Line colour: hi-vis, stealth or clear
Hi-vis PE (yellow / pink / chartreuse)
Traits
- You see the line jump, swim or go slack
- A fluoro leader hides the last metres
- Dyes fade; that is cosmetic
Best for
- Drop shot, Ned, Neko, jerkbait on the pause
Trade-offs
- Tied direct in clear water
Metered multicolour PE
Traits
- Colour changes every 10 m, marks every 1 m
- Count depth and cast distance
Best for
- Vertical jigging, counting a bait down, trolling
Trade-offs
- Nothing — a hi-vis with a ruler built in
Dark / moss / black
Traits
- Low reflection, blends with cover
- You lose the line-watch
Best for
- Frog, punch, flipping tied direct; rock and wood
Trade-offs
- Finesse where the bite is seen
Clear fluorocarbon
Traits
- RI 1.42 — least visible
- Diameter matters more than tint
Best for
- Every leader; bottom-rig main line
Trade-offs
Tinted fluorocarbon (pink / green)
Traits
- Pink is the first colour to vanish with depth
- Green blends in stained water
- A marginal edge at best
Best for
- Stained-water leaders (green), deep clear (pink)
Trade-offs
- Paying extra for "invisible"
Related chapters
- Largemouth · Vision — Why line colour matters less than diameter — then pick a colour for YOUR eyes, not the fish's