Years ago I use to dye all my floating fly lines a dark brown colour using Dylon. After reading Goddard and Clarke's classic book: "The Trout and The Fly", and getting nagged by Dick Walker in a couple of letters, I did this as a matter of course.

I caught adequate numbers of trout of course. Then for some reason I got lazy and a couple of new Scientific Angler floating lines were not dyed, but I still caught fish nevertheless. I certainly noticed that most anglers in the UK used brightly coloured floating lines and still caught fish.

The other day the water on my local reservoir became crystal clear and the fish were very difficult to tempt. So I put up a clear intermediate (slime line) with a 3lb fluorocarbon tippet and immediately I started catching fish. So perhaps It was the bright colours of my fly line that were scaring the fish?

I've thought a great deal in my life about the colours of fly lines and what they should be. But what do you think the colours of fly lines should be? Let's see if we are on the same planet?

Interesting Thoughts RC,

But not to put a dampner on it, do you not think that the 'presentation' aspect of your fishing, and delicacy of your setup was the result of your catching fish?

As for colours of fly lines, I believe they are fine they way they are.

GC

I am from a coarse fishing background and it is my opinion that the most important line as far as the fish are concerned is the 8 to 10 inches that is connected to your hook.The thinner the diameter of this 8 to 10 inches or the more supple it is will affect how natural the hook behaves in the water.

I use a high viz orange floating line mostly so I don't consider it a problem.It is always good to be thinking about what you can change to improve presentation but personally I am happy to use any colour of fly line with confidence.

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Theres more to fishing than just fish.

They certainly believe in dull floating lines in NZ but I have no preference, I use fluro and clear floaters.It does not seem to make any difference to the amount I catch.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Personally i can blank with hi-viz or clear makes no diffrence

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[SIZE="4"]BRITISH BY BIRTH , SCOTTISH BY THE GRACE OF GOD..[/SIZE]

has anyone else used black or brown or a dark coloured line? i havent

Woudl this be for a Floater or Sinking line Mark?

GC

The colour of floating lines can make a lot of difference.

Nice little Link WS, but do you also think it is partially psychosymatic (sp?) as to wether you/I/we catch more with a coloured or dull line?

GC

I agree. The only example I would concede where fly line colour can occasionally make a difference is clear intermediates in clear water, although saying that I have often done just as well/badly with an olive coloured intermediate in such situations, so I'm not even convinced then. All floating lines are seen in sillouette anyway.

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