braid or fluro for cranks???

[Crankhead]

This year I started using power pro braid for soft plastics & think it's great. I've been using fluro for cranks, no complaints, but was thinking of switching to braid. Some of the guys I fish with use braid & said there is a lot less backlash and they can cast it further. But the fluro guys said that one of the negatives about using braid is that when your lure gets caught up on something, you're probably going to lose it. The fluro guys that did try braid also said that when cranking in the lure, the braided line made a loud rubbing noise as it was coming through the rod guides. So I'd like to hear the pros & cons of if you use fluro or braided line for crankbaits & why?

[flatbass]

Actually I use !2lb big game but--I think floro would have the advantage in most cases because it has some stretch. With braid I would worry about jerking the lure away from the fish before he has time to take it in compleately. Also ripping hooks out of their mouth due to no stretch. The exception would be in grass because the same no stretch would let you rip it free from the grass easier.  

[basspro48]

I always use either fluoro or mono for crankin. I never use braid because not only does it have the stealth appeal of a Mac truck (fluoro is dang near invisible underwater) but it's zero stretch could rip the hooks right out of the fish's face.

[Grey Wolf]

I've used braid for the last ten years for crank baits. It's like any thing else , you have to make a few adjustments.

My dedicated crank bait rod is a St. Croix fiberglass rod. I set my drag like I would if I was using mono.

I also use graphite rods and the only differance is I loosen my drag to offset the differance.

This has worked for me and I couldn't imagine using mono or floro any more.

[J Francho]

You'll get a gamut of answers here.  I use FC because it sinks - specifically 8-12#.  I'll use mono as well for shallow, because it floats.  So conflicting isn't it?  LOL.  I've even tried straight braid and with a mono leader, but it never felt comfortable to me.  I have friends that are very good fisherman that use this setup and do well.

You gotta try a few things out, and see if it works for you.

[Certified Public Angler]

I don't see why braid would cause you to lose your lures when they get caught up.  I got a lipless crank's trebles caught in the lilly pads once and I just tightened down the drag and tore the pads out of the ground.  I was shore fishing and there was no way I was losing a new 5$ lure.  I did have to replace the hooks though as they were bent like crazy.

[J Francho]

I've gotten hung up cranks back using mono or FC as well.  You end up replacing the trebles at least once a year anyway, so bent hooks are a small price to pay.  Using the "bow string" method usually pops it out.  Sometimes just popping the line before the first guide is all it takes.

[hammer84]

I put FC on one of my cranking rods this year.  It was ok but I'm going back to Yo_Zuri 12# when I change the line.  I can cast the YZ further and get less backlashes.

Just my personal preference.

[Sam]

Ike's Rules:

Mono for all treble hook baits.

Flouro or copoly for all other baits.

Braid for heavy cover, frogs or deep cranking.

So.....mono for treble baits.

[heathen]

I prefer mono for cranking, as most of the cranking I do is shallow.