Fishing Line Colors: Best Colors, Worst Colors, & Fishing Line Mistakes
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
Ever wonder if the color of your fishing line matters?
There has been a ton of debate around fishing line color.
Can fish see your line?
Do fish really care?
Listen in as we dive into the world of fishing line colors and hear what we think about the different colors of line and which ones have performed best for us.
You can watch the video version of this podcast below, listen to the audio version by clicking the play button underneath it, or listen to it on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.
P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify and leave us a review!
Best Fishing Line Color [VIDEO]
Click here to join the Insider Club
Best Fishing Line Color [PODCAST]
Note: Don’t forget to subscribe to the Salt Strong podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify and leave us a review!
Click here to join the Insider Club
Related Podcasts:
- HOW TO FIND 90% OF ALL FEEDING FISH IN YOUR AREA (90/10 FISHING RULE)
- WHY MANY OF THE MOST REALISTIC SALTWATER LURES DON’T WORK…
Here’s a timestamped table of contents:
- 0:50 – Your connection to the fish
- 1:17 – Here’s what Wyatt uses and why
- 2:20 – Using colors to manage your line
- 3:12 – Sticking with what works for you
- 4:23 – Does color spook fish or is it your presentation?
- 5:02 – Many, many other factors go into what line is best
- 6:03 – Why Luke switched to hi-vis yellow
- 7:35 – Luke’s pink line (does it work?)
- 8:10 – Why Luke switched back from hi-vis yellow
- 10:08 – Are you confident in your line color?
- 11:15 – Fishing line colors in dirty water debate
- 13:02 – The over-analyzation of colored line
- 14:32 – Here’s the final verdict
- 15:26 – Pink vs clear leader line
- 16:29 – Refraction and reflection (why it matters)
- 18:19 – Abrasion resistance testing of line
- 20:45 – Tints of mono and if it makes a difference
- 22:30 – Do different depths of water require different colors of line?
- 24:18 – The offshore pelagic study
- 26:31 – Different variables in water color vs line color
- 27:53 – Should you use natural-looking colored line when fishing with live bait?
- 29:24 – Success is preparation plus luck
- 30:50 – Line diameter is super important
- 32:16 – Can bass find bait blindfolded?
- 35:50 – The benefits of lighter line
- 36:30 – Casting contest results that will shock you
- 39:34 – Leader line color final verdict
- 42:38 – Go with what you trust
- 42:52 – Don’t be over powered or you may end up under whelmed
Conclusion
Having the proper diameter and line strength absolutely plays a huge role in performance.
But, from our experience, color does not!
What’s your favorite color of fishing line?
Do you think line color makes a difference?
Let me know down in the comments!
And if you know someone who feels that line color is important, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
P.S. Want access to our best fishing spots and tips, plus discounts to our online tackle store? Click here to join us in the Insider Club!
Related articles:
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
I don’t think color has a lot to do with the fish seeing it or not, but it helps me to see where my line is. I also like to use different colors to designate line weight. I don’t have to label the reels with the weight to make sure I get the right one. Since I live in California with a variety of fishing available this could be a problem.
Luke in one of his videos, as I recall, recommended; Paul Johnson, The Scientific Angler, have you coaches read this book? Would love to hear a good review. We feel the scent trail and action of the lure presentation means more to the strikes. Your experienced opinions are appreciated and noted.
That book is great! Here’s a podcast we did about its section on scent trails: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/underwater-scents-that-attract-repel-fish/
On your recommendations I found a copy. Very carefully reading. Seeya
Here in Central America We use sabiki rigs to catch Pacific Green jacks!We alaways use a 20 foot grey mono leader ahead of the sabiki rig !We found it catches a lot more bait then fastening sabiki rig direct to braid!
Thanks for sharing the helpful intel
Does Saltstrong have a line “cheat sheet”. Type/size/color/brand to use in various situations?
Here’s a link to the cheat sheet for all inshore tackle needs (rods, reels, lines, and lures): https://www.saltstrong.com/fishing-tip/fishing-equipment-cheat-sheet/
I’ve been chartering for 10 years and I have found another reason for different colored lines, it’s so you can untangle the lines. Another reason for colored lines.
That makes a lot of sense
I am just getting to watch this and it is great info and kind of funny because me and my friend just had this conversation before we went fishing last weekend. I use a clear mono line and he was using a green braided line. We both caught some fish.
Great discussion guys! This was very helpful to me and I’m sure many others. Thanks guys!
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Monte!
Fished palm beach for 50 years trolling live bait offshore. I’ve used Ande tournament hi vis yellow exclusively before braid came and caught boat loads of tuna,dolfin,wahoo etc… For snapper it’s nothing but pink ande for me and I’ve had enough evidence to justify how effective it is due to my buddy who worships flouro. I see flouro as a waste of money.
I’ve also used all colors of braid. I love the mossy green p’pro but it’s awful hard to see at night and in low light and now use hi vis yellow p’pro because I can see it better with these old eyes and I still catch just as many fish.
Ps….I’m so old I remember when a 300yrd spool of pink ande was $3.25. It hurts my soul to pay $14 for a spool today.
Good vid. I’ve said before….I feel like you guys have fished w me for years…. so quit giving away my damn secrets !
j/k😄
Haha! Thanks so much for making time to leave the nice comment Rick.
Do you have a braid/leader recommendation for fishing Anclote River / canals with residential structure/docks, which can have pretty heavy current at times? I’ve been using 30lb braid with 40lb fluoro leader, and this video makes me think I’m too heavy and scaring fish with the line movement… however, to Luke’s point, I can’t go too light due to the current/structure.
I fish anclote these days and use strictly 10 to 20lb braid with mosrly 20lb leader or 40 to 60lb if I’m specifically looking for snook but 40 mainly. You really dont need 30lb test but stick w what works for you.
I remember one day fishing when I was a kid on my grandfather’s boat with his customers in the Chesapeake Bay for pan-sized stripers in a hole. I was using blue mono and catching nothing, everyone else was using clear mono and catching everything. He called out to me, told me to wind my line in and to hand him my rod. I did, he handed me another rod with clear mono, (just like everyone else was using) and I immediately started catching lots of fish, lol.
I now do more surf fishing here in Atlantic Beach, NC using Berkeley’s Trans Optic Mono Line, that has a gold sheen to it. It is amazing how many people walking the beach just stop when they see my rod and try and see the line and it takes them a few seconds to find it. I’ve had a few people say to me “Sorry, I just couldn’t see the line (if they walk into it) and I kind of laugh and say, “Well, that’s kind of the point right?” and we all get a good laugh lol.
Thanks for making time to share the helpful story Steve!