Braid for crankbaits?

[learnin]

Seems I've heard more cons than pros on this.  One reason was less distance the other was if you get a backlash start cutting.  Is there less distance with braid on crankbaits and is it any more susceptible to backlash than mono?  I was thinking it wasn't because braid works a lot better all around for me with spinning gear.

[DitchPanda]

I don't really know the specifics but I've seen several videos of David Fritts touting braid for cranking. Considering he's probably thrown a crankbait more than any other human alive there may be something to it.

[Blaine Donders]

Braid backlashes aren’t any worse for me than any other line. At least it doesn’t kink like fluoro. 
As to distance, braid is fine. The reason some don’t like it is the zero stretch with treble hook baits and the noisy retrieve coming through the guides.

[Aaron_H]

Braid backlashes are quick to pick out once you know what you're doing. I do get more distance with mono, but I enjoy throwing braid as long as the rod can compensate for it.

[torm]

I mainly crank due to how impatient I am with plastics and I've been experimenting with some time now with braid to fluorocarbon, mono, straight fluoro, and straight braid. I get way more distance with braid. 30lb-40lb is the sweet spot with 30 being the lowest I would recommend anyone going unless your using a shallower spool baitcaster. Anything below that or above you will feel the distance lost. 20lb and lower you deal with line dig. Of course gear plays a huge role into this as well. 

[Mbirdsley]

I don’t personally like braid on moving baits. However , if your using a slow enough action rod it shouldn’t rip the trebles out of a fishes mouth. The rod will be your shock absorber. People use braid all the time for walleye trolling. 

[Lead Head]

I have a MF rod with braid that gets pushed into crankbait duty from time to time. It works fine for me but isn't really ideal. I use a 14lb floro leader (sniper, about 5') and have landed several fish in the 8lb+ range (all drum).

 

I personally get more distance and fewer backlashes (much easier to remove too) with braid, but my preference for cranks is straight floro or mono. I wouldn't even consider braid for cranks on any rod more powerful than a medium unless it was a moderate crankbait specific rod.

[dodgeguy]

Braid is easier to remove a backlash. 8 strand braid casts further than mono or flouro. I use braid with no leader. You can feel everything. Hooksets are awesome. Just loosen your drag and let the fish take line so it doesn't pull the hooks.

[Phil77]

I rarely throw anything deeper than a square bill but I prefer mono with a medium power rod to help keep them pinned. I have had good luck with braid and bladed jigs though.

[MickD]

I personally don't use braid on baitcasters because mono casts better.  FC is too fragile and manageable FC is way too expensive considering how easily damaged it is.

 

On spinning I use braid almost exclusively, for everything including cranks.  I use  about a 5 foot leader of FC or mono, and it gives some shock absorption without significantly compromising feel and hook sets.  

[Deleted account]

I don't usually crank with braid, but I do the equivalent in the salt quite a bit. A softer rod with 20-30 lb braid and a mono leader is the way to go. The advantage is greater sensitivity, and deeper diving, specially in current. 

[DaubsNU1]

My bait casters have had braid since the 1990's. Worms, jigs, cranks, spinnerbaits, all seem to do well. 

 

I just recently switched from mono to braid-to-fluoro leader on all my spinning gear. Game-changer. But I don't throw cranks on my spinning rods. 

[casts_by_fly]

I picked up braid this year because I have a rod that fishes a bit soft for me with mono (falcon bucoo trapcaster 7’ mh). With 30 lb suffix 832 its a total different animal. I’ve been throwing lipless cranks on it and it’s fantastic. The braid let’s you feel every wobble of the bait and when that wobble stops. I’ve thrown a bunch of other cranks on it and it fishes great. I might even be able to leave the dedicated crank bait rod home this year.  I couldn’t do the same with mono on that rod.

 

thanks,

rick

[swhit140]

I've been using mono for cranking along with a MH/Moderate Fast action rod. It works fine for me, I feel that mono will give a little stretch so the hooks don't rip out. I've just never have tried the idea.

[detroit1]

My frog / pike rod has 50#braid, but my other 6 bc's get 12 and 14#  xl

This year i spent less than $20 on line.

[FishTank]

I like braid for certain applications but not crankbaits. It's sort of a vinegar and water thing for me. 

[WRB]

20 hours ago, learnin said:

Seems I've heard more cons than pros on this.  One reason was less distance the other was if you get a backlash start cutting.  Is there less distance with braid on crankbaits and is it any more susceptible to backlash than mono?  I was thinking it wasn't because braid works a lot better all around for me with spinning gear.

You can’t backlash a spinning reel!

It takes a while to twist braid to the point it starts to wind knot. 

If you set the spinning reel drag about 3 lbs braid should work OK for crank baits without a leader.

The issue anglers complain about using braid with treble hook lures is the hooks pull out of soft tissue. Set the reel drag properly solves that issue.

Tom

[softwateronly]

I don't fish cranks often, but early spring is my best time with them.  Deep divers, with 30lb braid to 10lb mono, on a graphite mod/fast with my drag backed way down has caught and landed way more fish than I ever thought it would.  This isn't a setup I can rightfully recommend, but it's been surprisingly effective.  It might be time for me to dedicate a set up to it full time.  

 

scott

[jcjunior]

12 or 15lb big game for all my crank baits. Tried braid a few times and don’t like it for this application. The only crankbait application I can see it being useful is ripping traps through grass

[learnin]

Thanks to all for the info.  I should have said braid on a  baitcaster.  I've been using 12lb XL on a Curado.  Based on the replies I might try 30lb braid next line replacement.

[MyKeyBe]

11 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

I picked up braid this year because I have a rod that fishes a bit soft for me with mono (falcon bucoo trapcaster 7’ mh). With 30 lb suffix 832 its a total different animal.

Wait till you throw a spinnerbait on that combo. It's wonderful. That rod and 30 lb braid can do almost anything and do it pretty good. 

[Cory20]

I'm giving it a go this year on an olumacevx crank rod. Feels good so far.

[Dens228]

I used straight braid with crankbaits for several years, 20 lb test.  Then I added a mono leader for no other reason that adding a bit of stiffness near the bait to minimize hook fouling with the line.  

Last summer I switched to flouro for cranks and jerkbaits.  I don't really notice a difference between flouro and braid.  

[PhishLI]

Friday I was out on a 8ft Sundolphin with my son in law, so I was limited to a few rods. I used a multipurpose setup, a  7'3" composite cranking rod and 6spd reel spooled with 30lb Daiwa J8, to throw cranks, chatterbaits, and spinner baits. Casting distance wasn't an issue whatsoever with deep cranks, and if there's a difference compared to nylon/fluoro, and I don't believe there is in that regard, it's meaningless, IMO. I was bombing everything. However, I believe if I had upsized line to 40lb or greater there definitely would be.

 

The feel with braid and cranks is fantastic. The Lily pad fields are just buds on the bottom right now at this particular lake, and I could easily feel the bill touching off of them. With that I didn't snag once. Same thing on rock and gravel. Excellent feel.

[5/0]

A while back I watched an older video from Tacticalbassin where Matt Allen used braid on all rods. Fully understand the downsizing of rod action and drag mods needed when doing this. But how do you compensate for the buoyancy that comes with braided line which, to me anyway, would hinder getting the proper depths on moving baits?