So many choices now days...
Lots and lots of choices at your local tackle shop when it comes to lines and line color. Used to be when we pretty much only threw monofilament, you could choose either clear, green or fluorescent blue. Yes, there was that golden colored line, but I’m not certain I ever saw any bassers on my local waters throwing it. Seeing as how you could spot such an angler from across the lake, it would have been pretty obvious. Lots of crappie guys bought it though.
Now with the advent of braids, fluorocarbon and copoly lines, you’ve got options like smoke, red, white, yellow and, lets just say, ‘clearer than clear’ in the case of fluorocarbon.
There was an interesting test done at Oklahoma State University where they tested bass to see if they could differentiate the color of monofilament lines in a laboratory setting. They started with braids to get the fish trained since they believed braids could more easily be seen by the bass, and then moved them onto monofilaments after they passed the first hurdle. All the lines used in the testing were 8 pound test, what we’d probably consider a finesse line now days and about as small as most bass anglers probably use on a routine basis. Turns out most all bass could be taught to discriminate between colors, especially when yellow lines were involved. An interesting quote from the research:
- The high percentage of responses to “reward lines” in the 1-strand phases argues further that these fish were using hue and brightness cues in making line choices.
Along a similar theme, if you’ve read Berkley scientist Dr. Keith Jones’ book “Knowing Bass“, there was some fascinating research presented as relates to color vision in largemouth bass. From the text:
- As the spectrum reaches a point in its shift from green to blue, bass’s color vision seems to fade out entirely. Beyond this point, blues and purples, and to some extent dark shades of green and brown, are interpreted by bass simply as “dark.” Very strong shades of dark red have the same effect.
A theory advanced based upon this premise suggests that perhaps one reason so many bass anglers used the fluorescent blue lines effectively over the years was because bass actually didn’t see them as fluorescent blue like we do, but instead as just a shade of dark with no significant color attached to it. I know one of the best bass sticks on my local reservoir threw nothing but 17# and 20# fluorescent blue mono and took a lot of guys’ money ona regular basis for years.
So how many of you have switched over to fluorocarbon, and does it have anything to do with line color or invisibility?
Who throws mostly braids or monos, and what colors do you prefer?
Is there anybody out there throwing those “solar” or hi-vis yellow lines successfully?
Is it all just angler psychology, or do you take a good back seat whoopin’ if you throw a line too easily seen on your home waters?
8 Comments
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Jeff Hahn
November 21, 2011 at 9:28 am
I’ve seen fluorocarbon make a big difference in catch rates on Lake Erie when compared to clear mono. However, I’ve never seen a measurable difference between the two in stained water. And, in thick cover, there seems to be no difference among heavy mono/fluoro/braid. Hey, if bass will hit the A-rig, with its heavy wires, snaps, etc., I doubt line color makes a huge difference in most circumstances. But, that might not stop some pro from saying that they fish their A-Rig only on the fluoro made by their line sponsor!
Texaginian
November 21, 2011 at 9:28 am
Throwing 10lb PP yellow braid for mainline, various leaders, caught all manner of freshwater fish with that combo.
Baitcasters – 17lb red mono (because I have to use what I have in “stock”, or live in doghouse), 8lb green mono.
Caught 5 lber on Friday using the 8lb green, caught a 3.5 lber using the red mono week before.
See more activity on braid + leader, and 8 lb green mono. Saw good activity on fluorescent blue when I used it, too.
admin (mostly Jay)
November 21, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Green or clear for me if possible. To me they look the most like stuff in the water. Re: fluorescent lines, I’ll never use ’em. Fo sho the bass see light, that has a lot of light. Brian, did your buddy fish deep or…?
Brian
November 21, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Nope, 10′ and less year round, and mostly with slow baits (worms and jigs). Our waters do stay stained, typically 1′-3′ visibility. Night fishing is a big deal on certain lakes around here in the summer, and those hi-vis blue lines glow like the dickens under a blacklight. Definitely a major sight advantage to the fishermen using them in pitch black conditions. I think guys just keep tossing the same rigs during the daytime to avoid having to reline constantly or keep 2 sets of gear available all the time 🙂
BryanT
November 21, 2011 at 2:23 pm
I have taken my cousin an dad out on the great lakes numerous times. They both have thrown 20lb braid and have caught fish and big fish. I myself exclusively use flourocarbon. I did catch more, but that was probably more attributed to experience than line. So no clue if it matters to fish as much as it does to me.
On Geneva though a small really clear glacial lake, line had played a roll, even deep (35+ fow). That we braid vs flo. I will say though braid got bit, but only by the brown fish.
Red3213
November 21, 2011 at 3:14 pm
I have a buddy that took out clubs angler of the year this year and he uses nothing but 30lb braid in green. However, when we fish in the same boat (I use Floro) I catch 2 to 3 times more fish than him. Example, we fished a few weeks ago, throwing the same bait, the only difference is the line and the person on the end. I caught 13 fish and he caught 3.
I believe line has a lot to do with your success on the water but timing and LUCK out weights your line choice tremendously. IMO.
Chad Keogh
November 21, 2011 at 6:22 pm
I think it matters more to anglers than it does to bass. When I started fishing bass tournaments more seriously, I started using Mustad UL Max dark green co-polymer line. I used it in clear water and in stained water and caught bass no problem.
Once the Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon came out I started to think, “Maybe I’d catch even more bass if I use that stuff.” I now use 100% Fluoro on my baitcasters as my main lines, and use leaders of varying lengths on my spinning rod lines.
I don’t catch more fish, but I feel more confident with it…
Chris
February 6, 2012 at 4:21 pm
I have been bass fishin since the days when the only choice in line was if you bought brand B, or brand S. Since then I have tried every different combination possible. What works best for me is yellow braid with a 100% clear fluro leader. It is easy for me to see each little jump of the yellow braid, and I don’t believe the bass can see the braid several feet away from the bait. What I do consider as a possible negative is the difference in sink rates of the different lines and what effect that has on line selection and the amount of weight used.