Fly Line Color?
- This topic has 39 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated Nov 20, 2006 at 4:28 pm by
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Ran a search on this and didn’t find much, so I’m curious about your experiences with different fly line colors and what you would recommend. [smiley=undecided.gif]
Assume floating lines for trout in rivers and creeks.
thanks.
TB
None, that being that I have never see make any difference fishing.
I like my line to be yellowish so I can see my line’s behavior on the water.
Jay
plus if its even a moderatly bright day its going to be imposible to tell what color the line is when looking at it from below the water.
I prefer bright color lines, yellow or orange. because I’m half blind and need the color to find the fly and see whats happening to the line.
For casting alone, whether playing or teaching, I prefer very bright lines because they are far easier to see in most background situations. For the salt I also like lines I can see easily but not as bright as the ‘Optic Orange’ lines I use for casting and teaching. For general fishing the more muted colors seem to work the best for me. I’m not so concerned about line color IN the water, it’s when casting and holding the line above the water that I’m concerned the fish might see it. That’s the same reason I fish in clothers that aren’t too colorful when stalking trout.
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve starting using “optic green” and agree it is much easier for these old and getting older eyes 😮 to see. I find I’m doing a better job of line management which, I theorize, offsets any issues around the less than neutral color.
Besides, I’ve assumed that most fish will head for the hills if I line them, no matter what the line color.
Thanks again for the expert opinions.
TB
bright yellows and oranges were not acceptable from a locals viewpoint.
Always heard about this when fishing in New Zealand.
Hmmm… isn’t this part of the kiwi fishing myth?bright yellows and oranges were not acceptable from a locals viewpoint.
When looking up from the water with a blue sunny sky doesn’t all colors look the same: dark?
Jay
With the line laying on the water, I agree, the contrast probably makes it look dark.
It’s when the line is in the air that the bright color probably shows through.With the line laying on the water, I agree, the contrast probably makes it look dark.
It’s when the line is in the air that the bright color probably shows through.Maybe someone need to take some underwater shots of a bright and dark line casting in the air to give the definite answer to this myth?
Jay
I doubt it.
Fish sees all kind of rubbish floating onthe water all day. If it sees an unnatural colored ‘twig’ coming down I don’t think it will make the connection ‘dangerous’?Jay
I think they are more cautious for the line drifting above them.
If you cast using a reach mend or other mend that makes only the leader go above the fish?I’ve had fish come up FOR the indicator rather than running from it.
But your milage may varyIbookje,
I hear what you are saying. Let’s just assume that I am a competent caster and that drag or presentation are not the issue. Mind you, this is pretty technical water where the fish get a lot of pressure. I’ve got 3 – 4 feet of 7x flouro tippet on. We’re talking slow moving flats here where the fish are easily observed. On larger Holston browns, I have frequently observed them shift lanes when using the orange putty. After letting them settle down, I have drifted white putty (sometimes rolled in the mud) over them and noticed they tend to spook less. To be fair, there seem to be times when any strike indicator puts the fish off and they have to be fished without an indicator. However, I have definately noticed that there is a strong avoidance to brightly colored indicators.
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