Does Line Color make a difference?

[Larry Arndt]

Ready to buy new line! Have any of you noticed better catch rates buy going to a moss green color line rather than the white or old traditional black?
Thanks,
Larry

[Tone]

I personally have noticed no difference in my catch rate with the various line types and colors. I have also heard that it doesn't make a difference when fishing for pike or muskie.

I currently use white #50 Tuff line

[firstsixfeet]

There is probably a difference. But I cannot discern it. I would guess that it would tend either toward visibility or invisibility but it might be either for all I know.

[Tahoe]

With all the leaders, hooks, sinkers, swivels, snaps we use...I do not think line color makes a difference. When they are hungry, they are hungry!

[esox14]

I don't really care to much about the subject but I guess it has something to do with the sky in the background of the line. Because when a muskie looks up he sees the sky right and I guess you want something that would blend in with the sky. My .02 cents.

[fishpoop]

I have been rereading a book that I have, written by a guy who for 30 years,
ran a launch on Mille Lacs lake in Mn for walleyes. Granted we are interested in Muskies and not walleyes, but some of his observations are interesting.


He would take parties of 8 fishermen out and as he supplied all the tackle needed he could experiment with his baits and rigging. He would leave everything on the lines the same but would change 1 component and observe the results. For example he would run all spinner and crawler rigs but on 1 line he would change the color of the spinner, if that line caught more fish he would change all the lines to that color spinner,etc.

He also experimented with line color. He would rig the lines with the same # test and brand, but would change the color of the line on some rods from green to clear. If the green lines caught more fish he would change all the lines to green, etc. He played with brown lines and blue lines and floresent lines, green lines and clear lines and about everything that was availible. His opinion after 30 years of fishing, was that line color does make a difference and that the color preferences that the fish showed can change from day to day or season to season.

Granted he had a major advantage in that he could run 8 or more lines side by side at a time. Something that a casting fisherman cannot do. But it does point out the fact that line color can play a role in catching fish.

Now the question is how do we, as muskie fisherman, put this info to work for us? Which is something that I have been thinking about but have no answers to.

[mlacs man]

I caught 9 walleyes from 20-27 inches this weekend on Candyspins and shallow invaders while musky fishing. Walleyes don't seem to mind 80lb tough-line.......