Braid Vs. Fluorocarbons

[aavery2]

You know, I've never really thought of that. Lol

That's a very good point about the pros.

I appreciate you taking the time to consider my post.

[Catch and Grease]

I guarantee you guys that like FC have fished way longer than me and could out fish me any day of the week, so I'm just gonna say that braid is my preference for most applications and leave it at that...

[mod479]

No offense taken here. I love braid for 2 techniques, one where my line rarely goes slack, the other where strikes are all visual. Dragging a tube deep and frog fishing. Can't beat the strength and low stretch qualities

[ColdSVT]

I often wonder how many pros and rank ametuers use braid and only brain and vice versa with flouro

Anyone know?

[aavery2]

I guarantee you guys that like FC have fished way longer than me and could out fish me any day of the week, so I'm just gonna say that braid is my preference for most applications and leave it at that...

That's fair and nothing wrong with defending your position.   You may find over the next 5,10 or 20 years of fishing that your preferences may change or not.  I know mine have many times.

[Catch and Grease]

That's fair and nothing wrong with defending your position. You may find over the next 5,10 or 20 years of fishing that your preferences may change or not. I know mine have many times.

Quick question,

Whats a good brand of FC for cranking that's not gonna break the bank? Like 20-25$

I might end up trying FC again after this thread, see if I start liking it more than braid.

I had sunline super FC and didn't like it much...

Red label and invisx are alright but invisx felt like a rubber band like someone else mentioned

I'd prefer one without much memory that will last a bit longer and doesn't need line a lure conditioner ( if that's even possible...)

[Brian Needham]

every line but braid needs a conditionr IMO.

 

I use tatsu on most of my sticks, BUT I am slowly trying and strongly debating switching to Invisx due to cost. 

bang for the buck Invisx is probably hard to beat, I have it on my shakeyhead outfit and havent noticed much bad so far but time will tell.

 

you stick with mid to upper grade Seaguar and Sunline and you cant go wrong......always use backing so you can get 2,3,4 reels out of a spool. I could never afford tatsu unless I got 3 reels out of a spool, mkaes it sting MUCH less.

[Catch and Grease]

Any good conditioners at academy? I went there before and didn't see any KVD l&l but I'll double check when I get a chance to run back in.

[Brian Needham]

the KVD is as good as it gets and no sense even trying another brand.

 

now WRB suggest a brand called "tangle-free" I havent used it, but coming from WRB and his high praises I'll say its good based on WRB's word.

[Catch and Grease]

I know KVD l&l is the best just don't feel like ordering some at the moment....

[aavery2]

Quick question,

Whats a good brand of FC for cranking that's not gonna break the bank? Like 20-25$

I might end up trying FC again after this thread, see if I start liking it more than braid.

I had sunline super FC and didn't like it much...

Red label and invisx are alright but invisx felt like a rubber band like someone else mentioned

I'd prefer one without much memory that will last a bit longer and doesn't need line a lure conditioner ( if that's even possible...

I prefer InviszX and Tatsu  in FC line.   You may find that if you change your mainline for crankbait fishing that it will also require a change in your rods, hook sets, and mental approach to fishing these baits.  In my fishing I have not found any brand of FC line to exhibit the stretch of a rubber band, or anything near that.  I fished Amistad a while back  and we were getting great hook sets in 40+ feet of water with 1/2 - 3/4 oz jigs.  I think the talk of how much FC stretches is largely due to the review that TT did a few years back.  The review compared the amount of stretch different lines had when they reached their breaking strength.  Some experts believe that this information does not tell anything useful about a line, largely because stretch does not occur evenly across the entire range of stress placed on the line.  They suggest a better test would be to measure stretch and certain percentages of breaking strength, something like at 25, 50, 75.  These same experts in tensile strength also suggest that in normal fishing conditions anglers place stress in the rage of 25 to 50 percent of breaking strength and different types of line exhibit much different deformity profiles at these levels.   

 

Back to crankbaits,  these baits do not require bone jarring hooksets, they only require a sharp hook and and a smooth sweeping motion of the rod to pull the hooks through the mouth of fish.  Where the action of the rod and the stretch in the line come into play is keeping fish pinned.  If you have no stretch in your line and your rod has no flexibility something has to give, this always occurs at the weakest point, in this case the cartilage of the fishes mouth.  Once you tear a hole in the cartilage it is much easier for a fish to throw the bait, also flexible rods help to keep pressure applied fish in an even and consistent manner without tearing the mouth of the fish.

 

I know this is more information than you asked for , but I am hoping that maybe something I said will help you appreciate how effective crankbait fishing is more related to an entire system, than it is just to a choice of line, all parts being equally important.   One thing I recommend if you want to learn more about crankbait fishing is read what the best crankbait fisherman on the planet have to say about it.  Guys like KVD, Clunn, and Fritz, then adapt what they say to your personal style and fishing situation.

 

Hope it helps.

[pbizzle]

I know KVD l&l is the best just don't feel like ordering some at the moment....

I've only seen Reel Magic and Ardent Line Butter at my local Academy, but I can't recommend any of that crap.

[Catch and Grease]

Sorry I was exaggerating when I said rubber band haha

Heck, everything feels like a rubber band when you try to stop using braid and experiment with other lines

If I stop using braid to give FC another honest try then it will definitely take some getting used too... I'm used to feeling every little piece of grass touch the crank and feel every wobble... With FC you can feel it but its not as easy.

[Tywithay]

I like braid when making 100yd+ casts from the bank with my surf rod. Otherwise, I fish too many rocks and it's worthless. Best alternative I've found is Sunline Shooter. It only has about 6% stretch, which is roughly half of what most mono and fluoro lines exhibit. Plus the abrasion resistance is like something from another planet. It gives me the best combination of tight and slack sensitivity.

[Raul]

Fact is: there´s no perfect line.

 

I hate fluorocarbon, it´s "expensive", it´s stiff, darn thing is more delicate than a princess and to round up, I can´t see it, but it´s abrassion resistant, has great sensitivity.

 

I hate braided line, abrassion resistance sucks, but it lasts a lot, has an absurd tensile resistance vs diameter, great sensitivity, I can see it ( as long as it´s thick enough )

 

I like copolymer and nylon.

 

So it´s a matter of  you chosing the line YOU LIKE and feel comfortable with, know what cons and pros and learn how to get around the corners and compensate for the lackings.

[cueball]

Brent Ehrler uses braid with a fluorocarbon leader on a spinning rod for finesse fishing.  It really is not very hard to find many sources of pros discussing using braid with a leader on a spinning rod.

[aavery2]

Brent Ehrler uses braid with a fluorocarbon leader on a spinning rod for finesse fishing.  It really is not very hard to find many sources of pros discussing using braid with a leader on a spinning rod.

The question was about using braid for crankbait fishing, not using braid in general.  I agree braid on a spinning reel with a leader is a nice thing.

[Brian Needham]

yeap......you dont see it on a baitbaster unless they are in grass that week...... even then many go to #25 flouro

[Catch and Grease]

yeap......you dont see it on a baitbaster unless they are in grass that week...... even then many go to #25 flouro

I've tried flouro in thick grass and I like it because you can feel very light strikes but I don't like that it seems harder to reel and cut through the grass....

[ColdSVT]

Im starting to think im the only one that doesnt use line conditioner with my flouro lol

[Brian Needham]

I've tried flouro in thick grass and I like it because you can feel very light strikes but I don't like that it seems harder to reel and cut through the grass....

yep, for "cutting" vegetation braid is your line, without doubt.

[Jrob78]

Thick vegetation is where I feel braid really shines.

[Catch and Grease]

Im starting to think im the only one that doesnt use line conditioner with my flouro lol

What fluoro do you use?

[F14A-B]

I don't use L&L on fluorocarbon

But I may try it!

[Catch and Grease]

I'm surprised some of you guys don't use L&L... Maybe y'all can deal with the line Turning into a phone cord and curling up all the time haha