Line Choice for Lipless Cranks

[J_Pearson]

I was curious what other people like to throw their lipless cranks on. Braid, fluoro, braid-fluoro leader, copoly...

I had success using braid late last year in surprisingly clear water, but I was wondering if other people feel they can get more bites using fluoro. My issue is the road I predominantly through traps on is also later used as my frog rod, so it will have braid on it. I'm also fishing a tourney in the middle of April where I'll probably be throwing a skinny dipper in some fairly heavy junk, so I'd also prefer braid there.

Straight braid? Braid-fluoro leader? It's a reaction bite, so does it matter?? Ahh!  :-/

JP

[WanderLust]

The combo I use for this has braid on it so that's what I typically use. I am going to start using more leaders this year...

[hookingem]

On my lipless rod I throw 12# mono. I like some stretch for that application.

[bigbassctchr101]

I throw 12# mono as well. 10# when I want to get it down a little deeper in the creek channel and clearer water.     I also use a limber rod.  I don't fish grass (we don't have to much of it) so I don't have to have a stout rod to snap or pull it out.  A limber tip can work well, but when you get into big fish its easier for me to allow more of my rod to give.  It will keep the fish from throwing the lure as easy and gives more when the fish starts on a power surge...My 12# rod has more limber tip with not as much rod, and the 10# it feels like the rod starts bending at the handle lol jk   I've found though, that if your rod loads up and launches a 1/2ounce trap about 3 miles, then you've probably got the correct rod action that will work

[WanderLust]

hmmm... maybe I'm missing out.

I have another setup I can use mono on. 12# big game here we come.

[dude loves to fish]

I like 12# fluoro and a limber rod. Will use braid if I'm fishing around grass.

[catchnm]

12 lb. YoZuri Hybrid Ultra Soft, Shimano Citica 200E, 6'6" med. action or 7' med/hvy action rod. YO-yoing the grass beds and burning the rock banks.

[breezy]

I typically use 10lb mono as we have virtually no grass or thick cover nearby. Like you several rods pull multiple uses and I've used braid (with a fluoro leader) to throw lipless cranks without any issues. I prefer the mono for some stretch and found the braid will foul the lure easily without a leader.

Personally I would choose what setup to use based more on the rod than line. Sure there is probably an optimum line to use for each application, but realistically most will work.

[krisjack69]

I am using 12 lbs fluorocarbon berkly 100 percent but u probably could use about any line since visibility doesnt factor as much crankbait fishing since the bait is moving.

[JacobK]

When I use traps they're predominately being ripped from grass. That being said last season I tried #12 yozuri and #12 flourocarbon, both were still a bit too stretchy with a limber rod so this season I'm gonna try a stouter rod with #12 flourocarbon & if that's still too much stretch, I'll go with braid.

I was using a 7ft MH MF carrot crankin stix last year, this year I went with the loomis 7ft MH MF Crankin' rod.

[DpDvr]

I also use Berkley 100% fluorocarbon. I don't have to worry about weeds either, because the lakes I fish don't have alot of weedbeds.

[Wayne P.]

30# superline for me.

[bandsr4me20]

i use 12 or 15 ib p-line cxx

[tholmes]

10# or 12# Trilene Big Game.

Tom

[A-Rob]

If you find 12# fluoro is too much stretch, you can try increasing to 15# fluoro, should stretch a bit less on you.

I use 15# fluoro with a glass rod. Works ok for me. I also use a light enough lipless crank that it tangles up in the weeds, but doesn't get too deep that I can't pull it out.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I primarily use 12 pound Hybrid on a Dobyns 733 for traps.  Has enough oomph to rip a rattlebait out of grass.  If it starts to get a bit too thick, I'll switch over to a 30 or 40 pound braid on the same rod.

[Big Bait Fishing]

50 lb. braid with a leader of Toray super hard strong 16 lb. fluorocarbon . don't like any stretch in my line , i make pretty long casts so i want as much feel as possible , leader is usually 4'-6' long ..... 

[BassThumb]

For me, it's hard to narrow it down to one line or one rod. Lipless cranks are very versatile lures and one of my favorites, and I commonly use baits in the 1/4 oz - 3/4 oz range and fish them in heavy weeds, open water or anywhere in between.

I did some experimenting on line for lipless cranking last year, and I caught a lot of fish using straight braid and a Dobyns 735 pitching stick when I was fishing heavy weed cover, but this same combo wouldn't work very well when I was working more open water, like cover edges or when I was burning lipless cranks over flats or slow rolling them into deep rocky areas or deep weededges. I got fewer strikes and had more fish throw the bait when using braid away from the weeds and slop.

In these open areas, I had better luck using my buzzbait setup, a 734 with 17# Sufix mono.  This line is soft, stretchy, easy to cast, and works VERY well to keep the fish on the hook, but not so well for ripping (too stretchy) and bottom bumping (not very sensitive). I use 12# copoly for spinnerbaits, and I think that might be the best all around line if I had to choose just one. It has little stretch so it's suitable for ripping, but it's not as visible as braid. For light lipless cranks 3/8 oz and under, I prefer a med/mod cranking stick with 10# fluoro or 8# copoly, and I fish these around light cover or open water.

I just picked up a Dobyns 705CB graphite for lipless cranking and shallow cranks, and I'll be using 12# Ultra Soft on that to start the season.

[bigfruits]

10 or 12lb copoly

[dodgeguy]

50 lb fireline braid.

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

you could use 12 lb flouro, or braid with about a 3 foot leader. I prefer to throw lipless cranks on flouro

[Fishes in trees]

I use 17 or 20 lb mono.  I have one more spool of 20 lb Iron Silk, and then I'll have to find a new brand.   Overall, I think the Iron Silk line was the best crankbait line Berkley ever came out with and I was sad when it was discontinued.

Yes, I know that it is kinky and kind of stiff, but once you spray some line magic on it and get it wet, try not to cast real far the first few casts, I get great distance out of it and amazing abrasion resistance.

[Primus]

Most of the time I throw it on a 7' M action BPS Crankin' Stick with 12 lb Floro.