Crankbait Rod And Line Question

[flyfisher]

I read everywhere that people prefer Flouro or mono for crankbaits.  My question is if you have a crankbait rod, meaning parabolic flex, is the added stretch needed from the line or does braid do a good enough job.

 

I picked up a kistler cranking rod and have been using braid on it and it is a night and day difference between using a non-crankbait specific rod but i was curious as to everyone's thoughts on if mono or flouro makes that much of a difference to switch up.

 

Also, i am not cranking 20feet or anything more in the 6-14 foot range.

 

Thanks

[nwmike]

I use braid for everything.prior to last year I was only using braid for heavy cover and frogs.I absolutely love braid when using cranks.it allowed me to have great hook sets by just continuing to reel and pulling my rod to the right.I do believe having a softer rod is important when using cranks with braid.I tie a 2 foot section of 8 to 12 fluro to my 30 pound braid mainline.the benifits to me with braid are easier hook sets and improved casting distance. I love braid for lipless cranks when fishing grass .my crankbait fishing has improved since switching to braid I seem to pin more fish than I did when using mono.

[tbone1993]

Braid floats, fluorocarbon sinks. You want low visibility line with barely any stretch. 10lb-12lb fluorocarbon is the best

[tbone1993]

You also feel the difference in deflection and such with fluoro 

[flyfisher]

So really it is the floating characteristic of braid and the possible higher visibility as to why to use flouro.

So if you could throw 6-8lb diameter braid would that offset the floating and visibility aspect enough?

I have never used flouro other than leaders so sorry for all the questions. Obviously the sensitivity of braid is superior especially in a tight line situation.

[A-Jay]

I crank with 10-20 braid and a 10-12 ft mono leader.

 

When thrown on a glass rod - it just works.

 

A-Jay

[flyfisher]

Thanks for all the advice. I currently have braid on the reel I am using for cranking and I was wondering if it was worth changing.

I am gonna leave it for now and maybe go to a leader later on.

[Jrob78]

I wouldn't worry too much about the visibility of the braid with crankbaits.  You're primarily going for a reaction strike and line color shouldn't make much difference. 

 

The main reasons a lot of people don't use braid for cranking is the absolute lack of stretch and because it floats.  Even the stiffest fluoro made has considerable stretch compared to braid, the chances of tearing hooks out becomes much greater, according to some.  Also, the stretch in the line allows the fish to take the bait deeper before the hook set.  Some of this can be counteracted with a glass rod.

 

As far as the floating, this shouldn't be as much of an issue if you're not shooting for maximum depth.  You should try it for yourself and come to your own conclusions.  Be aware of your lines capabilities and adjust accordingly.

[BradH]

     Even though braid floats its small diameter (I run 20-30, 6 to 8 pound mono equivalent) has less resistance in the water and your baits will get deeper, likely only a foot or two tops, than running straight 10 pound mono.

 

     I do lots of multi species fishing for walleyes, bass, pike and anything else that will bite.  One minute I'm casting for bass and the next I'm trolling for walleyes with the same bait on the same rod so I get to see how deep a crank runs with whatever line on my trolling runs as I'm always trying to just kiss the bottom.

 

     I also take note of hookup percentage.  I will say using the right rod will more than double hookups.  For instance if I tossed out two identical #7 shad raps, one on my ML BPS crankin' stick and the other on my MH Veritas Winch, the ML crankin' stick will outfish the MH Veritas 2 to 1.  If I stuck a Deep Little N or DD22 on that Veritas the story would change, provided I was in the correct depth of water.  Not that trolling is a popular way to catch bass but it has taught me quite a bit on matching the rod power & action, lure and line.  Walleyes like bass lures too and vice versa   Lures are lures.

 

     Braid's low-stretch properties help with long range hook setting ability.  If you use a cranking rod your losses next to the boat on a short line won't be any different.

[jbsoonerfan]

This thread has got me thinking. I am using a Citica 200G5 on a 7 MH Crucial Crankbait rod. I throw mostly Square Bills and lipless cranks with this setup usually through weeds or in cover. I was planning on going with 12lb Sufix Fluoro, but I think I am reading that I can get away with braid as a I am basically getting a reaction strike anyway. I have never used braid on a cranking stick and now I'm thinking I may try it. As far as tying a leader goes, I am weird about that and feel that since the knot is most always the weakest point between the fish and myself, I don't want to add anymore than necessary.

 

So, would you suggest that I stick with the 12lb Sufix fluoro, or go to a braid?

 

I also noticed that Sufix makes a Stretch Braid, but can't find many reviews on it.

 

DIdn't mean to hi-jack, just figured this fit here.