Hi vis line

[Ryan McCaw]

A year ago I spooled up with some Vicious brand 4lb test panfish line in hi vis and used like any other line I have ever used. While the ease of which I could see my line was nice, I hardly if ever detected a bite that I would not of in another way. But most importantly to me, I never had a diminished catch. I caught what the conditions historically delivered. From vodka clear water (sorry I hate gin) to murky, and from sunny skies to rain bluegill kept coming into the boat.

what is everyone else's experience?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

As I understand the science behind such things, the frequency of light that the line reacts to  - that which causes it to "flouresce" - rapidly decreases in intensity below the surface of the water. Indeed, we know this to be true for the entire light spectrum. So, once in the water the glowing of the line we enjoy above the surface has no significant effect below. It tends to blend as well as anything else so the fish aren't spooked by it.

Fluorescent line has been around for a long time, and has kind of fallen from fashion these days. What it seems Vicious has done here is change the packaging to fit into the "$1 Rack" niche. Same sort of line, different way to sell it.

I've used the Vicious line, too, and have noted its ability to seemingly disappear in the water. To be on the safe side, I usually start out the day with a leader of 1 or 2 lb ice fishing line when 'gill fishing. I probably dont need to, as you note. In fact, I often end up with the leader broken off and just the main line tied to a hook.

I've never really taken any notice of the lines effect on catch rate. I'm pretty casual about such things myself. But I thank you for bringing it up.

[Ryan McCaw]

I agree with you about the science behind the color decreasing at depth. My curiosity is how it pans out in the real world. My medical research and now pond science background has taught me that science is complex and doesn't always follow the rules. When I fish at 8-10 feet deep, I have complete confidence in the line blending into the background. But when I sight fish at 2-3 feet deep it doesn't have the depth to do its thing. Yet I can still pull fish out. I even can sometimes get close enough to watch them take the bait at the end of my glowing line.

I am considering switching over to Trilene Sensation - blaze orange to see if it is a little more manageable than the Vicious. vicious was good but I found the copolymer a little stiff at times.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Well....Im not really a "line head," myself. I usually buy whats affordable, at WalMart or internet sources like OverstockBait.com. This is why I tried the Vicious panfish line when I saw it... inexpensive. This said, most line comes across pretty much the same to me.

But my guess is that the yellow fluorescent color of the Vicious line is such that it isn't readily seen by them. This may have something to do with their color perception - it could explain a lot.

Trying something else in a comparison like that orange fluoro stuff could provide some answers.

[Mark Stine]

Visibility will definitely effect the bite.  I don't worry so much about visibility of the line on my spool but I do tie in about 18" of flourocarbon  leader.  I was convinced when my buddy was catching one gill to my three, added the flourocarbon leader and immediately started catching more fish.

[Ryan McCaw]

What knot do you use to splice the two lines?

[Mark Stine]

uni knot splice works great for splicing two lines (http://www.powerpro.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/power_pro...)

[Ryan McCaw]

Big fan of the uniknot. Just asking incase there was a bigger and betater knot out there. I sometimes use blood knots to splice lines but am not sure if it works on the "super lines"

[Slip Sinker]

    i know a lot of anglers dont like to use braid because they claim it has visibility issues that allow the fish to detect the line in their environment. i use spider wire stealth and have actually seen my catch increase significantly because of the extreme sensitivity. mono just has so much stretch and lack of sensitivity that i actually will refuse to fish with it any longer.

    the occasional bass that hit the panfish bait could actually be horsed in if needed.