Line color

[Ely Lake Expert]

I am just curious. What does everyone think about the affect of different color lines for catching different kinds of fish?

I personally won't fish walleyes with bright green line (yellow). I seriously think that is it a deterent to them when it is tyed to your hook without a liter. For other species, I guess I don't know. I always try to use clear line.

Ely lake expert

[Guest]

Having grown up in pre-monofilament days, when a guy was in hog heaven if he could afford to buy Gladding braided nylon line (all strength tests in uniform black), I am one who believes line color to be largely irrelevant.

But, most of my monofilaments are clear, with the exception of Stren in a coffee brown, and Berkeley Big Game in green.

For super braids, I prefer Berkeley Whiplash in green.

[Guest]

Wow -- I know guys who are absolutely fanatic about line color. No opinions on this besides mine?

How about some input.

[Guest]

Wow -- I know guys who are absolutely fanatic about line color. No opinions on this besides mine?

How about some input.

[Guest]

When fishing in faily clear water I would chose a color of line to match the color of the water to make it less visible to fish,however I have seen only a few instances where line visibitlity made a diference in catch ratios by two guys using the same baits with different line.I usually spool up with the low vis green,if I feel that the fish are likely to be spooked.Or I attach a flourocarbon leader.I have never heard of an instance of where the line was actually an attractor but I am sure that in some cases it could happen.
Hi vis color line is great for detecting bites when a tight line is a disadvantage(pitching light jigs in cross current)or as my brother has shown me fishing plastics for bass.

[KING]

I definately would not be afraid of the bright green line. If you watch any of the tournament anglers you will see the bright stuff on most all of their jigging rods. Watching your line sometimes is the only way to detect light bites or bites from fish feeding up. If the bright line makes you nervous tie on a 18" flourocarbon leader. I think the application of the various types of line for the technique you are using is more important than color in most, but not all, cases.

[delmuts]

i agree that line colors depends more on preference. i use solar xt as much as i can. (wish they still made it in the 2lb.) do use braided on several rods,but mostly for throwing lures and toothy critters. have a hard time seeing most of the clear lines ;helpful when fishing alot of small jigs for panfish.my son uses clear and i use solar. haven't noticed much difference in catch ratios. del

[Guest]

OK...Here is my theory on line color.

Fish have brains the size of a pea. They have no concept of line and have no idea what is on the other end. Get any good quality line be it, clear, green or purple. You can catch a fish on rope if you could feel it hit.

Colored line does have applications as to the abilty of the fisherman to detect hits by seeing line movement.

Line size usually means much more but that is over rated too for most fishing applications. Line diameter gives the lure a different action depending on the displacement properties of the line in the water.... rate of fall, ability of the bait to fight against it or the depth that your lure will travel blah blah blah.

Next topic... presenting a crawler "naturally".

------------------
Kevin Neve's Devils Lake Guide Service
fishingminnesota.com/kevin-neve-guiding/
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 701-473-5411 or 701-351-4989
Minnewaukan ND

[Fathead]

Hello Yall,

When talking about line color, one factor is "what are my choices for the method of fishing and style of line I want to use"? What I mean is...
When I want to fish Lindy rigs, I am usually targeting neutral to negative fish. I firmly believe that line size and color make a difference! I usually use a 4 or 6 lb clear or lo-vis green line, like vanish or stren magna-thin.

When I am fishing slip bobbers, I took the advise from PWT Norb Wallock. He suggests to use Solar XT (Brt grn) for your main line and connect a 3'or 4' lo vis mono (4# or 6# test) for a leader. The solar xt is absolutely great for picking up line of site from the rod to the bobber and for visually reducing slack before you make your hookset. It is also great for night fishing if you have a blacklight on board (it illuminates).

For crankbait fishing, I use a 10/2 superbraid by PowerPro. It has 10# test strength in a 2# diameter. It works well for getting your cranks down a little deeper than mono and it doesnt have the stretch, so it telegraphs the fish strike much better. Not to mention if your crank is fouled with weeds, etc. But one thing I additionally do is add a 4' no-stretch leader of 10' vanish to make the presentation look more natural.

If anyone has further input of suggestions that I might experiment with let me know! I am always up for learning new and better ways!

[Guest]

Kevin Neve --

You make lots of good sense to me. How often we forget that fish are NOT rational, thinking beings. (Of course, if we can convince folks that fish are smart, we can excuse ourselves when we don't produce.)

One myth I particularly like is the notion fish have seen a lure so often they "know" not to strike. Hogwash!

[Guest]

I have to disagree with Kevin...

When it comes to Crappies and Bluegills especially, line thickness makes all the difference in the world.

2lb test will outfish 4lb, 4lb will outfish 6 lb, and so on and so forth.

Fish don't feed if things don't seem quite right...They will approach the bait, but may get leary or spooked.

Even when fish are really active, lighter line still outproduces heavy line, at least in my experience.

I fish without a leader when fishing Walleyes, and I also re-tie after every other fish...And I do lose alot more jigs...But I feel I benefit productivity that much more to make it worth my while to not use a leader on my line, and lose a couple extra jigs as a result.

Got off the topic somewhat... As far as line color, I use clear mono 99% of the time.

Loosen the drag a little and let em' play some.

Good fishing,

PCG

[This message has been edited by Pro Crappie Guide (edited 03-28-2002).]

[Guest]

I agree with Procrappie. The fish don't know what line is or what is on the other end but they can tell that it does not look like what they are used to eating.

Before I started fly fishing for trout I didn't believe that line size or color made a difference. There is no doubt that it makes a difference with trout and my success with walleyes has also improved since I started to use the smallest diameter line possible.

[Guest]

For those of you who believe I said line diameter doesn't matter, re-read my post especially paragraph three (3). It just does not matter for the reasons we believe it matters. It could matter to as how your bait is presented. A fish still can feel the presence of your line through the lateral line even if they do not see it.

Most folks give to much credit to the fish. Why does a fish hit a chunk of hard plastic with 6 hooks ticking out of it?

No emperical data exists that suggest most of the myths we have in regard to catching fish and what is going on between a fishes "ears" are even remotely accurate. Something such as line lenght and diameters effect on lure depth while trolling we do know, but that tells us nothing to as why a fish reacts.

Next topic...jig color.

------------------
Kevin Neve's Devils Lake Guide Service
fishingminnesota.com/kevin-neve-guiding/
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 701-473-5411 or 701-351-4989
Minnewaukan ND