Fly line color... do you think fish care?

[Josh]

Futzing about on the internet looking for a new floating 3wt line while having my morning cuppa, I started thinking far more than I should have about line color. Like most of us, I've fished just about every color offered. And if I think about it, I can't say that any have been better or worse for me as far as catch rates. Honestly, my mediocre casting and presentation are far FAR more of a problem.

Still, in the interest of giving ourselves every advantage, I thought I'd bring it up...

Do you think fish care about line color?

 

[Zak]

Good question. Most of my lines are dull dark olive. I recently bought a new SA floating line and the head is bright green/chartreuse. It seems pretty garish to me. I'm interested how people will respond to this question.

 

[SilverFly]

If it mattered, I would think lighter would be better in a floating line. Less contrast viewed against the sky as viewed from below?

 

[krusty]

Don't know about how it affects fish...but I like to clearly see my floating lines.

 

[MGdriver]

I dont think fish can cast! I gotta stop the mid day drinking!

 

[Mossback]

For floating no...
For sinking perhaps at times.

Reality :

Fish are not exactly MENSA members.

 

[_WW_]

Less contrast viewed against the sky as viewed from below?

For floating lines I think they all look dark from underneath against a light sky...at least that is what I heard from a snorkeler.

 

[Nick Clayton]

I've never seen anything in the fishing I've done to make me think it makes one lick of difference.

I'm sure there exists a fishery or scenario somewhere in the world where it might, but I haven't encountered it.

 

[Divad]

I’m with others that floating color probably doesn’t matter. Not long ago I dyed an SA MPX line olive and also have one that’s still Optic Green. I don’t see any difference in the dyed line as far as rises for my drys or bobber takedowns. It’s vastly harder to see the olive.

I’ve watched smb snap at my looped end of a full sink brown/black line however. They don’t do it when I use a clear intermediate line but I can’t get as deep. I do wonder if a brighter white/blue full sink would prevent this action but many brands make their full sinks in dark colors.

 

[Stimson]

Ok a few years ago when I jig and bobbered for steelhead, I was very successful. I exclusively used yellow 40lb power pro and white 6" dink floats. My eyesight isn't the best, so that would be the reason for using such a visible setup. I needed to be able to see the line so I would know when to mend. Many fish were caught using a 7' or less leader length. So the fish would be able to see both the line and the bobber. I even had 2 years of 100 c&r. In my opinion, they don't see it. I don't use fluorocarbon leader for the same reason. All of my j&b fishing I used 8lb ultragreen. Rarely broke off and I caught a ton of fish using that line/bobber/leader setup.
My main dry fly rod has bright orange line, again ultragreen only for leader. Caught more than my fair share of fish.

 

[Tom Butler]

I've never seen anything in the fishing I've done to make me think it makes one lick of difference.

I'm sure there exists a fishery or scenario somewhere in the world where it might, but I haven't encountered it.

Pretty much what I was thinking.

Ok a few years ago when I jig and bobbered for steelhead, I was very successful. I exclusively used yellow 40lb power pro and white 6" dink floats. My eyesight isn't the best, so that would be the reason for using such a visible setup. I needed to be able to see the line so I would know when to mend. Many fish were caught using a 7' or less leader length. So the fish would be able to see both the line and the bobber. I even had 2 years of 100 c&r. In my opinion, they don't see it. I don't use fluorocarbon leader for the same reason. All of my j&b fishing I used 8lb ultragreen. Rarely broke off and I caught a ton of fish using that line/bobber/leader setup.
My main dry fly rod has bright orange line, again ultragreen only for leader. Caught more than my fair share of fish.

I just use SA freshwater or ultragreen, works fine. For me seeing the line/leader and how it's fishing is important as well.

 

[RCF]

Fish only care when there is a loop at the end of the fly line.

 

[SurfnFish]

would think the fly line itself floating overhead is far more disturbing than whatever color it is...'don't line the fish' is a real thing

 

[Nick Clayton]

I've always had the thought that if fish can see well enough, and/or are observant enough to notice a colored fly line or particular type of leader, then why don't they see the damn hook?

 

[Mossback]

I have dropped big ass weights off the side with an 8"pink worm 1' in front of a steelhead while sitting in a drift boat anchored in 3' deep water....and got bit.
Fly line color does not matter to the fish.

 

[SteelHeadDave]

I saw this a few weeks ago. I often wondered about this myself, especially for sinking lines.

 

[Wetswinger]

I fished a full clear intermediate line for years. It was replaced with a blue colored one. I could see the new blue line from my pram and was freaked out that the fish were seeing it too , so I started using longer leaders. After a season the leaders have shortened I still catch as many fish. The lesson? The color of the line only seems to matter to the fisherman..

 

[krusty]

I select (and keep using) lines based on how well they cast and how well they resist coiling in cold weather.

 

[Nick Clayton]

I select (and keep using) lines based on how well they cast and how well they resist coiling in cold weather.

Probably a good rule of thumb. I keep selecting them by buying lines in a color that matches my outfit for the day and that's getting expensive.

 

[Mossback]

I keep using the old ones...and then buy new ones and use them till they are old...and then keep using the old ones.
Vicious circle is what it is...