Deep 14-20' carolina rig set ups....Lead, brass, line etc.

[primetime]

I was looking to get some opinions of the best way to rig a c-rig for deeper water. I still do not trust my deep cranking skills, so I mainly use a C-rig when fishing deep to cover water, and get bites which the C-rig seems to do for me especially in the winter time. I was wondering what people use for a main line (Braid, Fluoro, Mono) and also leader, if you use brass, lead or tungsten, clackers, beads etc...

 

I have been using lead and brass with a glass bead, or sometimes I will take 2 half ounce tungsten weights and rig them back to back for more sound instead. I never have gotten into clackers, so curious as to how you would approach a deep water, cold c-rig, where bottom is mainly hard, some rock,so with an ounce of weight, I am wondering if Fluoro is a better main line in say 20-25lb test to avoid breakoffs since the main line takes a beating with the weights digging into the bottom, getting frayed....I am fishing an area with more rock than I normally encounter. I am kind of thinking that maybe the sound of Tungsten is better? I rarely have any issues feeling my weight since I can feel bottom pretty good with an ounce.

 

I was using 40lb braid main line with 15-20lb Mono leader so it floats.  I have noticed braid often frays, and I stopped using tungsten thinking that was the issue, but maybe Tungsten is better if paired with Fluoro main line since you are basically fishing the weight and it is more abrasion resistant. Or is breaking off some weights due to fraying just part of the deal?

 

Any favorite cold water bait suggestions appreciated as well. I always stick to senko or fluke style bait, but recently started doing well with the Pit Boss. In stained water, anyone go with small baits like a 3" finesse craw?