Sharpie and Braid 2025

K.Fox reply :

Why use a black sharpie with braid? Black is a go to color for my plastics except in gin clear lakes. I understand braid looses its color and maybe more visable but why black?

ww2farmer reply :

Who says you have to use black? I don't. I use green, darkens the line just fine, and looks almost like new.

K.Fox reply :

Green would make more sense. I have seen shows, read articles and have seen the Elites using black. I would think that black would be one of the worst colors to choose.

BassThumb reply :

I think the reason why people use black is because they are fishing, pitching, flipping, punching lures around heavy weeds, trying to catch bass that are in the shadows. You're right, a black line would stand out like a sore thumb in open water. But in the shadows of a weedbed, a black or gunmetal line blends right in.

Green would make a better choice for open water situations, so I use the green marker often. I'm beginning to think that for fishing topwaters like buzzbaits, frogs and toads, that bright silvery white color might be the best option. The bass will be looking upward at these topwater lures and will see the line and lure against the bright backdrop of the sky.

Maybe it makes a difference to the bass and maybe it doesn't, but it makes sense to me and I don't think it can hurt.

K.Fox reply :

"I'm beginning to think that for fishing topwaters like buzzbaits, frogs and toads, that bright silvery white color might be the best option. The bass will be looking upward at these topwater lures and will see the line and lure against the bright backdrop of the sky."

Thats good thinking...

Burke reply :

That is what i was reading about the other day about the markers that they are using on the braid line. I would use black/green for this.... that reminds me to get some markers

Hammer 4 reply :

Diawa Samurai braid retains most of the green color, no sharpies needed.

hookingem reply :

Quote
Diawa Samurai braid retains most of the green color, no sharpies needed.

It also costs and arm and a leg... ;D

Hammer 4 reply :

Quote

Quote
Diawa Samurai braid retains most of the green color, no sharpies needed.

It also costs and arm and a leg... ;D

Depends on where you buy it, has come down in price. I get the 150 yd spools, bought one from here for 15.00..

Luke at Gouldsboro reply :

If you use a marker to touch up braid, here's a tip. Find a sharpie with a wide or chisel tip. Take a razorblade, and cut a small "v" into the marker tip. Then all you do is put the line in the "v",hold the lure or end of the line and run the marker up and down. It's a lot easier and faster than a regular sharpie. ;D

MMan16 reply :

I use a black marker to camo my line. Basically I alternate black, green line, black and so on up the line as far as I determine I want to go. I feel it helps break up the outline possibly making the line a little less noticeable to the fish.

J Francho reply :

Quote
I use a black marker to camo my line. Basically I alternate black, green line, black and so on up the line as far as I determine I want to go. I feel it helps break up the outline possibly making the line a little less noticeable to the fish.

You can do this a lot easier by simply marking 1/2 the spool.

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
Depends on where you buy it, has come down in price. I get the 150 yd spools, bought one from here for 15.00..

Geez...

I would like to try some for $15.

Is there anymore available?

steezy reply :

Quote
Diawa Samurai braid retains most of the green color, no sharpies needed.

X10, its more expensive but you dont have to waste money on sharpies and your time coloring the line and its almost silent moving through the guides.

Powerpro sounds like a hacksaw moving through the guides.

Hammer 4 reply :

Quote

Quote
Depends on where you buy it, has come down in price. I get the 150 yd spools, bought one from here for 15.00..

Geez...

I would like to try some for $15.

Is there anymore available?

Doubt it Kent, bought it about 8 months ago.. ;D Always have my eyes peeled for it though. If I run across any, I'll be sure and let you know..

MMan16 reply :

Quote

Quote
I use a black marker to camo my line. Basically I alternate black, green line, black and so on up the line as far as I determine I want to go. I feel it helps break up the outline possibly making the line a little less noticeable to the fish.

You can do this a lot easier by simply marking 1/2 the spool.

I LIKE IT! Can't believe I never thought of it.

Helpingverbs reply :

I need finally somebody to comment about the scent of the sharpie. It seems to me that it would be a big fish turn off. I wont do it until somebody sets me straight on this!

wdp reply :

On 2/18/2017 at 2:58 PM, Helpingverbs said:

I need finally somebody to comment about the scent of the sharpie. It seems to me that it would be a big fish turn off. I wont do it until somebody sets me straight on this!

Depends on the type of Sharpie. The big, wide tip sharpies have a strong chemical smell. I'm sure it's whatever organic solvent it used for the permenant ink. The smaller sharpies with a fine tip don't hardly have a smell that I can tell. And what little smell there is fades rather quickly. You can still cut the notch in the smaller sharpies to make it easier to apply to the line.

On 3/18/2011 at 10:01 AM, MMan16 said:

I LIKE IT! Can't believe I never thought of it.

It actually works well. I "camo'd" half a spool of braid on my reel once by alternating different greens and browns. Took a little effort, but it turned out well. Now I'm too lazy to repeat it, lol.

jbrew73 reply :

this whole topic has always seemed odd to me.. two of the most popular colors for plastic are black and green i assume because the fish can see them and yet we color our lines those colors to keep the fish from seeing it.. i always struggle trying to understand this concept. can any explain why this makes since?

Choporoz reply :

Why color line at all? I see small bass come to check out my line all the time... Doesn't seem to matter if it's brown, green, yellow, clear, etc. Has bass' pea brain actually determined that it is best NOT to eat something with line nearby? Maybe...Just maybe your line might actually lead a fish to your lure? I have no clue, but I'm not at all convinced that I do worse with yellow braid than with camo or brow or green. The greatest consideration for me is whether or not I can see the line

MickD reply :

On 3/17/2011 at 11:01 PM, MMan16 said:

I use a black marker to camo my line. Basically I alternate black, green line, black and so on up the line as far as I determine I want to go. I feel it helps break up the outline possibly making the line a little less noticeable to the fish.

I think many are missing this aspect of using markers, to break up the image of the line by not marking all the line, but marking it in patches to "camoflage"l it.

Fisher-O-men reply :

I've got a bud that catches fish when nobody else does. He swears by (not at) black braid. He fishes in a lake that is as clear as an aquarium! He only uses a leader around sharp rocks.

rippin-lips reply :

Holy old thread revival!

Bluebasser86 reply :

I used to color mine, the smell doesn't bother the fish at all. Now I fish Seaguar Flippin braid, it's black to start eith.

MANASSASBASSER reply :

Why not just use spiderweb camo braid that's what I use.

Angry John reply :

I just let it fade and let it look like the stalk of the pad that i am fishing

Darren. reply :

WOW, aNOTHER old thread revival! PREACH!!

Amazing what Feb of 2017 brings in terms of old

threads.

Hey, I tried coloring my braid. Worked! Black, too.

But I still prefer to use a leader. Go figure!

RoLo reply :

Ghost braid is white, thin and very hard to see.

But a few stripes with a black Sharpie makes line-movement easier to see

Not the right answer?

WRB reply :

Lets see blue, yellow, green, black and white braids are all popular maybe bass in cover don't care about line color. When I use braid it's Fins green, color doesn't fade or run.

Tom

Helpingverbs reply :

On 2/18/2017 at 3:16 PM, wdp said:

Depends on the type of Sharpie. The big, wide tip sharpies have a strong chemical smell. I'm sure it's whatever organic solvent it used for the permenant ink. The smaller sharpies with a fine tip don't hardly have a smell that I can tell. And what little smell there is fades rather quickly. You can still cut the notch in the smaller sharpies to make it easier to apply to the line.

It actually works well. I "camo'd" half a spool of braid on my reel once by alternating different greens and browns. Took a little effort, but it turned out well. Now I'm too lazy to repeat it, lol.

And you? A sharpie inhaler? Thanks for your input but I'm still not doin it.

wdp reply :

On 2/28/2017 at 12:46 PM, Helpingverbs said:

And you? A sharpie inhaler? Thanks for your input but I'm still not doin it.

Ha! Not an inhaler, but I learned the hard way. Decided to try the big, wide tip sharpie one day figuring it would be easier to apply. 2 days later I could still smell the solvent on my line from the sharpie. Not sure, but could've damaged the line as well so I cut that couple of ft of line off my spool.

Never had a problem with the regular sharpies tho.

Big Bait Fishing reply :

On 2/18/2017 at 9:53 PM, Choporoz said:

Why color line at all? I see small bass come to check out my line all the time... Doesn't seem to matter if it's brown, green, yellow, clear, etc. Has bass' pea brain actually determined that it is best NOT to eat something with line nearby? Maybe...Just maybe your line might actually lead a fish to your lure? I have no clue, but I'm not at all convinced that I do worse with yellow braid than with camo or brow or green. The greatest consideration for me is whether or not I can see the line

i have been switching all my braided lines to hi-vis yellow , braid or line color is not an issue at all relating to fish seeing it , i use the hi-vis yellow for my own visibility

RichF reply :

Flipping in thick grass = 99% reaction bite....the bass aren't going to care about your line. But by all means, keep your line outta the water so you can color it. I'll catch all the fish in between.

Thanks for starting that trend Denny!

Mike L reply :

The things folks worry about.....

Mike

3769

Sharpie and Braid 2025

related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic