When to use Hi-Vis?

[Nauti Natured]

Can anyone help explain the advantages / disadvantages to the high vis lines out there? I was looking at the Yellow sufix braid. I have never used them simply because I fear it will be hi-vis to the fish too! For so long they sold us on how a certain color was almost invisible in the water. What am I missing here?

Are there certain species that you can use this on and others you dont? I am trying to figure out if I want to put this on my go-to, do everything reels which I plan to use on Kings, Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Sails, or anything else I might run into in the blue NC waters. I dont plan on using it inshore.

Sorry if this is an old topic but I had a hard time finding any discussion on the subject. Thanks in advance for your input!

[mrfishy]

I'm also looking forward to hearing thoughts on this. I have Hi-Viz on some of my reels but I always have a 20ft wind-on in addition to my leader.

[tiggere]

no expert on it but I think if fish tend to be leader shy then going with something I can see (let alone a fish) underwater is a "not going to happen"...a good example...I was out on a headboat in Wilmington...I was setting out a drift line for kings/dolphin or whatever wanted it when a school of peanuts came out from under the boat and jumped on it...I was fishing 50# green braid (actually its the same rod/reel setup I posted in the last post you made about "braid or mono")...the guy beside me was fishing hi-vis yellow (don't know brand)...and EVERYONE other than him caught some of those dolphin...even people with the headboat equipment after the mate took the weight off their chicken rig caught fish...

That pretty much did in Hi-vis for me...like I said before my opinion don't mean much so take it for whats its worth...

[hotrodmarlin]

I don't like it- but when I get older and lose my vision....things will probably change

[frankypettolina]

depends on what you are using hi vis for. Marlin and sailfishing on the troll... no other choice n my opinion.

Meat fishing on the troll, sometimes on the chunk or drift,either clear or pink would be my choices.

[krisis7]

I used it for 1 season, knockdown rate decreased by 50%, went back to Diamond Blue and knockdowns went back up.

[Reveille75]

We troll almost exclusively. I'm 58 and had to go to Momoi Hi Vis so I could see where everything is at. It had gotten to the point that I had to ask somebody if the baits were positioned correctly. I switched to 15 ft fluorocarbon leaders to mitigate whatever increased visibility the hi vis produces underwater. Since the change was mandatory I did not gather any data on lost strikes, etc. I can say that 07 was a very good year for us billfish wise so for us it's been a good move.

[bobdu11]

I use Ande High Vis yellow.....you HAVE got to put a clear Topshot of at least 25 - 30 feet to keep the high vis out of the water....works great and you can keep the spread at optimum when turning tight on a school of fish...bob

[Gut Wrench]

I don't like it- but when I get older and lose my vision....things will probably change

thats why i use it(getting worse everyday it seems),we also use a long floro leader to help offset the hi viz to the fish...hmmmm i wonder do old fish have bad eye sight too???.

[FishMagnet]

I dont think you need to use Fluorocarben leader when trolling but a less visible windon is a good idea. I use hi viz yellow Suffix mono with a clear windon and have no problems with bites on both trolling and spinning rods. I also use hi viz yellow braid for deep dropping but there is no light down there so there is no problem with color either.