Advice Fishing line/Shock leader colour?

[AndyA]

Does the colour of your fishing line or shock leader matter at all?

I've just been looking online for some shock leader and my local Go Outdoors only has the Orange Ultrasonik 60lb in stock. Does the colour make any difference?

 

[groundswell]

Does the colour of your fishing line or shock leader matter at all?

I've just been looking online for some shock leader and my local Go Outdoors only has the Orange Ultrasonik 60lb in stock. Does the colour make any difference?

It will to you, it will be far easier seen, as far as the fish go ?

 

[Skaterboy]

The only bit of line the fish might see is the bit attached to your hook. I've always used clear mono for hook lengths but whether it made any difference is anyone's guess. The colour of your shock leader shouldn't make any difference.

 

[wingnut55]

Shouldn't make any difference, just easier to see. I personally use Red and Orange tappered leaders on Yellow mono. Personal choice.

Ian.

 

[Trampster]

Always use the same clear line about 60Lb for shock leaders & rig bodies. Not for any reason, it just happened to be what I bought.
20 - 30Lb clear flouro for traces usually.

 

[AndyA]

I got there and they had some Westlake clear 60lb on display, at only £4 for 50 metres I thought I'd give it a go.

 

[Mushty]

I have always used clear everything, just feel a bit more confident using it.

 

[welshtroutfisher]

No idea if it would make any difference on a leader appart from visibility. I use clear purely because I use the same spool for leaders and snoods in asso classic. Have thought about it but I use yellow main line and theat does me fine

 

[SirGunner]

I've been using Yuki Safu, half red half clear tapered leaders which have been great. They're clear down the business end but at the knot end the red stands out nicely when reeling back in so you can see when the leader is almost back on the reel. They're a smidge more expensive than other tapered leaders like Asso but they come 10 per pack rather than 5 so actually work out a touch cheaper

 

[The Third Earl]

I know one very successful Holderness Coast angler who used bright red mono hooklengths on Cod rigs day or night , settled or rough conds .
And he catches !

I think its more down to a confidence thing than anything else . What you dont know is what the fish thinks , and you probably will only ever be able to make a guess at best on that .

I use Red 30 lb hooklengths for Wrasse , they dont seem to mind either .

Bright yellow or red braid mainline , no probs with that .



Dave

 

[Wolf]

I use a coloured main line with a different coloured shock leader,then a clear mono hook trace.

 

[AndyA]

Thanks one and all, very much appreciated

I'm planning on using 30lb mono mainline (I already have some) and the 60lb line as a shockleader, I was also going to make up some more 2 hook flapper rigs with the 60lb line too. Would that work?

I already have several 2 hook flapper rigs made with the 30lb mono, I was using them with my 10lb mainline on my smaller reels. Are those 30lb rigs going to be redundant once I start using 30lb mainline?

 

[Angrybear]

I use different colours on each reel, because it's easier to un- tangle,
Never noticed it make any difference to bites.

 

[welshtroutfisher]

Thanks one and all, very much appreciated

I'm planning on using 30lb mono mainline (I already have some) and the 60lb line as a shockleader, I was also going to make up some more 2 hook flapper rigs with the 60lb line too. Would that work?

I already have several 2 hook flapper rigs made with the 30lb mono, I was using them with my 10lb mainline on my smaller reels. Are those 30lb rigs going to be redundant once I start using 30lb mainline?

Ideally you want 10lb per oz of lead for the leader, so a 6oz is 60lb shock. For what I do I use 100lb rig bodies and 60-100lb snoods.

For rigs with 2/3 hooks (flapper or clipped down) I use 40lb. I mostly target rays, eels, huss and hounds.

I only use 30lb for rough ground fishing, otherwise my general line is 20lb and light duty is 15lb. Hope this helps

 

[wingnut55]

The rule of thumb for leaders is 10lb per oz, plus 10lb.

Ian.

 

[Mr Fish]

Really don’t think it matters for shock leader.

I’m still not 100% convinced that it matters for hook length either, unless you fish for mullet or in gin clear water, but I tend to use mostly clear for hook traces just in case

 

[Trampster]

Thanks one and all, very much appreciated

I'm planning on using 30lb mono mainline (I already have some) and the 60lb line as a shockleader, I was also going to make up some more 2 hook flapper rigs with the 60lb line too. Would that work?

I already have several 2 hook flapper rigs made with the 30lb mono, I was using them with my 10lb mainline on my smaller reels. Are those 30lb rigs going to be redundant once I start using 30lb mainline?

I would say use your 60Lb for the shock leader and the rig body, but I would go for a lighter trace/hook line of 20 - 30Lb.

Regarding Tapered shock leaders, my practical nature says I won't use them. I tend to use mono mainline around 30Lb, and most of the tapered leaders I've seen are at most around 18Lb at the thin end, so if you get snagged, you're creating a weak spot of 18Lb where the leader joins the main line, and you stand to lose the whole rig instead of just a hook trace or weight.

 

[SirGunner]

I would say use your 60Lb for the shock leader and the rig body, but I would go for a lighter trace/hook line of 20 - 30Lb.

Regarding Tapered shock leaders, my practical nature says I won't use them. I tend to use mono mainline around 30Lb, and most of the tapered leaders I've seen are at most around 18Lb at the thin end, so if you get snagged, you're creating a weak spot of 18Lb where the leader joins the main line, and you stand to lose the whole rig instead of just a hook trace or weight.

What strength mainline do you fish with @Trampster ?

I always strip the first 8ft or so off the tapered leader before I tie it on. As its tapered from about .30mm up around .60mm you can match it to your mainline when tying it on.

 

[Trampster]

What strength mainline do you fish with @Trampster ?

I always strip the first 8ft or so off the tapered leader before I tie it on. As its tapered from about .30mm up around .60mm you can match it to your mainline when tying it on.

As in my post, about 30Lb Mono. I tried Braid once before but got endless wind knots on the reel I was using at the time. I've bought some better quality to try but haven't put it on a spare spool yet. I use 2 15ft Conti rods for bait fishing, so I need a leader of about 10 metres/30ft to go the length of the rod, a few times around the spool, and allow for a drop. Most of the tapered leaders I've seen have only been about 10 metres, so I couldn't chop much off.

 

[SirGunner]

As in my post, about 30Lb Mono. I tried Braid once before but got endless wind knots on the reel I was using at the time. I've bought some better quality to try but haven't put it on a spare spool yet. I use 2 15ft Conti rods for bait fishing, so I need a leader of about 10 metres/30ft to go the length of the rod, a few times around the spool, and allow for a drop. Most of the tapered leaders I've seen have only been about 10 metres, so I couldn't chop much off.

Sorry Trampster I meant diameter not sure why I typed strength lol
The Yuki Safu leaders I've been using are 15 metres in length so plenty of line still when I remove 8ft