Crankbait line, and bottom structure

[etommy28]

I am getting started in deep cranking, I was hoping you all might be able to give me some advice on the best line for it, and how to find bottom structure, like shell beds. Can u use a graph or do you just have to fish or what?

[zbigbadaaron]

For crankbaits stick to mono. Use 8-12 pound test. The lighter the pound test the further the maximum diving depth reaches.

[burleytog]

Diving depth isn't really about 'pound test', it is related to the diameter of the line.

I generally use PLine CXX 8 lb. for all cranking.

[tyrius.]

I generally use PLine CXX 8 lb. for all cranking.

No flouro?

For a cranking line you want the thinnest diameter that you can get away with.  The thinner the diameter the less resistance on the line pulling through the water.  This resistance impedes diving depth of the crank.  A lot of people use flouro also because it sinks.  They surmise that this gives them added depth.

I don't do deep cranking so I don't have a specific line to recommend.

[booneangler]

i use Triline 100% floro in 10lb test.

[bhos]

I use the BPS tourney tough 10 lb mono for deep cranks and have been happy with it the past few seasons.  I use braid for almost everything else, but the mono lets me cast further and sinks faster, helping the cranks get deeper.  I'm thinking of trying trilene flouro in 12 or 15 lb, maybe the next gift card to bps...

[tyrius.]

I use the BPS tourney tough 10 lb mono for deep cranks and have been happy with it the past few seasons. I use braid for almost everything else, but the mono lets me cast further and sinks faster, helping the cranks get deeper. I'm thinking of trying trilene flouro in 12 or 15 lb, maybe the next gift card to bps...

Mono doesn't sink.  It floats.  Braid will help you get deeper if you are using the same strength braid vs mono because the braid will be thinner in diameter.

[bhos]

I use the BPS tourney tough 10 lb mono for deep cranks and have been happy with it the past few seasons. I use braid for almost everything else, but the mono lets me cast further and sinks faster, helping the cranks get deeper. I'm thinking of trying trilene flouro in 12 or 15 lb, maybe the next gift card to bps...

Mono doesn't sink. It floats. Braid will help you get deeper if you are using the same strength braid vs mono because the braid will be thinner in diameter.

I can't argue with that, I've seen test results from magazines that agree with what you're saying. All i can say is that the 10 lb mono seems to sink a little faster for a deep diving crank than braid for me in non-scientific, real world scenarios. I use powerpro 30 and 50 lb, so the higher rating and diameter might be the reason for the discrepancy. I've tried 10 lb powerpro, but it seems to break too easily compared with the 10 lb mono. Maybe I got a bad batch, but I've relegated that spool to slab fishing. When I get some free cash, I really do want to try flouro. I bought some Vanish flouro a couple years ago and absolutely hated it (too stiff, broke easily), so I'm trying to decide on a brand of flouro to try next. I'm leaning towards trilene at the moment but am open to suggestions

[Cavfirst]

:)When i first started deep crankin I also used 10llb mono and found it to work pretty well but just not quite strong enough with those great big 3/4 oz lures.  I found and still use 12 lb floro for all my deep cranking for two reason one it gets the bait down were it needs to be alittle faster than even braid, which by the way also floats pretty well one of the reasons we use it for frogs. Thats another story the floro allows u a little more sensitivity for the bottom structure while using a glass or composite rod that is not that sensitive so we make up for some of that with floro. Get ya some and tight lines.