If you’ve been hanging around very many hard core bass fishermen for any length of time, there’s a good chance that you’ve been hearing them say that they dye the last few feet of their braided line black.
The reason they do this is because they claim that the fish can’t see the black line. Meanwhile , in another conversation those same folks will advise you to throw dark colored lures, such as black and blue.
Is Black Fishing Line Good?
So here’s the question; Is black fishing line good? Is there a secret about black colored fishing line that you should know about? If black fishing line is supposed to be invisible to fish, then why are we using dark colored lures at the same time? Is there a good reason to color the last few feet of your braided line black?
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as cut and dry as you’re probably hoping it would be. As a matter of fact, I’m just going to say that it depends solely on each individual angler as well as a number of situational factors.
Why Do People Color The End of Their Line Black?
The reason you’ll find people coloring the last few feet of their braided fishing line black is because over time, the dye that colors the braided fishing line fades over time. If left completely alone, that dark moss green colored line you have on your spool will eventually turn white.
For many anglers this is a problem. They believe the bright colored line is much more visible to the fish that they’re targeting.
The only issue I have with this train of thought is that many of us anglers choose to use bright, hi-vis braided line for just that very reason…to see it!
Anyway, as the line begins to fade, the angler will use a sharpie to darken the last several feet of line. I believe this is more of a psychological action on the part of the angler than an actual physical benefit. And by psychological I mean it instills confidence in the angler. They believe the line is less visible, so they approach their fishing much more confidently.
Does Using Black Fishing Line Help?
Many anglers agree that using a darker colored fishing line is beneficial. It’s believed that the darker color in the water resembles the natural environment, such as grass, sticks and other debris.
With that said, I have personally found that using a bright, hi-vis braided fishing line works very similar, if not the same, as darker colored braided line. The same is true for those times when I’ve used a clear 3 foot fluorocarbon leader attached to the braid.
