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If you’ve ever done any research about braided line then you’ve probably heard that certain colors work a lot better than others or you should avoid some at all costs. In this post, I’m going to be talking about whether or not the color of your braided fishing line actually matters or not.
In short, certain colors of braided fishing line are more visible in certain water conditions but it won’t make a difference because you’ll be attaching a clear fluorocarbon or monofilament leader. In almost all cases, the fish will never see your braided line and that’s why the color doesn’t really matter.
I’ve done a few tests to see what colors are the least visible in the water but I’ve also tested to see if the color makes a difference. It really doesn’t. The only thing you’ll have to make sure of is that you’re using a leader. That being said, there are two colors I mainly stick with and I’ll explain that below.
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Option 1: Dark Green
If I’m doing any sort of trolling or lake/pond fishing then I’ll probably use a dark green braided line. It’s not going to make or break my afternoon but it could improve my chances of catching something fractionally (we all need all the help we can get).
The reason I like using dark green is that it’s tougher to see in the water compared to white or something brighter. It’s still going to be really visible in blue or really clear water but that’s one of the reasons we’re using a leader.
If you want the absolute best chance of catching something then you might want to use a color that matches the water you’re in. I haven’t found that it makes a noticeable difference, but hey, why not try?
Option 2: Bright Yellow
If I’m fishing moving water or I need to know exactly where my line is at then I’ll use a bright yellow braided line. The reason I’d do this is that I’ll easily be able to see where my line is and I can make sure it doesn’t run into anything it shouldn’t.
There are times when I use a yellow line in lakes and ponds and it still catches fish. That’s why I said the color doesn’t really matter that much. I think the main thing comes down to whether or not you want to see your fishing line.
If you do, use something bright like yellow. If you don’t, use whatever color you want. I just like using dark green because it’s best practice to try to be as invisible as possible.
Why Use Braided Line
I use braid as my main fishing line on 90% of my fishing rods and I think you should be using it too (if you aren’t already). Even though it won’t result in a bunch more fish, there are a few key advantages that could help you land more fish.
The first reason I like using braided line is that it’s thinner and will cast better. I’ve done a test comparing braid vs mono vs fluoro and it was clear that you can get more casting distance with braided line. The braided line will normally be thinner than if you’re using fluoro or mono and that’ll cause less friction as your line goes through the guides.
The second reason I like braid is that it’s more sensitive than mono and fluoro. Each type of line has its own pros and cons but one of the main benefits of braid is that it doesn’t stretch. Sometimes if your line doesn’t stretch then it’ll take a second for the bite to register. That could be the difference between landing something and not even getting hooked.
The third benefit is that you can get more line on your spool. It’s pretty simple, if your line is thinner then you’ll be able to fit more on your spool. If you’re just casting and retrieving then it won’t really matter but it could be really useful if you’re doing any sort of deep trolling or jigging.
The final benefit to braid is that you’ll have fewer break-offs. You can normally use a heavier line when you’re using braid and you’ll have more pulling power if you get snagged. If I’m fishing for rainbow trout I might be using 4-6 lb monofilament. Instead, I could toss on a 10 lb braid and get that additional strength (it’ll be the same thickness, maybe thinner).
Our Favorite Braided Line
There are a bunch of good options on the market but there are definitely some that I haven’t liked as much. Some braided lines seemed to wear out quickly while others got tangled a lot more often than others.
The first thing I’d do is make sure the line you’re looking at has good reviews. Second, I’ve noticed that a lot of the cheaper braided lines don’t perform as well as the ones that are a bit more expensive. My recommendation? Pay a little bit extra because a good braided line will last you 3x longer than monofilament or fluorocarbon.
The first braided line I really like is Sufix 832. It comes in a range of sizes and colors and I like it because it casts really well. The strength also seems to be really solid and so is the abrasion resistance. Read our Sufix 832 full review.
The second braided line I like is Power Pro Spectra (on Amazon). I’ll normally go with this if I can’t get my hands on the low vis green or high vis yellow Sufix 832 braid. It normally has more options when it comes to size and color and the performance is pretty much identical.
What Leader To Use
As I said before, you’ll want to put a leader on the end of your braided line 95% of the time. The only time you wouldn’t is if you’re fishing extremely dirty water with a lot of grass and weeds. Fish won’t see your line anyway and you’ll want to have that additional strength.
Any other time you’ll want to use a leader. What do you use?
Around 90% of the time I’ll use a fluorocarbon leader. I’ll put maybe 4-6 feet of fluoro at the end of my braid (directly using the Surgeon’s Knot). The reason I like to use fluorocarbon is that it sinks, it’s extremely abrasion-resistant, and it’s the hardest for the fish to see. Normally I’ll use Seaguar Red Label.
If I’m fishing for something with a softer mouth (kokanee and maybe trout) then I’ll use a monofilament leader. The main reason I’d use mono over fluoro is that it stretches. If you have braid and fluoro (they don’t stretch very much) and you go to set the hook you could rip it right out of the fish’s mouth. With mono, you’ll have a little bit of give, and it’ll actually help you land a few more fish. I’ll normally use Berkley Big Game (on Amazon).