Most people like to fish in the mornings, especially when the sun is rising, as the morning rush is usually the most productive time of fishing. However, some people like fishing at night and think their lines are as visible at night as they are in the mornings. This brings us to the question, can fish see braided line at night?
Braided lines have a lot of advantages that convince people to make use of them. However, their blatant visibility isn’t one of them. Fortunately, when night fishing, the visibility of braided lines is heavily reduced.
In this article, let us take a deep dive into the visibility of braided fishing lines at night, the most appropriate colors for braided fishing lines, tips for stealth, and more. If you want to be a good-no, a great night angler, you MUST read this article.
Can Fish See Braided Fishing Line At Night?
Braided lines are remarkable for their extreme strength and optimal use for highly dense areas, especially when fishing near trees and seagrass. However, they are known to be very visible to anglers and especially to fish.
Most fish see fishing lines, especially more so for braided fishing lines. At night, the story is similar but not the same as some fish species have some night vision that can give some fish species more advantage over others.
It is one of the primary reasons why some fish are easier to catch at night while others can be acquired easier in the mornings.
The visibility of your braided rods at night will heavily rely on many factors. This article section will discuss these variables and some tips on mitigating them.
- The Amount Of Ambient Light (Or All Light Sources, For That Matter)
When it comes to night fishing, it gets dark, really dark. However, some areas might be darker than others. The ambient light heavily affects the visibility of your fishing line, especially if your fishing line is as visible as a braided fishing line.
This is where we will take into account the amount of ambient light your fishing spot is receiving.
Ambient lights or fishing lights (especially when near a pier or on a full moon) are not necessarily harmful to that matter. In most cases, lights attract fish to go near your fishing spot, especially when the lights are stable and warm and do not fluctuate every few seconds.
Light Attracts Fish
Fish are more active when there is light; for example, some fish respond to whether the moon is full or new due to the amount of light projected on the water.
However, especially in areas with a lot of fishing, it is probably better to keep the light to a minimum. The reasoning behind this is that, under heavily fished areas, it is pretty safe to assume that fish residing within the area are line shy, making line visibility (or the lack thereof) more optimal than attracting fish using fishing lights.
- The Type Of Fish You Are Fishing For
For line visibility at night, especially for braided lines, it is imperative to note that each fish species has different night vision capabilities. While other fish struggle heavily with seeing at night due to their poor vision, some fish are considered more active at night as they feed at those times. Therefore, they have better eyesight at night and may spot your shiny braided line at night.
- Is Your Fishing Line Fluorescent Or Not?
Although braided lines are already visible enough, some people want fluorescent fishing lines to better observe their lines at night. People may wish to have fluorescent lines for many reasons, but it’s not to reduce visibility.
Not only does this make the line more apparent for you, fish may pick up on the location of your line as well, which may be fine for most fishes but not those who are line shy.
Are Braided Fishing Lines Visible Underwater? Which Fishing Lines Are The Least And Most Visible?
There are many types of lines, such as monofilaments, braids, and fluorocarbons. Although monofilaments may be the poorest of them regarding underwater visibility, braided fishing lines still come at a close second. Let us discuss these three fishing lines for a more in-depth discussion.
First off, let’s start with braided fishing lines. Most fish will see these fishing lines, especially on clear waters or using a specific fishing technique called finesse fishing. However, braid is pretty decent under murky waters or if you are fishing at night.
Comparison of Braided Line to Monofilament Line
Now let’s compare our braided fishing lines to the monofilament fishing lines. Usually, monofilament is the cheapest, and because of its thick diameter, fish will spot it easily. Especially if you are using fishing techniques that require stealth or wit to fool the fish into biting, monofilament fishing lines are a poor choice.
The last fishing line on the table is called fluorocarbon fishing line. These fishing lines are excellent for stealth as they have reflective capabilities that blend themselves with their surroundings even on clear water. However, fluorocarbons are very thin, which may be suitable for stealth but not best for durability.
The Colors for Braided Lines Does Matter: Here’s Why
We may consider the form factor as the significant variable for visibility, but one thing we often forget to take into account is the colors of our fishing lines. The colors of our fishing lines play a huge factor in the visibility of our fishing lines for obvious reasons.
When it comes to the colors of the fishing line, there are many things we can do to reduce or increase visibility, and there is no one size fits all answer to this. That is why in this section of the article, let us discuss the colors of the fishing lines and the colors that suit the best for each working condition.
- Dark Green Braided Fishing Line
Dark green fishing lines are pretty much visible on crystal clear water. Because of their contrast to the sunlight-rich bright waters, especially when compared to its very blatant dark green hue.
Dark green fishing lines are not recommended if you are fishing on clear waters. However, there are specific use cases for them.
Dark green fishing lines are popular for very muddy water or dark emerald waters where weeds may be rampant. Their dark green hue will act as camouflage and make them fit in with the surrounding water.
- White and Blue Braided Fishing Line
These fishing lines are renowned for their decreased visibility on crystal clear waters. Although not wholly invisible, white and blue fishing lines stay relatively hidden compared to other colors available in the market.
However, this decreased visibility on crystal clear waters doesn’t mean they can be the best choice for all working conditions. For example, blue and white fishing lines stand out like a sore thumb on stained waters, especially when the waters are murky and muddy.
- Green Braided Fishing Line
Not to confuse dark green fishing lines, green braided fishing lines are great options whenever you fish on stained waters, especially on stagnant lakes. However, their stealth takes a complete toll when used on crystal clear waters.
- Red and Yellow Braided Fishing Line
Red and yellow braided fishing lines are pretty awesome if you want your fishing lines to stick out in every type of use case, ever. However, if stealth is your game, then these two wouldn’t probably cut it for you. Nevertheless, this does not mean that red and yellow braided fishing lines are bad.
They are constructed like this for a reason. In situations where you want to track your fishing line, like when you are fishing on a boat, it is best to use this as it allows for an easier time spotting fish from the water. So, if you want a line that is easy to retrieve, maybe give these two colors a shot, especially if stealth isn’t particularly a huge concern for you.
- Reflective Chrome Coating
All the color guides above are mostly usable on bright days, but what happens if we turn to dark moonlit nights? Well, for night fishing sessions, take braided fishing lines with a reflective chrome coating.
This coating is impressive as it can reflect the moonlight’s shine and makes itself look more natural on moonlit nights. Moreover, they have subtle colors that may also give it an advantage in the daylight.
Why Should I Use Braided Lines?
Braided lines are excellent fishing lines made out of some synthetic fiber. Braided fishing lines are also more superior when it comes to strength.
The reason behind this is because braids generally make rolled-out materials like wires and fishing lines stronger when compared to their non-braided counterparts due to their increased ability to stretch.
Moreover, braided fishing lines are more resistant to pulling and pushing, making them amazing lines for strong fish and fishing under dense fishing spots where seagrass, roots from trees, and more usually grow.
Braided Fishing Line is Ideal
Another thing that makes braided fishing lines very ideal is that, unlike monofilament fishing lines which generally require a thicker form factor to stay strong, braided fishing lines, even with their decreased diameter, retain stronger and have more stress resistance capacity. Additionally, this decrease in diameter is beneficial to help keep the stealth factor better than the thick monofilament fishing lines.
Although much pricier compared to monofilament fishing lines, braided fishing lines have lower costs in the long run. This lower cost is reflected as they usually last longer, especially when stored and appropriately reeled compared to their monofilament cousins.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Using Braided Fishing Lines?
It may not come as a surprise that the braiding mechanism braided fishing lines have resulted in less stealth when compared to the incredibly thin fluorocarbon fishing lines.
Most people buy braided fishing lines for their strength, not exactly for their ability to reduce visibility in the water (assuming it has that).
Another thing that braided fishing lines have is their double-edged sword of having extra-strong lines, as this can be huge trouble whenever your line is snagged, wherein you will need to break it.
Additionally, braided fishing lines can induce extreme stress to the other parts of your fishing rod.
However strong your fishing line may be, when your fishing rod is not made for bending, it will only be as strong as your fishing rod. It can result in premature wear and breakage to the overall line.
Additionally, braided fishing lines have a higher upfront cost which will be a problem for a specific demographic.
In the event of a backlash, braided fishing lines are difficult to untangle and retrieve. It can pose a problem as braided fishing lines also require sharper cutting tools to cut completely.
How Do I Fish At Night While Limiting My Braided Line’s Visibility?
When you are new to night fishing, it may feel intimidating and somewhat confusing. Here we discuss some tips to fish at night while limiting light to ensure that your braided line will not be easily spotted by fish (which is essential when fishing for line shy fish).
The first thing you should learn how to do is to learn to be comfortable with the darkness. Making too much noise or having the need to have a light with you always is a no-go when trying to hide in the dark. Additionally, night fishing with a light beside you will attract many bugs and flies, which may induce more movement and disturb you.
Sensitive Rod
Having a sensitive fishing rod, preferably through a graphite fishing rod, is essential to ensure you notice every inch of your rod. While on the topic of sensitivity, it is also important to ensure you are sensitive enough to detect the slightest disturbances to your rod especially under the dark.
Another critical thing to know while fishing at night is to keep track of where you are at all times. Not only does this assure you that you are safe from near prohibited areas, but you will also be less likely to get lost. No one wants to get lost fishing, especially at night. Make sure to bring a GPS with you in case you find yourself in unfamiliar territory or lost.
No matter how much we keep our braided line at stealth, you would probably have a hard time catching very wary fish if you keep the decibel levels up. While fishing, it is important to keep your noise to a minimum by not moving too much and not bringing too much unnecessary equipment.
Answering three braided, intertwined, frequently asked questions (FAQs) about braided fishing lines
- Why do some institutions or places discourage or even ban the use of braided fishing lines?
Braided fishing lines are sometimes banned in some fishing clubs or related institutions because of their tendency for misuse and harm they cause fish.
Fishing for sport is where fish can be harmed and even killed. The fish tend to suffer significantly if caught for sport. Clubs will ban the use of braiding lines to avoid the stress and harm that these lines can cause the fish.
- Are fish more active at night or in the day? Why should I fish at night?
Fish are active at night, however, it depends on the type of fish. Some fish feed in the day, which means that they are typically more active during the sunlight hours and are dormant during the night where it is colder and darker.
However, some fish, especially predatory ones like tarpon and snook, like to use the night to their advantage. Since some fish, especially the smaller ones, are inactive or dormant at night, they will be easy prey.
With this in mind, if you are looking for bigger, more predatory fish, it can be rewarding to fish at night where they feed. Not only that, but if you are fishing at night and for some reason have a smaller, dormant fish feeding on your bait, they can be easier to pull out and not give much of a fight compared to how feistier they are in the day.
- Are all fish line shy?
Fish, aren’t typically line shy. Meaning that they don’t care if a line is visible or not, as they aren’t aware of the dangers or the implications of such yet. However, fish residing in heavily fished areas will become weary and aware of the implications of a fishing line.
Moreover, some fish are more line shy than others. As some fish generally need to have bait presented in a specific manner, they can become “line shy” even though they are not technically “line shy.”
Conclusion
Now you know everything you need to know about braided fishing line and if fish can see it at night. I hope you enjoyed this article and got some useful information from it. If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the comments section below. Until next time Happy Fishing!
Cory Haasnoot
Cory is a content writer-editor and founder of Tackle Box Talk. Favorite Quote: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."