I hear you there about not wanting to get screwed by the color of the line. I've always used black braid on my tip-ups with green leaders and on my jigging rods I use blue Trilene Cold Weather, gray Trilene Micro-Ice, or clear mono when in a pinch. I've read posts from guys who use all different color line and don't have any issues with the brighter colors such as sand colored braid, green, red, or yellow lines. I personally prefer darker colored lines but have no proof that dark colored lines catch more fish oppose to bright colored lines. I'd give it a try on one reel and see how it works for you.