absorbed by the object. Which would in turn mean that, no matter what color a certain object is in light, when it loses enough light it will go through a grey stage then eventually black when there is no light to be reflected. Sometimes guys do fish C-rigs in shallow water, but usually it is used for deeper appilications. Reds, orange, yellows, will lose their colors first (all at different depths "light penetration levels")...Flourescent factors may make a bit of difference, but all in all it will still follow the same spectrum. So, if you are fishing this rig deeper than the light can effectively penetrate to make it reflect its orange color, it will be grey...to us and to fish. I have seen color charts that give decent examples of water depth and clarity for colors...I am a diver so I have seen it first hand, but I believe some diving websites actually show some examples.

I can see why someone would use a leader with no question when it comes to braid... I hate using braid (mostly because of the areas I fish it), but when I gave it my several test periods I could feel the bottom and strikes significantly better. But it does create weak points, even with a strong knot; the knot or a knick in your line will HAVE to be your weakest link. There is no way around that, but if your fishing, you will always have a weak link with any line. So you just have to measure your trade off in sensitivity with more knots, or less knots but with less sensitivity. People go both ways.