Squarebill Crankbaits and Braid Advice

[Big Easy Bassin']

I posted about cranking with braid a while back, and have taken the advice of a couple members and deleted my flouro leader and am now using straight braid. The water I fish certainly isn't clear, and it obviously hasn't had an affect bc I'm still catching fish. But now I've started throwing squarebill cranks a lot more, and I love them. Easier to throw along the bank in the shallower water, and I don't get snagged and lose lures as much (big plus bc crankbaits ain't cheap). I know that line diameter dictates diving depth, but I also know that the manufacturers given depths aren't based on using braided line. This question goes out to you other fellas cranking on braid... What is your go-to braid diameter when it comes to cranking squarebills? 

[thebillsman]

braid is usually the thinnest of the line choices.. more often than not I'm using 10lb mono or FC.

[rippin-lips]

Braid has a mono equivalent line diameter but they don't generally start to match up to what most people use until you get in the higher strength braids. For example it would take 50lb braid to get the diameter of #12 mono and that's a common line size used for things like t rigs. I only use #30 braid so it's like #8 mono and not the choice for some people for certain techniques. I'll throw a 3/8 jig in cover on #30 braid but I'd rather not using #8 mono. 

[A-Jay]

I'll use 30lb in Power Pro & Sufix 832 braid but 40lb in Daiwa Samurai and Seaguar Smackdown Braided.

They all end up being close in size but those last two are thinner at the 30 mark so I just bump it up a bit.

btw ~  When using braid & a tight drag, stock trebles are often no match for a determined big bass.

Something to think about before a serious mutant is lost & haunting your dreams when she opens up your hooks . . .

Think Mustad KVD Elite Series Short Shank Triple Grip Hooks ~

A-Jay

 

[Big Easy Bassin']

5 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I'll use 30lb in Power Pro & Sufix 832 braid but 40lb in Daiwa Samurai and Seaguar Smackdown Braided.

They all end up being close in size but those last two are thinner at the 30 mark so I just bump it up a bit.

btw ~  When using braid & a tight drag, stock trebles are often no match for a determined big bass.

Something to think about before a serious mutant is lost & haunting your dreams when she opens up your hooks . . .

Think Mustad KVD Elite Series Short Shank Triple Grip Hooks ~

A-Jay

 

Thanks for the tip. I've thought about changing out hook a lot recently. I throw a lot of Strike King cranks, and they come with decent hook (VMC I believe), but I agree they'll be no match for a 7 or 8 pounder should I be lucky enough to hook one. Do you stick to the original size that comes on the lure or do you prefer a different size?

 

PS - I normally have my drag pretty darn loose when cranking. At least as loose as I can get get away with. This helps keep me the fish hooked up on the hookset. 

[A-Jay]

Just now, Big Easy Bassin' said:

Thanks for the tip. I've thought about changing out hook a lot recently. I throw a lot of Strike King cranks, and they come with decent hook (VMC I believe), but I agree they'll be no match for a 7 or 8 pounder should I be lucky enough to hook one. Do you stick to the original size that comes on the lure or do you prefer a different size?

 

PS - I normally have my drag pretty darn loose when cranking. At least as loose as I can get get away with. This helps keep me the fish hooked up on the hookset. 

I go up one on the front hook and match the rear treble with the same size.

So for a 1.5 ~ a #2 in front and a # 4 on the back.

On a 2.5 ~  a #1 on the front and a #2 on the back.

A-Jay

[Big Easy Bassin']

8 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I go up one on the front hook and match the rear treble with the same size.

So for a 1.5 ~ a #2 in front and a # 4 on the back.

On a 2.5 ~  a #1 on the front and a #2 on the back.

A-Jay

I've been using a SK Pro Series Model 1XS. Really like it bc I can run it extremely shallow when casting close to shore (I fish from the bank so this is helpful). I need to order some more, and TW says it uses #6 hooks on it. I just feel like that can't be right. 

[A-Jay]

47 minutes ago, Big Easy Bassin' said:

I've been using a SK Pro Series Model 1XS. Really like it bc I can run it extremely shallow when casting close to shore (I fish from the bank so this is helpful). I need to order some more, and TW says it uses #6 hooks on it. I just feel like that can't be right. 

That is correct ~ size # 6 on the 1.0

A-Jay

[Big Easy Bassin']

Ok I was confused. I'm not used to the # hooks. Didn't know that the higher the number the smaller the hook. I was thinking it was like 1/0 and 2/0 and so forth lol. Would you stick with a #6 on a 1.0 or change?

[lakeannaangler]

For those small cranks like the 1xs I like to use a size #5

[A-Jay]

On ‎5‎/‎26‎/‎2016 at 8:12 PM, Big Easy Bassin' said:

Ok I was confused. I'm not used to the # hooks. Didn't know that the higher the number the smaller the hook. I was thinking it was like 1/0 and 2/0 and so forth lol. Would you stick with a #6 on a 1.0 or change?

If I can plus size the trebles (at least the front one) without adversely altering a baits inherent running depth, balance & action ~ I always do.

As lures get smaller, this starts to be more of a concern.

I'd go #4 on the front & #6 on the back and still using the Mustad KVD Elite Series Short Shank Triple Grip Hooks.

A-Jay

 

[blckshirt98]

I stick with 15# PowerPro when throwing squarebills!  Distance seems fine and it's strong enough to get lures out of most underwater vegetation when I get hung up.

[Big Easy Bassin']

Ok, so now I have to update everyone. I broke my crankbait rod this morning walking out the door to go fishing, so I ran to Academy to see what I could find. I usually try to stay away from Academy and shop at my local tackle stores, but the 2 stores I frequent don't open until 10AM and I didn't want to wait. I'm still in the process of designing my custom rod for cranks and other moving baits, so I didn't want to spend too much. Found a Lew's American Hero combo with a 7' MH-F rod and a 200 series reel. FYI I was pleasantly surprised with this rig. It actually performed quite well today. But anyways... I was looking to get some 20# Power Pro to put on the reel, but in typical Academy style they were out of everything but 10# and 65#. I saw that they had Sunline Super Sniper FC, and I've heard nothing but good things about all of Sunline's products, so I grabbed a spool of 12# and bought it. Needless to say, everything I have heard about Sunline is true. GREAT LINE!! It does have some memory (line staying kinked from being on spool) but nowhere near as much as some of the others I've tried. Very little to no stretch which is awesome. Just enough stretch to not pull as many hooks as I normally would with braid. All in all I've found the line I'm gonna use for my moving baits.

9 hours ago, A-Jay said:

If I can plus size the trebles (at least the front one) without adversely altering a baits inherent running depth, balance & action ~ I always do.

As lures get smaller, this starts to before more of a concern.

I'd go #4 on the front & #6 on the back and still using the Mustad KVD Elite Series Short Shank Triple Grip Hooks.

A-Jay

 

While I was at Academy I looked but didn't see the Mustad KVD Triple Grips. Going to order them this evening. Definitely need them bc I hooked up with a nice one today and lost him close to shore. Sure enough I grabbed the lure and looked and 2 of the hooks on the rear treble were just about straightened out.

[A-Jay]

If you're going to fish with the Sun Line FC, help yourself out and get & use some KVD line conditioner.  You'll be glad you did.

A-Jay

[Yudo1]

Kids line and lure make a huge difference in performance.

[Big Easy Bassin']

40 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

If you're going to fish with the Sun Line FC, help yourself out and get & use some KVD line conditioner.  You'll be glad you did.

A-Jay

Got some ??

16 minutes ago, Yudo1 said:

Kids line and lure make a huge difference in performance.

What do you mean?

[Yudo1]

Kvd not kids, sorry spell check 

[Big Easy Bassin']

19 hours ago, Yudo1 said:

Kvd not kids, sorry spell check 

Got ya. Thanks. I notice that with the FC my lure tends to run a little higher in the water column. They stay out of the snags which is great lol

[Big Easy Bassin']

22 hours ago, Yudo1 said:

Kids line and lure make a huge difference in performance.

So I'm not sure if this bottle is supposed to have some kind of directions on it, but the one I got does not. Never used this before, and even though I feel kind a dumb asking, how do I use it? Just squirt a little onto the line? And when is the best time to do this?

[A-Jay]

15 minutes ago, Big Easy Bassin' said:

So I'm not sure if this bottle is supposed to have some kind of directions on it, but the one I got does not. Never used this before, and even though I feel kind a dumb asking, how do I use it? Just squirt a little onto the line? And when is the best time to do this?

A-Jay

 

[Big Easy Bassin']

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

A-Jay

 

Thank you sir