Can I Use Braid For Crankbaits??

[bass2bluegill]

Im getting a Powell Deisel 7.2 and it says its good for topwater cranks and many other things. im buying if for flipping and froggin so im putting braid on it.but i kinda wanna crank with it also. will briad work with crankbaits. i mostly fish squarebills.

[Raul]

Yes ir will work, I recommend you still use a leader and don´t forget to back down your drag.

[smalljaw67]

That rod is a medium heavy with an extra fast action, if I was going to use it for any kind of crank it would be a heavy 3/4oz lipless bait or a big zara spook for a topwater. I would not even think of throwing a square bill or any other crank on that rod with braid, the reason being is the rod isn't a cranking rod, it is a rod that will be better suited to fish jigs and worms. The fact that it says it is versatile is due to the weight rating, it is in  that sweet spot MH which is 1/4oz to 3/4oz so it is heavy powered enough to drive large hooks home on spinnerbaits and jigs but it is still light enough that you can throw some bigger treble hook baits. The thing is braid on a cranking rod is ok as the rod will have a parabolic action to absorb the shock, the rod you are getting won't have a parabolic action so what will happen is you will end up missing or losing a lot of fish because you will pull the small trebles free as the rod action with a no stretch line will over power any type of crank you are using with that rod. My suggestion would be to have a reel  spooled with a good copolymer or fluorocarbon to put on the rod for cranks.

[Ratherbfishing]

I use braid all the time.  Since braid has next to no stretch, however, it's best to use a medium (soft) action graphite or a fiberglass rod- so you don't pull the lure out of the fishes mouth or so they won't throw the bait if they do get hooked.

 

In really clear water or with really pressured fish I think a leader can help but IMHO much of the time it's just an extra knot that can fail.  You have to weigh these things yourself,  though.  Sometimes, i'll use a blue or green marker and put intermittent marks on my braid (near the bait) to break up the continuity of the line.

[bass2bluegill]

thanks guys this helped alot!

[flyfisher]

i use braid on my cranking specific set ups and never use a leader.  I do agree that to back off the drag some though, especially with a XF action

[Smokinal]

I've used braid/leader setup for about the last 15 yrs and literally cannot remember having or even if I have ever had a knot fail. If it's tied right and lubed before cinching, it will not fail. I use it in all water conditions and colors because I fish a ton of rock and like my cranks bouncing off the rock. Braid has zero abrasion resistance to rock but fluoro does...so it's a great combination!

[bighed]

This may have already been stated but you really want some give when fishing a crankbait.  A mh rod with xf action and line that doesn't give would likely result in ripping hooks out of fish on hookset.  That setup is a TX rig, jig, or light flipping outfit.   

[gripnrip]

^^^ Just like bighead said.  Get a cranking rod.  

 

I pulled up a Jackal muscle deep 15+ that was wedged in a rock.  I bet the rock weighed at least 7 or 8 pounds.  The kicker was I had 10lb Invisx on the reel.  It didn't break off!  That rod saved me from breaking off.  If would have been using a MH or an H, it would have been bye bye crank bait!

 

Braid is fine for cranking.  I have used it multiple times for that purpose.  Just keep in mind 2 things.  Your crank will ride higher due to the drag of braid.  Don't use braid around wood or timber.  It will saw into the wood instead of slide.  For wood and timber I use either mono or fluorocarbon. Just my 2 cents.

[flyfisher]

Braid will not cause your bait to ride higher but rather go deeper due to the thinner diameter, at least for me that is how it has been.

[Arv]

yes

[aavery2]

When I purchased my rod and reels for cranking  I selected them based on using mono and FC, so I do.   The biggest thing that scares me about braid on treble hooks is when a fish makes that surge at the boat, if you don't have a little give in your system somewhere you are going to lose some fish that way.

[livetofish28]

I crank with straight braid unless the water is gin clear. I use a St Croix Avid in 7' m moderate and the give in the rod is what slows me to get the good hook sets without ripping them out. You will rip a lot of hooks out of fish using straight braid on an X-fast for crank baits. Now for worms and jigs cross their eyes

Tight lines

Andrew

[Montanaro]

I've been tossing a 1 1/2oz square bill wakebait on a heavy xfast rod with 65lb braid.

Almost no lost fish...The ones I lost were hooked awkwardly on outside of mouths. But I also was aware of the risks and backed my drag down, no hook sets, and played the fish gently.

[aavery2]

Please don't take this post the wrong way, because I mean it exactly as it is worded and nothing more.     Can anyone show me a reference to any Elite Series Pro where they recommend braid or have used braid as their line of choice for crankbait fishing.   I have fished crankbaits for many years, and have followed the advice of what I consider some of the best crankbait fisherman in the world,  Fritz, Clunn, KVD and others, and I can find no reference to any of them using anything other than mono or FC line.     This site has more than any other I follow recommend braided line for these baits,   I personally can see no advantage to it, and would like to read some information from respected Pro's giving their opinion on braid as their preferred choice of line for this type of bait.   If you have a link, or article please post them.

[Montanaro]

http://www.bassmaster.com/node/101039

[aavery2]

http://www.bassmaster.com/node/101039

Thanks for the link,  I am hoping to find someone who uses it more as a line of choice and not just for a particular situation.   I find it odd that he found it a good solution for fishing in an area where the primary cover was wood.

[RoLo]

Straight braided line is all we ever use for crankbaits.

Braided line is nearly stretch-free, so a strike transmits a sharp thud.

Bass often hook themselves on braid, so there's no need for a jaw-breaking hook-set.

 

The only drawback to using braided line with treble hooks is the tear-off potential on a short line.

Tear-offs can be virtually eliminated though, by backing-off on the drag as a big bass is brought close to the boat.

As for a small bass, I'm hoping it'll tear off....LOL 

 

Roger

[A-Jay]

Braid & a Quality Glass Rod works for me.

 

A-Jay

[aavery2]

While I appreciate and respect both of your opinions, I will reiterate my original request.  Do you have any links or articles with Elite Level Pro's that use braid as their line of choice for crankbaits?    Not trying to start an argument, I just want some material for my own edification.

 

O.P. If you feel this is a thread Hi Jack I will start a new thread,  if not I will continue here.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

While I appreciate and respect both of your opinions, I will reiterate my original request.  Do you have any links or articles with Elite Level Pro's that use braid as their line of choice for crankbaits?    Not trying to start an argument, I just want some material for my own edification.

 

O.P. If you feel this is a thread Hi Jack I will start a new thread,  if not I will continue here.

 

Well the best education I feel would be first hand experience. Try it for yourself and form your own conclusion. I use 10-15-20# braid on my baitcasters and in over 10 years of use dont see the need to go bigger. Now all you read and have "people" say is use 40-50-60# or else it wont work well my experience trumps their say. 50 pros can come on here and say 20# braid isnt any good for bc and Ill go out the next day and continue to use it without issue just like I did today.

Another is my use of an 8' ML Moderate rod for senko. Its my favorite rod for that purpose yet not one person would have recommended this rod.

[aavery2]

Well the best education I feel would be first hand experience. Try it for yourself and form your own conclusion. I use 10-15-20# braid on my baitcasters and in over 10 years of use dont see the need to go bigger. Now all you read and have "people" say is use 40-50-60# or else it wont work well my experience trumps their say. 50 pros can come on here and say 20# braid isnt any good for bc and Ill go out the next day and continue to use it without issue just like I did today.

Another is my use of an 8' ML Moderate rod for senko. Its my favorite rod for that purpose yet not one person would have recommended this rod.

No doubt that we all have our own preferences, but that does not mean they are the best choice.  I will put my trust in the Elite Level Angler, who spends more time on the water than they do, who has more to risk from a bad choice than they.  Like I said this is not intended to be a debate of right or wrong, we each make our own choices.  I am simply looking for information on any Elite Level Angler that chooses to use braid as the primary choice for crankbaits, and hope to learn why.

[TorqueConverter]

Thanks for the link,  I am hoping to find someone who uses it more as a line of choice and not just for a particular situation.   I find it odd that he found it a good solution for fishing in an area where the primary cover was wood.

 

You shouldn't need to follow some pro to see why braid is desirable as a crankbait line.  Right off the bat a couple of thing come to mind:

 

1. Hooksets at great distances.  People speak of "casting further than you can set the hook" with plastic lines, but with braid 2 or 2000 feet, it makes no difference.  Big deep cranks require big long casts.

 

2.  It posses in great amounts two of the most important criteria of a deep cranking fishing line, castability and diameter.  When deep cranking, casting distance and the depth the bait can be fished are very important.  The two properties of a line that help to maximise this are how far it can cast and how small of a diameter the line can be. 

 

3. Give.  While braid does not have any stretch, or give, this is actually a positive property for a crankbait line.  If your rod is up to snuff then the give it possesses should be all the give you will ever need.  Rod actions and powers have a tremendous affect on the ability of a fish to throw a crankbait, whereas stretchy lines have very little.  You can put stretchy monos onto moderate graphite sticks and it won't transform them into crankbait rods.  I've done it and they're inferior to a true crankbait rod paired to even braid.

 

4.  Power and control.  Braid will give you the exact same amount of give, the rod give, at all times.  I'm not going to struggle to hook into a fish due to lots of stretch from the lots of line in the water, then suddenly loose a bunch of my give because the fish is by the boat and there is now less line out to stretch.  The ability to crank and pull logs off the bottom, big pike, or whatever else is something a #30 braid can do, but certainly not a #8 mono.  The power advantage of braid is obvious.  

[aavery2]

You shouldn't need to follow some pro to see why braid is desirable as a crankbait line.  Right off the bat a couple of thing come to mind:

 

1. Hooksets at great distances.  People speak of "casting further than you can set the hook" with plastic lines, but with braid 2 or 2000 feet, it makes no difference.  Big deep cranks require big long casts.

 

2.  It posses in great amounts two of the most important criteria of a deep cranking fishing line, castability and diameter.  When deep cranking, casting distance and the depth the bait can be fished are very important.  The two properties of a line that help to maximise this are how far it can cast and how small of a diameter the line can be. 

 

3. Give.  While braid does not have any stretch, or give, this is actually a positive property for a crankbait line.  If your rod is up to snuff then the give it possesses should be all the give you will ever need.  Rod actions and powers have a tremendous affect on the ability of a fish to throw a crankbait, whereas stretchy lines have very little.  You can put stretchy monos onto moderate graphite sticks and it won't transform them into crankbait rods.  I've done it and they're inferior to a true crankbait rod paired to even braid.

 

4.  Power and control.  Braid will give you the exact same amount of give, the rod give, at all times.  I'm not going to struggle to hook into a fish due to lots of stretch from the lots of line in the water, then suddenly loose a bunch of my give because the fish is by the boat and there is now less line out to stretch.  The ability to crank and pull logs off the bottom, big pike, or whatever else is something a #30 braid can do, but certainly not a #8 mono.  The power advantage of braid is obvious.  

While I disagree with most of what you have said, it is not the point of my post to debate who is right or wrong.  I simply asked do you have a link to and Elite Level Pro that uses braided line as their primary choice for crankbiats.   As I have said in previous posts, I am interested in what the top Anglers in our hobby have to say on this subject.    Nothing more nothing less....  Thanks Anyway

[The Commodore]

FIns makes a braid that has 8 to 10 percent stretch.  I have not used it for cranking but for the people worried about lack of stretch and ripping baits from bass, this might be an alternative to look into.  I have some Fins braid on one of my saltwater spinning outfits and have not had an issue with it.  It's a Spectra braid like Power Pro.