Fly Line Color

[UGAflyfisher]

Looking into getting new fly line. Had a quick question in you'lls opinion do you think that color has any difference personal experience welcomed....

[Josh Barnett]

Really, rather than choosing a color of fly line, you need to choose a fly line based on how it casts. They come in what I like to call "actions". There are GPX "actions", Trout "actions", DT "actions", etc. Choose whatever line you think suits you best, and go with it. I'd not even worry about the color for most North Georgia trout fishing situations. Some waters may require a specific color for blending, but for basic situations, like most of ours, I'd go with whatever. Green, yellow, white, or clear are the typical colors and seem to blend well here.

Joshua Barnett

[Jojadog]

In most of my fishing experience I don't think it has made to much of a difference. But that said the next line i buy will most likely be an olive colored one. If it is possible to gain a small advantage with a more camoflaged line why not take it. Plus, I might win the lottery some day and head to NZland where they say you have to have a dark line.
It can't hurt.

Pete

[NickelCigar]

Easy to loose sight of this line under low light situations while casting. Not a big deal but makes for some sloppy casts and hung back casts for me anyway.

Been fooling around with Cortland 444 "clear Camo" intermediate, looks pretty stealthy in clear water.

[Gray ghost]

I always use a dark green or olive line for fishing the Hooch. Some say line color is not a big deal but why not stay as stealthy as possible. IMO color is very important not only in line choice but clothing worn while fishing.

[mmarkey]

My personal choice is something that is easy to see. Not necessarily florescent but bright.

My thinknig is this, the fish can't see what color it is from the bottom it is going to look BLACK OR DARK GRAY no matter what color the line really is, even camo. You are going to use it with a long leader anywhere from 7 feet to 12 feet and for some even longer.

What will spook the fish is a lot of false casting and splash landing your casts. Fish are not going to react to a motionless line floating overhead. Like all wild creatures motion is what alerts their senses to danger.

Just watch at great blue heron sometime you'll see what I mean. Sound reasoning? Anyone disagree. JMHO :)

[Steve D]

Mike, I think I've read that fish do see color to some extent but don't percieve it as we do. Regardless, you're pretty much right - a flyline will only be percieved as a shadow. Keeping motion to a minimum is much more important than color.

[mmarkey]

Fish do absolutly see color. But what I am saying here is that since the fish is always going to be below the line with a floating line we hope. Then the color is always going to be a deep shadow. Even a pure white line will look black or dark gray to the fish. And these lines are going to be silhouetted against a bright sky. I don't know if there is a way to hid a line. Perhaps the new clear fly lines are more stealthy, don't know.

I still think that MOTION is what is going to spook a fish more than a dead line floating in the stream. Fish see things like leaves and grass twigs floating all the time. Just remember my example of a great blue heron. Those birds walk up on fish so slowly the fish doesn't percieve they are there until it's in the birds beak. Now that is a lesson in stealty!! BE THE HERON!! I think I'll use that as my new fishing mantra. BE THE HERON! BE THE HERON!

[Steve D]

Mike, it sounds like we're on the same page but we're just saying things a little differently.

BTW, I'm with you - I'll take a line that I can see any day over one I can't.

[AthensTroutBum]

...gotta go dark when it comes to line color.

Also don't forget to smoke a BCG or Lusitania while fishing-the Habanos fog will help conceal you from those wily Browns!

[BLACK KNIGHT]

I think they all look dark to a trout staring up into the sky.