BY MIKE STEVENS
SAN CLEMENTE – Personal preference comes into play in just about every aspect of fishing, and while that is very much the case when it comes to braid color, there are considerations some anglers take when deciding what color to go with.
The fishing line specialists at P-Line are leaning into braid color factors with its new EndurX Zero-Fade Braid, which has all the benefits of traditional braided line (in a premium 8-carrier makeup), but it’s also made with a no-fade material that results in unmatched color retention which is guaranteed for the life of the line. P-Line EndurX Braid is available in 10- to 80-pound test, 150, 300 and 2,500-yard spools and four colors (Aqua Blue, Electric Green, Midnight Black and Monster Green.
The very general consensus when it comes to the science behind braid color and how it affects fishing is, yes, fish can see the color, but it doesn’t really seem to affect whether or not they will bite. Really, it comes down to high-visibility vs. muted colors, but there could be certain advantages of one specific color over another in each specific situation. Using the EndurX colors, here are some of the common considerations that come up when anglers are deciding on braid color
High-vis/Bright
On the freshwater side (and in some saltwater applications) a high visibility line is preferred in situations in which the angler is visibly detecting bites. This is almost always in a slack-line situation when bites aren’t as easily detected by feel. So a line that is easy to see like the EndurX Aqua Blue and Electric Green is often preferred for bottom-contact tactics wit drop-shots, jigs, worms and Ned rigs.
A wide range of braid colors is used in saltwater, so that’s where angler preference is really the overwhelming factor. Fluorocarbon or even just a mono leader puts a good amount of separation from the bait or lure and the braid, so a fish detecting the braid and refusing to bite is uncommon. But there is one thing to consider if using braid on a sportboat. Deckhands hate dark braid because it’s way harder to see when untangling the line with potentially several other anglers. Next time you’re on a sportboat with green or black braid, hold it up with the water in the background and take note of how hard it is to see.
There is also a school of thought with the Aqua Blue in particular, and that is the possibility that it’s easy for the angler to see, but harder for a fish (looking up with the sky in the background) to pick up on. If that is the case, Aqua Blue delivers the best of both worlds, so it certainly doesn’t hurt to go with that option when rolling with high-vis. Some inshore anglers rely on high-vis braid as well depending on the tactics they are putting into play.
Natural/Muted
Clear water and moving baits typically call for EndurX Black or Monster Green because it does offer more stealth (especially when working with a short leader, or no leader at all) and the ability to visibly detect bites is not as important in a tight-line situation (especially with no stretch) with reaction baits. As for Midnight Black vs. Monster Green, that’s almost entirely an angler-preference call, either one is going to blend in behind a lure traveling through the water column rather than slowly creeping along the bottom.
When it comes down to it, braid colors are more for the angler and his or her techniques than factors in to whether or not a fish will bite. Even with the high-visibility stuff, the option of adding a fluoro leader is always there to set your mind at ease when the bite is slow.
For more info on P-Line EndurX Zero-Fade Braid and all P-Line has to offer, visit P-Line.com
