Line for lipless and medium cranks

[jglerum]

I have a Dobyns 765cb glass that I've been using primarily for lipless cranks but will likely use for medium-sized crankbaits, maybe a chatterbait now and again.  I'm wondering what your suggestions are for line to do all of that?  I know it's asking a lot.  I'm thinking braid, given the need to compensate a bit for the glass rod when using lipless, but I don't want to go too heavy and interfere with cranks and bladed jigs.   Am I trying to do too much with one setup?

(currently using 14 pound Trilene XT)

[MN Fisher]

I don't know why you couldn't keep the 14# Trilene on.

 

But if you want to change - a good 15# or 17# flourocarbon. If you want to keep the price down, Seaguar Red label or InvizX would be my choices.

[BigAngus752]

Agree with @MN Fisher, 14lb Trilene would be good although I would choose the XL vs. the XT.  I have a glass rod I use for medium cranks, squarebill, and lipless.  I use 12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  I don't use braid for anything with a treble hook regardless of rod action but that is my personal preference.  

[Finessegenics]

I agree with most of the sentiment here. The line was fine. I personally prefer mono or co-polymer with .33mm diameter. I’m currently using YZ Hybrid in 12#. I’m enjoying it so far. 

[Dens228]

If it was just lipless and medium cranks I actually do use 12 lb Tatsu.  

I have 30 lb straight Smackdown on my chatterbait rod.  

If I was using one rod for both I'd lean towards the braid. 

[Deleted account]

Can it be done with one rod and one line? Yes. Is it a good idea? No.

Chatters I like heavy line 15 lb minimum (14 XT will work fine). Cranks other than square bills, It's 10 or 12 lb. Lipless and square bills 12-20 lb, all mono. 5 weight Dobyns is going to be too much stick for medium sized/diving cranks. Again, it can be done, just not the right tool. I only use a cranking stick for cranking. Square bills, lipless and chatters, a Fast or Mod Fast rod is what I pick up. YMMVBIW.

[jglerum]

13 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

Agree with @MN Fisher, 14lb Trilene would be good although I would choose the XL vs. the XT.  I have a glass rod I use for medium cranks, squarebill, and lipless.  I use 12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  I don't use braid for anything with a treble hook regardless of rod action but that is my personal preference.  

Great, thank you.  I misspoke - it is the XL, not the XT.  Sounds like good confirmation of my choice to start with.

2 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

Can it be done with one rod and one line? Yes. Is it a good idea? No.

Chatters I like heavy line 15 lb minimum (14 XT will work fine). Cranks other than square bills, It's 10 or 12 lb. Lipless and square bills 12-20 lb, all mono. 5 weight Dobyns is going to be too much stick for medium sized/diving cranks. Again, it can be done, just not the right tool. I only use a cranking stick for cranking. Square bills, lipless and chatters, a Fast or Mod Fast rod is what I pick up. YMMVBIW.

Thank you.  I have a 705cb glass that I have 12 pound mono on right now and I use that for small to sm/med cranks and I have a 683c that I have 10 pound on and I use it for misc. whatever.

The 5 power in the cb glass doesn't feel like too much stick, to me. However, I don't use many diving cranks (usually not much below about 8 feet, at most, and usually in the 2-4 foot range) given where I fish most of the time, so they have worked out pretty well.  I'm not sure the 765 would have been the next rod on my list, but I found a great deal - the Champion XP 765cb glass paired with a Tatula for $240, shipped.   Couldn't pass it up.  Find I like it a lot!

Thanks for all of the responses.  I think I'll leave on the 14 pound right now.  My next rod is likely to be a Dobyns 734c, which would then be a braid rod for some of the techniques that need that.

[Hulkster]

i like 12 pound Sufix Siege mono

[jglerum]

Thanks, everyone. I fished a couple of times out with the 14# mono and then switched over to 15# braid.  I'm much happier with it.  The rod has enough give in the fiberglass upper half to keep a fish pinned with trebles but the braid helps me feel more and pop the weeds off better when needed.  It's MUCH more responsive. Fishing a couple of tournaments in the next week and will see how it performs, but my time out yesterday was great. 

[dodgeguy]

5 minutes ago, jglerum said:

Thanks, everyone. I fished a couple of times out with the 14# mono and then switched over to 15# braid.  I'm much happier with it.  The rod has enough give in the fiberglass upper half to keep a fish pinned with trebles but the braid helps me feel more and pop the weeds off better when needed.  It's MUCH more responsive. Fishing a couple of tournaments in the next week and will see how it performs, but my time out yesterday was great. 

is this a baitcaster? wouldnt go below 50lb braid if i was you.

[jglerum]

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

is this a baitcaster? wouldnt go below 50lb braid if i was you.

Why's that?

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, jglerum said:

Why's that?

Thinner braid has a habit of digging in on BC reels which can result in backlashes even with 'perfect' casts.

 

Thinnest I'll go on a BC is 30#...though I have run 20# in the past, but it was 'iffy'.

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, jglerum said:

Why's that?

Dig in

[Bankbeater]

I have 15 lb. Big Game on the rig I throw Chatterbaits, Spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, and med diving crankbaits with.

[FishTank]

13lb or 15lb Sunline Defier. 

[jglerum]

On 6/9/2021 at 1:54 PM, MN Fisher said:

Thinner braid has a habit of digging in on BC reels which can result in backlashes even with 'perfect' casts.

 

Thinnest I'll go on a BC is 30#...though I have run 20# in the past, but it was 'iffy'.

Thanks all. I had moved line from spinning reels and put 8# on one baitcaster and 15# on another. Daiwa Tatulas. Worked beautifully. Casted like a dream.
 

Until suddenly it didn’t.
 

One spinnerbait launched into Lake Huron - gone from this life, and one jerkbait floating 100 feet from shore that made for a cold swim. 
 

I just ordered 30#

[Bankc]

I like 12# Yo-Zuri hybrid for those applications.  It's similar to fluorocarbon, but a lot easier to cast.  

 

You might like the 30# braid as well.  I've used that in the past for cranks, and with a flexible rod, it works pretty well. 

 

Braid doesn't like to hold knots as well as mono.  It's slippery and doesn't compress like mono, so knots tend to free themselves pretty easily.  If you're having a problem with lures flying off on the cast, or losing fish, regardless of the braid's size, I'd look at your knot.  The usual clinch knot that works wonders with mono will often fail with braid.  I prefer the Fish N Fool knot for braid, especially if treble hooks are involved.  I use about 8-10 wraps though.  Many like the Palomar knot as well.  

[Mbirdsley]

I only have one crank rod so I throw everything up to 5xd/6xd/DT10/DT15 on it and I have really liked this suffix flouro carbon in 12 lbs.  this has been the only flouro I’ve used so far that I haven’t wanted to chuck my rod and reel into the lake.  2nd place would be berkly 100% flouro that I’ve been using on my spinning set ups