One of the floating lines I'm currently using is a Snowbee XS in Hi-Viz orange and I have several other manufacturers lines in various muted colours like grey/olive etc.

The question is: with floating lines would the really bright hi-viz orange line be more likely to spook fish than a duller coloured one?

I have been told in the past that from below fish couldn't see the colour anyway and that any line would just appear as a grey silhouette and thus it really wouldn't matter. I appreciate that sinking lines are a completely different matter and my question is related only to floaters.

Any thoughts.

Oldtimer, this subject has been debated at length on here several times, have a search to see what folks think...there may or may not be a general appetite to go round the race track again.

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JH based near Southampton

Oops. Sorry. I will do a search before I ask a question as you're right it probably annoys people to see the same stuff.

Regards
Steve.

It doesn't annoy everyone!

The more folk get into using dull finished, mucky dark brown floating lines, the more chance they will have of catching fish.

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

I prefer a white floater. Fishes bellies are white so that they don't stand stand out against the light when a predator looks up at them. Dark colours are more easily seen, hence the effectiveness of a black dry fly.

I don't really believe the colour matters all that much, I don't think trout have the intelligence to associate a fly line with a fly, as long as you're using a reasonable length of leader. A fly-line repeatedly hitting the water may do though.

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I would recommend that you try and get hold of a copy of 'The Trout And The Fly' by Brian Clarke and John Goddard (first published 1980).There is an excellent chapter on this very subject and their pioneering photography and practical observations still rank as the definitive research on the matter, even after 30 years. Presented with the evidence, it is then up to the reader to use the most 'appropriate' colour of line. On plastic lines, surface 'flash' is another consideration but I think it fair to say that the majority of such lines these days aren't anywhere near as shiny from new, as they used to be.

"I would recommend that you try and get hold of a copy of 'The Trout And The Fly' by Brian Clarke and John Goddard".

give us a break mate! whats the point of the internet if we all have the books?

bob

We're talking here about something that's floating on the surface not in the water ... a very different scenario from what you describe.

It doesn't matter what colour line you use a fish will see it if it comes within their 'window'. Dull, matt lines are to be preferred in order mitigate against line flash which is more likely to disturb fish than the pure colour factor.

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The line will look dark from below whatever the colour and cause a silhouette, also the fly will have probably at least nine feet of leader between it and the loop, its all in the mind, learn to ignore it and fish on

Yes i cast my fly at the fish not the line it can be tartan with blue spots for all i care

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