Red vs. Green

[8packs]

Have been fishing for the eyes now a few years and have been reading more and more about colors of beads and lures. What about the line color? Have been using lo-vis green in the past but recently been reading about the cajun red. Articles read that they see red better than green would this hurt you or help in your opinions ? Which line would be less visible to see I know this depends on water clarity and other factors or is there any truth to trying to hide your line as best as possible when using a lindy rig set up.

[PerchJerker]

I wouldn't want the fish to see my line. I use low vis or flourocarbon for my live bait rigs. I've used the cajun red line on a buddy's trolling reels and didn't care for it.

[LocalGuide]

Well here goes my opinion.

Red line will work good in situations that the water is red colored. Since then the line will blend right into the back ground light. Its tough to pick up something small and red with a lot of red around it.

Then your more "high-vis" or green colored lines work fine in green water for the same reason.

The same goes for clear line.

So thats just my take on how your line is going to be visible vs invisible.

How the walleyes take it? Well thats up to them!

[Magneto]

Like human eyes, fish eyes have a cornea, iris, lens and retina, the latter containing rods and cones. Rods are used for night vision, so night feeders like walleyes, as expected, have more rods than day feeders. Cones allow for color vision, so fish can see color in varying degrees. Salmon and rainbow trout have a highly developed color viewing system. According to Lynn Frederick of the University of Wisconsin’s Sea Grant Program, "They can distinguish complimentary colors and up to 24 spectral hues." This is why males, some who become brightly colored during the spawn, are more recognizable to females.

Seeing color is one thing, but knowing how that color stands out in water, which is much denser than air, is the next step in interpreting why fish are attracted to certain colors. That same Sea Grant study reports that various colors displace differently in water. For example, red, which has the longest color wavelength, is usually the first to disappear, being visible to only 15-20 feet in clear water and only a few inches in murky water. After red comes orange, which remains visible up to 40 feet, then yellow to 70 feet. Blue and green are visible as deep as light penetrates.

FWIW

Mike

[CrappieJohn]

8packs....

Welcome to FishingMinnesota.com!

I just use a good quality, clear line. No colors or conditions to worry about and it is the ulimate at blending in.

[Muddog]

What would a fish think the line is? Something that the bait is eating? I know a fish wouldn't think a fisherman is at the end of it. I just don't think fish can think like that.

I would say it all depends on what you want the line to do. Are you jiging? Trolling?

What kind of definition do fish see in? From what I understand a fish is more apt the feel the line cutting thru the water or hear the line then see it.

I know with out my reading glasses I have a vary hard time seeing 4lb fireline and I'm not underwater.

[Magneto]

Well I'm certainly no expert, but I do know a thing or two about light and colors. After all I'm a photographer by trade. As I understand it, we (humans) see in far greater detail, but fish see more wavelengths of light, and as a trout fisherman I'm pretty sure those fish see color real well. If trout can see a size 32 midge (really, really tiny bug) floating on the water, I'd say they see detail almost as good, because I can't see them. Walleye on the other hand would have to see pretty well at depths were light is somewhat dim, so I'd bet they can see the line, but what they make of it is anyones guess.

[Muddog]

Why yes light is color. On the surface all light is present.

I'm sure your nymph or what ever you are using at the time is causing a ripple on the surface too.

Being red-Green color blind (I can tell the color of stop lights) I can tell you I'm at no disadvantage on a overcast day.

I have done some diving. At noon color is brite on a clear day but when the sun hits 45 degrees color goes away fast. All that glare is light (color) that is not penetrating the surface. The one thing that dosn't go away is the sound. Underwater is a vary noisy place.

I do agree with you. But hey your getting fish to eat deer hair, feathers and steel and they think it's a bug.

[NWBuck]

Well...I'll give you some "field trial" data. I needed some Fireline for a new trolling reel. I was passing by Cabela's, so I darted in, grabbed what I thought was 10 lb. black, and hit the road. Got home to put it on, and found out it was PINK! It sat in my tackle box for over a year (no self respecting walleye would hit a lure tied to PINK line) until I snapped off most of my black line while trolling cranks on Rainy. Pink has to be better than not fishing, so here we go. Long story short, in the course of 3 more days fishing, there was NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE in quantity or quality of fish caught on the pink line vs. black on another rod. This was true for both walleyes and pike. Now, it may be different if I'd been using the line on a live bait rig, but on crankbaits, it just didn't matter. My 2 cents...

[slick814]

After asking this same question, I came to the following conclusion.

Cajun Red works great in stained water, as previously stated. I use it as a leader for Lindy rigging. For jigging, I go with either black Fireline or Berkley Vanish Transition, depending on the water clarity, etc.

Spinner rigs get different colors, depending on the body of water, but usually a clear line.

It seems to me that this is one of those questions that we all ask, most have opinions on, but none have truly scientific proof of which is best. Comes down to what you're most comfortable with, and have success with, IMHO.

[Big G]

Line color doesn't mean a dang thing for interfering with catching fish.

A dang walleye swims into a gill net, yet people are worried about line color?????

Who ya teasn'?????

[LocalGuide]

Lol, its those intelligent walleyes that swim around the gill nets that Im after!