Thread: A different opinion on hi-vis

Been using hi- vis lines for all my fishing for 25 years now. Lines range from 2 pound test to 10 lb. test mono. Most of my fishing is in a very clear highland lake for spotted bass and crappie. Also fish the Tennessee River for smallmouth, white bass, crappie and sauger, and the coast for speckled trout, flounder and redfish. With various friends fishing with me over the years, we have had a few days with over a hundred spotted bass, several days with over a hundred white bass and several days with over a hundred speckled trout. I don't believe high vis line has hurt our results. Bass can see several pieces of wire on an AL rig, but still bite the swimbaits.

My catches over the last decade since braid hit the market has proven a few things to me :
1. line type and diameter is important as far as lure action is concerned - especially finesse lures and very light jigs + small lures. Too large a diameter and too stiff a line kills lure action, especially an action that is essential with slow-moving suspended lures.

2. braid allow strike sensitivity such that I no longer have to watch the line - ever. I feel the strike down the rod no matter where I looking.
3. if fish are line shy, why not hook shy? If I where a fish, that barbed, pointed piece of metal would make me think twice and send me to the other side of the lake! Even worse - lures with 2 or more treble hooks!

JMHO but a fish's attention is locked on lure action, size and shape from start to hookset; line not a distraction.

Originally Posted by silverside

I must apologize. I think maybe I did not word my post quite correctly. The point I was trying to make was that he believes that hi-vis can help you catch more fish due to the line catching their attention before they see the lure. Sorry folks

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I too believe Hi-Vis can help catch crappie. Crappie guide Gary Mason swears Hi-Vis Chartreuse line consistently puts more slabs in his boat for clients when casting Slider Grubs on stakebeds and brush piles.
He feels the Hi-Vis line grabs their attention and they see the grub sooner and react quicker while it’s still in their strike zone.


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I am typically who believes fish can't seen the line and it does not matter what test line you throw. For the most part I still believe this with one big exception. Our white bass run has started and if you throw anything larger than 4lb test and any baits larger than 1.25 you will go home with 2 or 3 fish for the day. By throwing 2lb fluorocarbon and 1.25 plastics my catch rate goes up by 85%. This creek is not clear by any means but those fish certainly know the difference. Every year I see guys show up with 10lb best throwing 2 inch white curly tails and wonder why they can't catch fish. Those fish are as wary as clear water trout for whatever reason. The go back to being regular white bass once they return back to the lake.

For what it's worth, I fished the Big O a couple of weeks ago with a fellow that was using Mr. Crappie 6lb line that appeared to be green. I was using a 10lb Hi-Viz yellow Stren. We were using the exact same jig. He caught 3 fish to my one. It was his opinion that yellow line was my problem. I don't know. May have been the heavier pound test, not letting the jig perform as well as his on the lighter line. At any rate, I did change the line to a 6lb Trilene as that is all I could find. Did not get the chance to try it out in Fl but will here in KY to see how it does.

Originally Posted by Quailtail

For what it's worth, I fished the Big O a couple of weeks ago with a fellow that was using Mr. Crappie 6lb line that appeared to be green. I was using a 10lb Hi-Viz yellow Stren. We were using the exact same jig. He caught 3 fish to my one. It was his opinion that yellow line was my problem. I don't know. May have been the heavier pound test, not letting the jig perform as well as his on the lighter line. At any rate, I did change the line to a 6lb Trilene as that is all I could find. Did not get the chance to try it out in Fl but will here in KY to see how it does.

In your scenario, I'd be more inclined to think that it's the line diameter weight. It's not only what they see, but how the jig reacts and a jig reacts FAR differently on 4 or even 6 pound mono, versus 10 pound line. Could be strike detection or any number of other things. I think sometimes we downplay how important presentation is versus line, lure or color choice.

I like hi viz yellow line but in the clear water around here i absolutely believe you need a leader. In dirty water if i break off i never tie one back on.