If you fish braided line long enough, at some point it will start to fade. But just because it has lost a bit of its factory color doesn’t mean that it’s gone bad or needs replacing. With a quick dye, you can restore its original performance and many anglers will enjoy multiple seasons out of a spool of braided line before ever having to replace it completely. In this Tackle Warehouse DIY, we will also discuss how anglers can also experiment with different colors of dye and braided line combinations to match the environment they are fishing or create strike indicators for a variety of techniques.
Markers/Pens
The easiest way to dye your braided line is with a braided line marker. Most anglers will use these markers to color their faded line fully black or dark green since braided line is mainly used for flipping and pitching into heavy cover or frog fishing. Simply run the marker up and down the desired section of line until it is fully colored the way you want it. For most fishing applications you only need to color the first 3-5 feet of line.
Dip Dyes
Another solution for re-dying braid is to use dip dyes that are typically used for coloring soft plastics. The best way to use dip dyes is with an unpegged Texas-rig. Simply, drop the weight into the bottle of dying solution and run the desired section of the braided line back and forth through the dye. The weight acts as an anchor and ensures a 100% of the braided line’s surface contacts the dye. This method prevents missing small sections of line, which can happen sometimes when using markers.
***Use dip dyes with extreme caution. Accidental spills can completely ruin boat carpet.
Tips & Tricks
Reversing Braid
If you have an empty reel that is suited for the braided line you’re currently using, you can spool the empty reel with the braided line from the reel that is in use. Typically, only the top 25% of the line on the spool is faded with the bottom 75% still new and fresh. When you transfer the line from one reel to another you will have brand new line on the top of the spool again.
Matching the Environment
In some fisheries the vegetation is a brighter green than what most braid colors are offered in. To closer match the vegetation some anglers spool up with hi-vis yellow braid and use green dye markers to create a more natural color line that blends into the surroundings. Try experimenting with different combinations to closer match your fishery.
Expand Buying Options
If your favorite braided line in moss green is out of stock don’t let that deter you from buying that particular style of line. Purchase hi-vis yellow, white, chartreuse, or whatever color is in stock and dye the last section of the line black or moss green to utilize the same performance.
Suggested Braided Lines:
Power Pro Spectra Braided Line Yellow
Berkley Jordan Lee X5 Braided Line Flame Green
Spiderwire DuraBraid Braided Line Hi-Vis Yellow
Berkley X9 Braided Line Crystal
Sunline SX1 Braided Line Hi-Vis Yellow Line
Yo-Zuri Superbraid Hi-Vis Yellow Line
Sufix 832 Braided Line Hi-Vis Yellow Line
Strike King Tour Grade Braid Yellow Braided Line
Strike King Contra Braided Line Hi-Vis Yellow
Berkley X5 Braided Line Crystal
Seaguar Smackdown Braided Line Flash Green
Depth Indicator
Avid shallow water anglers who like to flip and punch often fill their reels with hi-vis braided line then dye the first six feet of line black or dark green. This allows the angler to always know the depth they are fishing and where their bait is in the water column, which is crucial information when flipping into shallow cover or punching through matted vegetation.
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