Can bass see my braided line? Does it matter? 2024
Shakes reply :
I started using braided line last fall when the fishing started to die down. I love it for a few different reasons.
1) It has zero line memory.
2) Casts like a dream
3) Same diameter as fluro
4) Strong as hell
After a few days of fishing, about 5 feet of the leading line tied to the lure is discolored. It looks worn but still holds up fine. I use the moss green color, and when it fades it starts to appear almost white. Its Power Pro #50 test, but Power Pro also makes the same line in a hi-vis yellow. Can they see it?
In the past MONTH, I've caught 2 bass. 2! I've thrown spinnerbaits of all shapes and colors, jigs, soft plastics, cranks, traps, buzzbaits, even jerkbaits. I've gone out to the local lake at least 4 times a week for about 3 hours per trip. What's goin on? I don't want to sound cocky but I can catch the hell out of some fish... and now I can't get a bite! Any tips would be so appreciated. Needin' some help here.
MattStrykul reply :
Have you been using braid for everything? Its probably not the best idea to use braid with cranks, spinnerbaits, and jerks because you will rip the bait right out of the fishes mouth. This is what I've heard, and what I go by. I use braid with plastics and jigs.
Maybe its not so much of them seeing the line, but you using it. Throw some fluro on that reel!
rocknfish9001 reply :
Well there are several things that come to mind.
1. The water is clear, and the bass can see your line. This is possible and will affect your catch rate. This could be because you are using very heavy line, and although the diameter may be small, the line is still solidly colored, no translucent effects. It is easy to see even in thin diameters.
2. The braided line has zero stretch, and you might not be considering how this affects your presentation. It will make all of your movements very exact and instentanious under the water. That little twitch could make your lure jump twice as far with no stretch.
3. The bite is just off. It happens.....
XcoM274 reply :
Honestly I think the mono gives you a better action from the cranks and jerks, and the stretch provides an easier set. Try something else, there is always another variable. Try fluro or mono or even lighter braid.
SneakySnook reply :
What I do is tie a 3'-6' flouro leader using a uni to uni not and it works great for me. It a saltwater Florida thing that works great for freshwater also.
eyedabassman reply :
It all depends on what you are fishing. If you are fishing slow baits like jigs, tubes, worms, ect in clear water the bass will see it. I fish a very clear lake and my partner was out fishing me 4 to 1. He was fishing a mono line and I had a braid on, fishing the same baits and the same colors, then we changed rods and I out fished him so that was all the proof I needed! :'( :'( :'( :'( :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/
Stringjam reply :
Yes - - in certain conditions it will decrease your bites. I've been using braid for over a decade, and I use it on every rod I own and every technique - however - I almost always use a mono leader. I vary the leader diameter based on the conditions and presentation - - - I still get the sensitivity of braid, but also the stealth of mono.
As mentioned before - - braid will make a difference on the lure presentation, but I have always found it to be a positive one. I can work topwaters and jerkbaits with more precision and less rod movement, I can feel every rock and stick and wobble of my crankbaits, and it keeps you in better touch with your soft plastics.
Bottom line - - for me, braid is IT, however, it isn't for everyone - just like so many things.
Grey Wolf reply :
If you are using cranks and spinners , that 50 # line is way too much.
Down size to 14 or 20 lb. braid or go to a good flourocarbon.
Panamoka_Bassin reply :
I was using braid exclusively until about mid-season last year. I switched to Vanish flouro and immediately my catch rate went up. Realize, though, that I fish exceptionally clear water (you can see down at least 15-20 feet), and I use 10# test. When I made the switch, I kept in mind that the flouro would work differently and tried to adjust my fishing to it. It took only about 5 casts to feel the difference, and I haven't looked back. The only time I use braid now is in heavy brush or when I'm working the lillies.
Shakes reply :
Ok... yea. I use braid for everything. Cranks, spinners, topwater. I find it just overall more valuable then fluro. I have to admit though, I have a problem which braid seems to solve. Over the years, I've lost so many lures to backlashes. Not so many to hang ups, b/c with 50# test braid, you can practically pull the tree that you're hung up on straight outta the water. I've had days with braid you wouldn't believe. One in particular, I remember distinctly. I caught 29 fish in 3 hours. Now granted, the water I was fishing was a 1 of 5 small ponds surrounding another lake, and probably had very little fishing pressure if any. Water was crystal clear (about 5 feet of visibility.) As for the backlashes, even with the braid the lure sometimes goes sailing away from my line. All I can do is swear up and down. As far as no stretch goes, I like it that way. I've fished the Vanish before. As I remember, it wasn't half bad... but with this braid, I never have to worry about losing a fish. It just doesn't happen anymore. No line breaks anymore (cept for the backlashes), its getting them to bite thats the problem.
Grey Wolf reply :
There is a trade off for every thing , evidently your's is not loosing baits , sometimes you have to change up your tactics to accomplish what you want to do.
I use braid most of the time (10 - 30 lb. test) but I also use flouro when it calls for it.
eyedabassman reply :
I use the braid for slop ( frog ) fishing and Pads or a C- Rig with a flo. leader. just my 2 cents 8-).
guest reply :
I think the visibility of braid is less of a problem than most folks think.
Ish monroe used braid when he won a recent tournament using a top water frog using braid (not just in slop)
That being said. If i was fishing in the gin clear cali waters I wouldn't use braid.
I think it depends on fishing pressure, water clarity, weed cover and other factors.
That's why I often tie a mono leader.
Now finding a single knot that won't slip under any circumstances to tie to the braid. Now thats a challenge. 
Wayne P. reply :
Avid, a 6 turn uni-knot will not slip if you do your part correct. The only "slip" I have ever had is the line will slip through the hook eye gap with the smaller diameter lines when Tx rigging if I don't keep checking it's movement. I've had the most problem with the 30# Spiderwire Original since it's equal to 6# mono in diameter. I've since solved that problem by blocking the gap. I tie a polamar knot, cut the line and leave the knot in place, slide the knot around to the gap before tying on the hook.
RoLo reply :
> Can bass see my braided line?
I can see fluorocarbon line, and bass have better eyesight than me
> Does it matter?
Bass swallow far stranger-looking things than a fine filament of line.
Bass are known to strike shiny snaps, wire leader and small globular floats, purely out of curiosity.
The stomach contents of bass have revealed ignition keys, the foil from cigarette packs
and bottle caps. It's unthinkable that a hungry bass would pass up a meal
because of a slender strand of spaghetti. On the other hand, comparing small diameter line
to heavy diameter line is a whole other ball game.
The larger the line diameter the greater the line drag, and the more it disrupts the natural action
of the lure, but this has nothing at all to do with 'line visibility'.
Roger
arfon5 reply :
One trick you may try is darkening the last couple of feet of your line with a black or green permanent marker. I carry a black Super Sharpie (the big ones) in my tackle box. Give it a try.
linesider7 reply :
I had the same question as you, switched some techniques back to mono/flouro- made a huge difference. Have to admit it was very hard making the switch back.
0119 reply :
Interesting point RoLo, but what about neutral bass. Most bass are in a neutral mode most of the time. Dont you think it pays to up the odds in your favor as much as possible, including going with as near as invisible a line as possible. That being said maybe Gerald Swindle got it right and we all over think the whole fishing thing, its still only a fish with a pea sized brain.
Catt reply :
If a bass can see you line what do you think they think it is?
Do they think Oh my God it's fishing line stay away there's got to be an angler near by?
If they can see Braid why are so many bass caught on Braid?
I have to agree with RoLo, they can see it but just don't care
eyedabassman reply :
I think braid is fine to use with some faster moving baits like spinners, topwaters, or frogs etc. And I would use braid in darker water with no problem, but for gin clear water I myself would never use it. 8-)
Stringjam reply :
There was a scientific study that PROVED bass develop avoidance behaviors to seeing line....... and the line used in the study was 8 lb. test of various colors. Bottom line - bass have to survive, and they will learn to avoid things that they experience as a threat - that includes seeing line.
I think many times we try to relate to bass by giving them "human reasoning" - remember, they aren't humans, they are predators of a completely different medium, and they have been given the tools to survive there.
Even without the study, I've proved to myself the theory by sitting on top of schools of fish and using braid vs. braid with a leader. The results were obvious, especially in the clear conditions I commonly fish in - the fish had no problem seeing and avoiding the braid.
eyedabassman reply :
Well put Stringjam ! I too have proved it to myself and my fishing partner.
Shad_Master reply :
This is a debate that will probably rage on for as long as this forum is up and running. For me the question boils down to what do fish see under normal circumstances -- grass, weeds, rocks, trees, etc., etc., etc. -- and lots of stuff that we wish they didn't like beer/pop cans, plastic bags, and yes, even line (ever snagged any while fishing?). Stringjam, can you tell where this "scientific study" was done, who did it and where we can see the results? If there is "proof" out there, then I may change my mind -- without it I think this is just a debatable topic and each person has to make up his own mind.
Matt Fly reply :
Theres too much line in the bottom of our lakes and rivers, I think bass are used to seeing fishing line all over the lake and its just part of their enviroment.
The same theory of bass being caught and getting smarter could be used in saying that "a bass that is caught in grass would never go back" if they truly do get smarter after being caught, and I just don't see that.
matt
Matt Fly reply :
I have watch a few local guides do there semiars at the bass pro shops all year long. Same tank, same fish, the fish still hit anybaits thrown, granted, the hooks are snipped and the fish don't get hooked, but it don't stop them from hitting at the demo baits every weekend.
The tanks are as clear as any lakes, yet bass and spectators can see the line in the water and bass don't seem to care.
Broken fishing line and all sorts of lures hanging around down there is part of the enviroment down below. I think they are used to seeing fishing line every day.
Matt
bocabasser reply :
well said shadmaster. i too would like to read that "scientific study" to actually believe it. i use braid in both fresh and saltwater, and only in salt do i use a flouro leader.
Stringjam reply :
QuoteStringjam, can you tell where this "scientific study" was done, who did it and where we can see the results? If there is "proof" out there, then I may change my mind -- without it I think this is just a debatable topic and each person has to make up his own mind.
I don't have the study - I read about the study in a response when the same question was posed to In-Fisherman contributor Ralph Manns. I can pm you his email addy if you would like to inquire about the experiment.
SPAZ reply :
I will be using a fleuro leader this year for the first time. How long should the leader be? I was thinking 12" leader.
Shad_Master reply :
Thanks stringjam I will look for it -- sounds interesting.
RoLo reply :
QuoteInteresting point RoLo, but what about neutral bass. Most bass are in a neutral mode most of the time. Dont you think it pays to up the odds in your favor as much as possible, including going with as near as invisible a line as possible. That being said maybe Gerald Swindle got it right and we all over think the whole fishing thing, its still only a fish with a pea sized brain.
You make a good point, 0119
To my mind at least, bass in a neutral disposition are more inclined NOT to sieze a lure,
so the most positive influence would be a morsel that makes Slow Vulnerable progress
and spends a lot of time within easy striking distance. By itself, I can't imagine that fine-diameter fluorocarbon line
will light the fire of bass in a neutral to negative mood. In any case, the debate rages on
Roger
Catt reply :
So tell me during all these studies what lake was that on?
Baconstrip reply :
Try using a 12-18" cajun line leader. If the fish still aren't biting, it may be because you are using the wrong lure for the water temperature. I can tell you, the water is freezing here in Indiana and the fish are barely active. They bite on 3/16 jigs with extremely small trailers and not much else.
extreme1018 reply :
well i consider myself a pro with braided line. there are some do's and some don'ts with braided line that you must adhere to if you want success. the same goes with mono but we will talk about braid. i started using briad way back when the first spiderwire came out in the 90's. it was moss green and out of the pack it had the most wonderful green color. it was also, if some of you old time braid users remember, a "flat braid". it wasn't round like the briads of today are. braided line will lose its color and turn white with use and this is your main problem with braided line. as for the part about wether the fish care, go out and buy yourself a copy of Homer Circle's BASS WISDOM. $14.95 i think. most bookstores carry it. in it you will leard tha bass can have "personality" differences and intelligence differences just as humans do and all other creatures on the planet. theirs are just not as complex as humans.look for the section where he talks about the fish that were tagged in a lake and you will learn some things you never knew. any wayhere are your keys to success with briad.
use a much lighter size 50lb is like winch cable. its just way to heavy for freshwater use. bass spook easy. do you think a bass is goin to eat your fake plastic lure after it just watched its favorite stump or tree limb get dragged away because you didnt want to lose a 5 dollar plug{less than 1 dollar for plastic worms}go with something much lighter. and dont be afraid to break or cut your line!!!!!if you cut it go back and get it later when you are done for the day
go to walmart or target and get the big pack of sharpies with all the different colors. you will need a few of them. black, a couple shades of the darker green colors, brown shades,and a carolina blue one. experiment with how the colors mix and use them to put color back in your line. its like camo for braid. ma
if you choose to use a mono leader remember to retie the joining knot frequently and especially after you land a bigone.
you might want to consider a different type of supleline such as berkley fireline. it does not fade and as available in mush lighter sizes. i prefer 8 and 10 lb myself. it also gives the same ran over a brick with a lawnmower feel like the spiderwire does. also remember that braid digs in on the spool when subjected to some hard tugging.
also remember that you dont have to set the hook as hard because the line does not stretch
using these tips should help alot. especially the fireline( the jury is still out on the new crystal though)i like the smoke color
let us know your results on the water
YakAttack reply :
If you look in the fishes world, with the exception of some very clear non-fertile lakes. They see green grass, green lily pads, green moss, green fungus, green gorilla snot, strings of green slim floating around all the time. And they see little fishes eating it all the time. All they see is another piece of green something every time they see green braid. I use up to 65lb braid even in clear water and can honestly say it has never been a deterrent to my catching.
We put giant hooks in little worms and big treble hooks on crank baits with slit rings, and fish spinner baits with 45 gauge wire holding it all together. Then worry about if the fish can see our line.
Watch in-fishermen then they are showing under water footage of trolling crank baits. Almost all you can see is hooks flapping back and forth.
I know they can see my green braid, but its natural to them. If them big hooks and metal every thing else don't stop them from eating a bait, a piece of green slim hanging out of the mouth of what their fixing to eat won't bother then either.
That being said, I stick with green because it is natural and stay away from yellows and oranges just incase I'm a little off in my opinion. But not because I'm concerned with them seeing it. I'm concerned that the unnatural color might make a difference. Because they don't see long stringy orange and yellow things floating in their world excluding fly fishermen and a few other anglers
lubina reply :
Quote> Can bass see my braided line?
Sure
> Does it matter?
Nah
I feel the same way but in clear waters I use a fluoro leader....confident factor
flyphisher # reply :
As far as the line breaking off at the lure.....ALWAYS wrap the line around the hookeye,etc. twice!!!!! then tie your knot. Unless you fish clear water, a leader isnt needed. When you add a leader, you add another knot that WILL fail at some point, alot of time the braid will eventually cut the mono or flourocarbon. I use an Albright knot when i do add a leader.
TR186FLA reply :
Very Interesting thread... River Warior,, very good points.. On a regular basis I fish Ansin Garcia in Central FLA,, clear / light tea stained water.. u can see the bottom to 4 / 5 feet in the flats and we always use braid ( 40 to 50 pound power pro ) when fishing lippless crankbaits and the number of fish my buddie catches , who fishes this water every weekend.. is in the hundreds over the past few month, granted this is a fast moving bait,, so I do not think braid makes a differnence.. Here is Jax I live on a 3 1/2 acre lake that is pretty close to gin clear and have lcaught ots of bass on soft plastics and crank baits on braid.. however I am going to start trying a florocarbon leader and see if my catches increase when fishing soft plastics... thanks for all the tips,, great post...
RecMar8541 reply :
Just my 2 pennies here. We worry about bait color, rate of fall, size of bait, presentation, etc etc. I think to say that the fish just dont care about seeing the line is only as accurate as the aggresiveness of the fish. I believe a very aggresive bass wouldnt care, however, I believe Bass spend a very short part of the day in the "frenzy" mode, and for the most part are oportunistic feeders in "neutral" Mode.
Having said that, I would want to stack every odd in my favor.
I tried a bit of an test myself on old joe...who is actually old josephine lol. She lives by a lillypad at the end of my doc. I dropped a rubber bait to her about 15-20 times with some washed out braid I had. She swam up, and swam away. Then I dropped her a bait with mono, she grabbed it the first time. I didnt set the hook, as I kinda like the old girl there, and its her home. But it did prove to me that it makes a difference.
I wont be giving up my braid, but I will be using a leader ALWAYS. If it made a difference in this one strike, that I could see and control, then how many other times does it have bearing on a fish during the day, when you cant see?
jemstone90 reply :
Catching 250-500 large mouth, and dozens of 5-15 Lbs northern a year on pieces of plastic with a couple of steel treble hooks dangling from it fastened to a steel leader and aqua green or moss green Power Pro Slick8 braided line, and without going into the thousands of pan fish I pick up off the dock every year, I think you are giving fish more credit than they deserve. I have converted EVERY reel I have to at least 15LB braided after loosing at least 7 BIG fish 2 years ago using mono line and mono Lindy rig worm harnesses. This year I am trying the High Vis yellow Nanofil 10Lb on a couple of my ultra Lights and High Vis yellow Slick8 30Lb another reel.
1201vilbig reply :
I've said this before. The A-rig was banned in many tournaments for being too effective, & it looks like a wad of coat hangers coming through the water. I believe lure color & presentation matter much more. If I'm fishing a moving bait with braid, I just wait until the rod loads up & do a reel set.
WRB reply :
What matters is how the line may impact some lures action and your mind set. When I use braid it's directly tied to my lure with 1 knot, same for mono and FC. I only use braid in heavy cover because it works better than mono or FC line.
Tom
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Yes and no.
flechero reply :
On 3/19/2007 at 9:32 PM, Shakes said:I find it just overall more valuable then fluro.
A reduction in catch rate should be factored into the "value" of you line.... Free braid that keeps you from losing a lure isn't worth squat if you stop catching fish. Mono or flouro that catches fish and costs you the occasional lure is a better value in my mind. At a minimum you should learn to tie a short leader onto the braid- often that's all you need for shy fish.
S-T-R-I-K-E-R reply :
when I was fishing on the bank I could see a grp of suspended bass near some cover, I casted past them so I would not spook them when my t rig landed. on the retrieve of my rig, my braided main line passed between the fishes and they bolted away as soon as it crossed them. the next week, on the same spot with the same lure... I used a fluorocarbon line. and the results were better... I was able to get the lure between them. as they did not seem to react to my main line... however they did not strike my lure. but that's a different story.
Quote
smalljaw67 reply :
I use braid only for heavy flipping and frogs and both have no leaders. That said, the frogs are on top and in weeds and the flipping is in heavily stained water so the leader matters not. Now, I know Florida guys and other parts of the county there is np problem with line shyness in fish, but fish for smallmouth up my way with braid and any less than a 2' leader you may as well try to catch them with your hands, you'll have more success. The same thing with largemouth in some of the spring fed lakes, these aren't large lakes but the stay relatively clear and get a decent amount of fishing pressure. In these waters you can't fish straight braid, even when the fish are aggressive it matters. The most success we have with straight braid is with fast moving baits and even then, I had my buddy 7-1, I had 21 fish and he totaled 3 in 6 hours, he broke off and lost his leader on his first cast and didn't bring any leader material with him and so we decided to see what difference it made. I got bit quick and established a patter so my buddy followed and we used the same bait in the same color, and my buddy tried changing speed, tried fishing a different depth and while he managed 3 it wasn't until we found a good spot. 7-1 isn't so bad but at one point I had 14 and he didn't get a bite, it was when we found a small stump field with weeds is when he finally was able to catch. That may sound far fetched but that wasn't a fluke, it happens all the time in the waters I fish, guys will be cutting off lures and tying on different ones and when that leader gets down to about 16" or so you really see a sharp decline in bites, and when you get to 12" the bite will almost be nonexistent and when you go back to a 3' leader it is like a switch flipped on, you will begin to get bit again. The thing I'm describing happens on pressured water that is clear most of the time and on waters with smallmouth that are also clear, I hate fluorocarbon but you can usually fish heavier fluorocarbon and have no problem but if I go over 8# mono my bite drops off just as if I was using braid. So depending on your water it can really make a difference, especially if the fish are pressured, the water is clear, or both.
BassWhole! reply :
On 3/19/2007 at 9:57 AM, Shakes said:I started using braided line last fall when the fishing started to die down. I love it for a few different reasons.
1) It has zero line memory.
2) Casts like a dream
3) Same diameter as fluro
4) Strong as hell
After a few days of fishing, about 5 feet of the leading line tied to the lure is discolored. It looks worn but still holds up fine. I use the moss green color, and when it fades it starts to appear almost white. Its Power Pro #50 test, but Power Pro also makes the same line in a hi-vis yellow. Can they see it?
In the past MONTH, I've caught 2 bass. 2! I've thrown spinnerbaits of all shapes and colors, jigs, soft plastics, cranks, traps, buzzbaits, even jerkbaits. I've gone out to the local lake at least 4 times a week for about 3 hours per trip. What's goin on? I don't want to sound cocky but I can catch the hell out of some fish... and now I can't get a bite! Any tips would be so appreciated. Needin' some help here.
Yes, they can see it. No it won't affect the catching because of it. Braid can affect the catching for other reasons though. Oh, and thanks for the "I'm a great angler, but need help from the InterWeb®" and "braid has the same diameter as flouro" things, made my morning...
adrenalnjunky reply :
On 6/6/2017 at 7:07 PM, reason said:
Yes, they can see it. No it won't affect the catching because of it. Braid can affect the catching for other reasons though. Oh, and thanks for the "I'm a great angler, but need help from the InterWeb®" and "braid has the same diameter as flouro" things, made my morning...
Too bad OP hasn't visited the forum in 7 years.
RoLo reply :
By now, everyone knows that the sight of braided line scares the dung out of bass, So here's what I do:
> Tie 80-lb braided line directly to a 3/4 oz bank sinker (NO LURE)
> Now make a long cast parallel to the bank, and retrieve the sinker about 1½ ft off the shoreline.
> The sight of 80-lb braid will ignite a crazed frenzy, and bass will beach themselves all along the shore.
> Now simply stroll the shoreline and toss the stunned bass into a bag.
Be careful though, when using this method it's easy to exceed the daily 'BAG' limit
Remember, you heard it here first! (I'll be here every night this week)
Roger
BaitFinesse reply :
Can fish see fishing hooks?!!
fishindad reply :
1. I assume the OP is doing everything exactly the same whether it is moss green 50lb. braid or high-vis 50lb. braid. And he has caught lots of fish on moss green. Therefore it eliminates anything he's doing differently presentation-wise.
2. Up on Lake St Clair, guys fish for skis with 80lb. braid and 100lb. wire leaders. They catch muskies. They also catch incidental and overly aggressive walleyes and smallies.
3. I doubt the average person, with 20/20 vision, snorkeling in the clear waters up in Michigan could discern braided line more than 30ft away on a fast-moving lure. You'd first see the lure moving and then if you focused on the line attached...maybe. But the lure would draw your attention first.
4. Ever hear of ice fishermen using tip-ups with big suckers for pike? They often use braided line straight to a multi-hook rig and the bait is suspended down the hole. They catch monster pike.
5. Never fished for 'em but I'll bet if you dragged half a live tuna on 1/2" cable or rope with a ginormous hook stuck in it, a great white shark would have no hesitation wanting to eat that thing. I doubt they're thinking about being hooked in the jaw.
So yes, we give fish may too much credit for thinking. Fishing reaction baits, I honestly don't think fish see the line (or hooks) or even care. For smaller baits and for finesse fishing, I agree the light(er) line will give more action to the bait/lure and entice more bites than with 50lb. braid. But if a fish is hungry enough they're going to eat the bait. If they aren't in a feeding mood, well then you better make them strike out of aggression or have some live bait on board. And even that's no guarantee.
BassThumb reply :
More and more, I'm thinking we give bass way too much credit. Truthfully, it seems they're pretty d**n dumb, just creatures of habit and instinct.
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