Braid For Deep Cranking

[ncbass]

Who uses braid for deep cranking and what sizes do you use. I ask because I'm fishing areas that hold big fish(up to and over 10 lbs in submerged standing timber); tops of the timber is 15 to 20 ft deep. I plan to use flouro leader but need the braid to get these fish out of the trees. I can't get the bait down (DD22's) on heavy flouro that will also allow me to get the fish out. So I'm curious as to who out there has experience with braid deep cranking.

[BASSclary]

The thinner line diameter of braid will definitely get your crank down a little deeper.

[Wayne P.]

Who uses braid for deep cranking and what sizes do you use. I ask because I'm fishing areas that hold big fish(up to and over 10 lbs in submerged standing timber); tops of the timber is 15 to 20 ft deep. I plan to use flouro leader but need the braid to get these fish out of the trees. I can't get the bait down (DD22's) on heavy flouro that will also allow me to get the fish out. So I'm curious as to who out there has experience with braid deep cranking.

Most brands of superline with a 30# rating are 8# mono equivelent diameter. That means less water resistance than a larger diameter nylon mono or fluorocarbon line of a way lesser strength. Don't use a leader, you will just be adding more water drag with a larger diameter line preventing a deeper presentation.

8# mono equivelent diameter superline is my choice for deep or shallow cranking around cover. Use a softer action rod and looser drag to offset the lack of line stretch.

Even most 50# rated superlines are 10# mono diameter-still a lot smaller than a "safe" mono for your purpose.

[dodgeguy]

sufix 832 sinking braid in 20 pound.trasjh the leader.it's a reaction bite.the leader is not needed.

[ww2farmer]

I use Spiderwire Ultracast Fluorobraid. 20lb test. I get them down deeper on that line than any other I have tried.

[ncbass]

I use Spiderwire Ultracast Fluorobraid. 20lb test. I get them down deeper on that line than any other I have tried.

How does that flourobraid stand up to an occasional rock ? My experience using braid tied directly to lures/hooks is that it fails at the knot due to abrasion of the bottom/structure/lure; thats why I use a flouro leader to eliminate this failure. I have all my setups whether spinning or casting rigged this way.

[SirSnookalot]

When I need to get down lower I'll put a small splitshot couple of inches above the lure or use a wire leader to get me down.

[ww2farmer]

How does that flourobraid stand up to an occasional rock ? My experience using braid tied directly to lures/hooks is that it fails at the knot due to abrasion of the bottom/structure/lure; thats why I use a flouro leader to eliminate this failure. I have all my setups whether spinning or casting rigged this way.

Better than regular braid, but still not as good as straight fluorocarbon. I check my line when cranking hard cover as often as every 3 or 4 casts, no matter what line I use. I don't mind adding a fluoro leader when I need to, I just don't like adding one for deep cranking.

[Wayne P.]

How does that flourobraid stand up to an occasional rock ? My experience using braid tied directly to lures/hooks is that it fails at the knot due to abrasion of the bottom/structure/lure; thats why I use a flouro leader to eliminate this failure. I have all my setups whether spinning or casting rigged this way.

If you are truly DEEP cranking, getting line abrasion from rocks with the large bills on those cranks is a very low possibility. In timber its a non-issue.

The main concern with superlines and their small diameter is the line digging into the wood before the lure even gets to it. A smooth superline will reduce that digging in.

[dodgeguy]

i use sufix 832 braid over rocks in 15 feet of water banging the rocks all day and rarely need to retie.

[Quarry Man]

I am spooling my small trebles rod with 20 lb braid this year after switching back and forth between mono and braid. I really liked the responsiveness and sensitivity.

 

When I purchase my deep cranking rod this summer, I am thinking of using 30 lb braid for deep cranking only. I don't think the fish can see the bottom in 25' so why bother with floro or a leader. Its a moderate rod so it will work.

anyone else using braid for deep cranking?

[AmSO4]

I started deep cranking last year using 10XD and Z Boss 25 and caught a bunch of bass on deep points.  I used 10lb fluoro.  I set up two rods and reels.  One with 10lb fluoro and one with straight 30lb powerpro.  I fished one day and found fish with the 10lb fluoro.  I switched to the braid rod and nothing would bite.  I switched back and forth and only caught fish on the fluoro setup.  I was using the same crankbait during the test.  The water I was fishing was very clear.  Ever since, I have been using the fluoro.  I may do the test again, since I liked the sensitivity and lack of stretch of the braid.  

[Tizi]

I tried braid for deep cranking and did not like it as much as using 10-12 lb flouro (Invisx).  I retain sensitivity and flouro sinks.

[J Francho]

I didn't like braid for cranking back in 2011, and I still don't.  

[Basswhippa]

David Fritts uses braid.  He has switched since 2011.  He's the best crankbait tournament angler ever. End of story.  But to each their own.

[Quarry Man]

2 hours ago, Basswhippa said:

David Fritts uses braid.  He has switched since 2011.  He's the best crankbait tournament angler ever. End of story.  But to each their own.

saw the video by him, I was looking into it and it solidified my decision. will test it out and see how it goes.

[J Francho]

His highest finish since 2011 is 14th.  You have to go back to the 90s to find any top 5 finishes.  If you enjoy braid and crankbaits and have success, that's a good enough reason to use it.

[Quarry Man]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

His highest finish since 2011 is 14th.  You have to go back to the 90s to find any top 5 finishes.  If you enjoy braid and crankbaits and have success, that's a good enough reason to use it.

I am planning on trying both out at some point. I don't get as much time on the water as I wish, so I am forced to sit here overthinking everything in order to make the most of my time on the water.

[J Francho]

53 minutes ago, Quarry Man said:

forced to sit here overthinking

SAME!!!!!

[Fishingmickey]

I've been playing with braid on deep diving crankbaits for three going on four years now. By deep diving I'm talking 6xd sized plus or 20' - 25' deep rated baits. I like to use it when I want to work 18' to 25' FOW. I use 30# either PPro, PPro slick or Suffix 832 and tie direct. I like the sensitivity of the braid for bottom feel and when contacting wood. Another plus is if I get hung up I can usually straighten out the hook and get my crank back. Bad part is if it really gets hung it is a byatch to break off.  I have a couple of the Kistler KLX feel & reel S2 (composite graphite and fiberglass rod) in MH and H action. Been pleased with how they perform.

FM

[Ogandrews]

I like braid to a leader for all my cranking. I especially like it with squarebills where I burn and stop them a lot. With the lack of stretch of braid, the lure stops right when I stop reeling as opposed to floro or mono where it will keep moving a bit as the line unstretches. I always use a leader, I believe they make a difference and even if it’s only 10lbs floro or mono it still gives me a better chance at not being bit off by a pike or musky.

[Quarry Man]

9 hours ago, J Francho said:

SAME!!!!!

can the fish see the line when they are in say 20' and visibility is only 6'. I am having trouble figuring this out. I would imagine no, because light doesn't get down that far, but I have no idea.

[WRB]

During the early 80's super braids hit the market as the panacea line for all bass fishing.

Super strong small diameter line. Then trouble in paradise the new line was destroying rod guides and reel level winds. Fuji ceramic guides to the rescue and hard coating heat treated level wind reels and spinning reel bail rollers became the norm. Super braids became backing for salt water anglers.

The Early 90's another new line is introduced Fluorocarbon line the next panacea. Invisible to fish with the same light refraction as water. The salt water anglers embraced FC line as a leader top shot for super braid, the marriage made in heaven. 

Hold your horses the new FC starts to have knot failures and too stiff high memory and not available is spools long enough for a main line, only 25 yard leader spools.

Enter Sunline Shooter with 300 meter filler spools in sizes for fresh water use.

This is when I started using 12 lbs Shooter FC line, around 1994. I bought into all the hype and loved this new line. Better contact with bottom bumping lures then mono makes it easier to detect strikes is true. Difficult to cast do to being water proof and random knot failures is also true. Panacea FC isn't. Choices.

I tried braid in the 80's for crankbaits thinking the small diameter would cast better and run deeper. To test run depth I trolled deep diving crankbaits in known depth using sonar to determine depth the lure hits bottom. .008D 12# braid didn't run any deeper then .012D 10# mono at 40 yards behind the boat. DD 22's and Poe 300 ran 16' deep using both lines. The problem with braid was putting hooked bass in the boat had a higher hook to lost ratio. Gave braid up, difficult to cast into the wind.

When FC line came out I tried 12D 12#  Shooter trolling the lures with similar results. Both braid and FC are more prone to backlashes the mono, so gave FC for crankbaits because it's too expensive to change out often and mono cast a lot better.

Tom

PS, improved my casting with FC using Tangle Free line conditioner.

 

[J Francho]

7 hours ago, Quarry Man said:

can the fish see the line when they are in say 20' and visibility is only 6'. I am having trouble figuring this out. I would imagine no, because light doesn't get down that far, but I have no idea.

I think "see" is the wrong question, or assumption.  Can the fish sense any line in the water?  Based on shallow water observations, I've seen plenty of evidence they can, even so called invisible line.  Does it matter that they can sense it's there?  Sometimes, not always.  I get plenty of bites not using a leader.  I also get plenty of bites when fishing toothy waters using a coated steel leader.  Go figure.  Occasionally, I'll try a fluoro leader if I'm not getting bites and others are using a leader, but that's slow moving contact baits.  Moving baits don't seem to matter as much.  Look at an umbrella rig.  There's a ton of metal there.

[MickD]

I like braid for deep cranking, like the sensitivity, have no trouble getting the lures down.  Keep in mind that there are sinking braids available.  Also , since braids are so thin compared to other lines the water resistance is less allowing the lure to get down well depending on relative diameters .   I use a leader because I'd rather cut leader to replace a snap or lure rather than cutting braid.