Hi-Vis Line

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05-01-2013, 02:55 PM
Tony McCall

Hi-Vis Line

I've always been from the school of thought that you want your line to be as small in diameter as you can get away with and as invisible in the water as possible. I've always believed that this keeps fish, especially in clear water, from seeing the line and being spooked off of the lure.

Having said that, and having already acknowledged that I'm not a pro, like RCC, I can't help but wonder what the deal is with these hi-vis lines... Are they just for use in muddy water or do they simply reveal a flaw in the more traditional logic concerning line visibility?
05-01-2013, 03:00 PM
toofuss

They seem to me to be more for the user to see light bites. From what im seeing most who use them use a clear or "low-viz" leader
05-01-2013, 03:24 PM
CrappiePappy

Tony, I can't testify to hi-vis lines spooking fish in clear water, since I don't fish waters I consider as "clear".
However, I can testify to using them successfully in stained to murky water. And by "stained" I mean water that you can see a chartreuse jig down to a couple of feet deep. I've also fished hi-vis lines next to rods with clear/blu mono ... and had equal number of bites.

I think the main reason for hi-vis line, and certainly for me & my preferred method of casting and swimming a jig over cover, is that you can "see" the line move on the lightest of bites. It's also been said that it helps longline trollers keep track of their lines (esp in turns, or when reeling in fish). Methods that employ floats, or more vertical/stationary line position (like vertical jigging, tightline fishing, and the variations on "spider rigging") .... where the bite is registered as a disappearing float, or a bending rod tip, may not be enhanced by the use of hi-vis lines.

I'm not of the belief that fish are "spooked" by line color. More than likely they are spooked by other circumstances, like the boat, shadows, movement, noise, etc.
Remember .... our predecessors caught fish using black nylon fishing line, long before "monofilament" line was ever invented. (I started my fishing with it) And I can guarantee you that black nylon fishing line is way more visible than hi-vis lines, when viewed from below & contrasted against the sky.

... cp :kewl
05-01-2013, 03:36 PM
Tony McCall

Good answer CP.
05-01-2013, 06:41 PM
creekslick

I use hi-vis braided line here on Greers and I am still able to catch 1 or 2 when I go.:twocents
05-01-2013, 09:05 PM
camo xpress

I always use hi vis , no leader , lots of fish !! I think big slabs like it!!
05-01-2013, 09:39 PM
20watt

I like it cause it's purdy :cool:
05-02-2013, 12:43 AM
tonyjohn

im new to it ......dont think like a fish (well, iTRY to ) but i trully belive if you present a lure/jig/minnow/toothbrush/ and the fish are either predatory or protective , they will hit the bait. line excluded.
05-02-2013, 07:16 AM
LMBarnett

I use hi-vis line when I am rigging, it help ME to see the line. Evidently the fish don't care, because when fishing with a buddy, the catch rate is about the same side by side.
05-02-2013, 08:05 AM
Billy E

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20watt

I like it cause it's purdy :cool:

I like it because I'm blind
05-02-2013, 09:39 AM
Slabyanker

I'm going to put it on all of my reels when I need new line. My main reason is because I'm getting to where I can't see the line well enough to tie the hooks on. Guess thats a sign of getting old.
05-02-2013, 10:31 AM
Cmj

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slabyanker

I'm going to put it on all of my reels when I need new line. My main reason is because I'm getting to where I can't see the line well enough to tie the hooks on. Guess thats a sign of getting old.

I would HIGHLY recommend Mr. Crappie hi-vis. You can get a 1200yrd. spool at Wal-Mart for around $6.50 and it is plenty strong. I have it on all of my reels. I even got a spool of the Camo for tying leaders. Just my preference, but I have seen days where the leader made the difference.
05-02-2013, 11:17 AM
Slabyanker

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cmj

I would HIGHLY recommend Mr. Crappie hi-vis. You can get a 1200yrd. spool at Wal-Mart for around $6.50 and it is plenty strong. I have it on all of my reels. I even got a spool of the Camo for tying leaders. Just my preference, but I have seen days where the leader made the difference.

Thanks for the info CMJ. I have been thinking of trying it, but I didn't know if it was any good. Can't beat the price. Since I've been using stren 6lb clear/blue ever since i can remember at $6.36 for 330yds.
05-02-2013, 01:03 PM
Cmj

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slabyanker

Thanks for the info CMJ. I have been thinking of trying it, but I didn't know if it was any good. Can't beat the price. Since I've been using stren 6lb clear/blue ever since i can remember at $6.36 for 330yds.

Thats what I used to use. I got a spool of the Mr. Crappie because it was cheap and I have been hooked ever since! BTW, it is mono.
05-03-2013, 07:34 AM
LMBarnett

CrappiePro did a test a few years ago, and Mr. Crappie hi-vis was really good!!! It was because of this, I started sing Mr. Crappie. Russ, you made a believer outta me.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/arkan...-strength.html

:cheers2
05-03-2013, 08:15 AM
CrappiePappy

Ya'll might want to take a look at Vicious Panfish line, too.

I've made the transition from Stren Gold 4lb test ... to Mr Crappie Super-Vis 4lb test (USA made version) ... to Vicious Panfish hi-vis 6lb test. So far, the Vicious 6lb test line has performed very well.

I've seen members make negative comments about the current version of Mr Crappie (Taiwan/China made ??) ... but, cannot verify since I haven't used all of my USA Made spool (3100yds). I purchased a 2360yd spool of the Vicious Panfish 6lb test/0.010" diameter for $6.99 (+s/h) online at Tackle Center. (unfortunately, upon checking the website just now, the 6lb test 1/4lb bulk spool of hi-vis is no longer listed ... but, 4 & 8lb test is still available)

... cp :kewl
05-03-2013, 08:50 AM
Buckrub

I can either use Hi Vis line or I can take along a 10 year old on every trip to tie on my hooks when I break off.

I have Stren Hi Vis Gold monofilament, and it breaks off easily when it gets old. So I went to P-line Premium (per advice on here) and it is now breaking off a lot. I bet I broke off 12 times Wednesday, just because I was fishing in a newly downed green tree!!!!! So, I doubt any line works. They all work well when new! But I can't find one that lasts a year. I hate braid, but I may have to go to it. If I can't bite off the line with my teeth, what the heck good is it anyway??? :tongue
05-03-2013, 12:03 PM
CrappiePappy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckrub

I can either use Hi Vis line or I can take along a 10 year old on every trip to tie on my hooks when I break off.

I have Stren Hi Vis Gold monofilament, and it breaks off easily when it gets old. So I went to P-line Premium (per advice on here) and it is now breaking off a lot. I bet I broke off 12 times Wednesday, just because I was fishing in a newly downed green tree!!!!! So, I doubt any line works. They all work well when new! But I can't find one that lasts a year. I hate braid, but I may have to go to it. If I can't bite off the line with my teeth, what the heck good is it anyway??? :tongue

Where are you storing your line (& reels) when not fishing with them ?? I've got spools of line that are over 20 yrs old, and still good ... they stay in my fishing equipment closet (climate controlled). Sunlight &/or heat will degrade mono over a fairly short period of time. That's why line & spooled reels shouldn't be kept in your vehicle or boat or tacklebox for extended periods of time.

As for biting the line ... an el cheapo pocket knife will take care of that, and probably save you a few trips to the dentist. A pair of Childs Size Fiskar Scissors (<$3 @ WM) is your best friend, when it comes to cutting braid. Just don't go grabbing it, wrapping it around your hand, & pulling on it to free a snagged jig ... it'll cut you quick !! Best to have a towel or dowel rod to wrap braid around, for that situation. It'll cut cork & foam rod handles, too ... so I don't recommend trying to use them, either. I know all this from experience :Doh: ... having used PowerPro 10/2 braid for several years !!

... cp :kewl
05-03-2013, 06:41 PM
20watt

Quote:

Originally Posted by crappiepappy

Where are you storing your line (& reels) when not fishing with them ?? I've got spools of line that are over 20 yrs old, and still good ... they stay in my fishing equipment closet (climate controlled). Sunlight &/or heat will degrade mono over a fairly short period of time. That's why line & spooled reels shouldn't be kept in your vehicle or boat or tacklebox for extended periods of time.

As for biting the line ... an el cheapo pocket knife will take care of that, and probably save you a few trips to the dentist. A pair of Childs Size Fiskar Scissors (<$3 @ WM) is your best friend, when it comes to cutting braid. Just don't go grabbing it, wrapping it around your hand, & pulling on it to free a snagged jig ... it'll cut you quick !! Best to have a towel or dowel rod to wrap braid around, for that situation. It'll cut cork & foam rod handles, too ... so I don't recommend trying to use them, either. I know all this from experience :Doh: ... having used PowerPro 10/2 braid for several years !!

... cp :kewl

You're right, i like PowerPro but it is tough on the hands especially when it's cold outside
05-03-2013, 08:31 PM
Slabyanker

I just bought a spool of 6lb Mr.crappie hi-vis. May be going to Norfork next weekend, so I'm going to wait till after that trip to spool all my reels with it.