Fluorocarbon and Crankbaits?

[Todd2]

What line size do you guys use when deep water cranking in the summer? I understand that when fishing cranks on mono the smaller the line the deeper you can get. Is the same true for fluorocarbon? It seems to me if fluorocarbon sinks then the opposite would be true meaning the bigger the line the faster it would sink? I just ordered some Vicious 15 lb for the first time and am wondering if I should have got 12. Thanks

[mhall]

I use 10 and 12lb test and love the results. If I'm fishing big cranks like the DD22 I'll sometimes go to the 14lb.

[TR21Bassin]

I throw the 12lb Vicious Flouro on all my cranks and love it. Been using it about 3 years now.

Charlie

[Col Forbin]

If you want it to run to it's desired depth 10 lbs. is as big as you should go. I know some of the pro's around here use less than 10 on the deeper diving crankbaits. It is not the rate that it sinks, however the resistance created as the line cuts through the water when it is running. The smaller the diameter of the line, the less resistance it will have traveling through the water.

There are some benifits of both flouro and mono for cranking. Flouro is going to have a slightly smaller diameter for the same pound test when compared to most mono's. However, mono has a little more stretch than flouro, which could help if you have a problem of yanking on the rod before the fish gets it's mouth around the crankbait.

A rod with a soft, slow tip is just as important as line selection when fishing crankbaits - more for landing a fish, than how the lure runs.

[Todd2]

It is not the rate that it sinks, however the resistance created as the line cuts through the water when it is running. The smaller the diameter of the line, the less resistance it will have traveling through the water.

Ok, thanks. So the whole depth advantage of fluoro vs mono is only because the fluoro will have a smaller diameter than a mono of the same line size. Does that sound right? The sinking property of fluoro doesn't come into play?

[elnutsmalljaws]

Ok, thanks. So the whole depth advantage of fluoro vs mono is only because the fluoro will have a smaller diameter than a mono of the same line size. Does that sound right? The sinking property of fluoro doesn't come into play?

The sinking property does come into play more than you will think. When fishing deep cranks on ledges or humps, I will make as long a cast as possible and let the lure sit there for up to a minute letting the line begin to sink then engage and reel. With the line already lower than the lure it will pull it down even faster to the desired depth. If I am casting into the wind, I have at times moved up onto the ledge or hump, made my cast, then let out line as I troll back off the hump then reel in. This will give you more line out and get and keep the lure at the deepest point longer. I have done this on humps at Dale to where I casted then trolled all the way to the other side then reeled. You will be amazed at how much more water you can cover at the peak depths doing this. Takes more time in between cast but considering each cast is covering so much more ground at the desired depth, maybe it helps or maybe it does not. I have caught fish doing this so it is in my arsenol (sp).

[Bobby Headrick]

12 lb P-Line Floroclear, gives some of both worlds. I use this on all my cranks and have great success with it. If I have to crank deeper I go to a jig or rig or shakey head, as I do not like deep cranking except when noting else works,those darn DD22's will kill ya all day.WHEW:

[mhall]

12 lb P-Line Floroclear, gives some of both worlds. I use this on all my cranks and have great success with it. If I have to crank deeper I go to a jig or rig or shakey head, as I do not like deep cranking except when noting else works,those darn DD22's will kill ya all day.WHEW:

I love the P-line Flouro-clear it's awesome line. Just watch your knots and retie when necessary and it's sho nuff the stuff.

[apb]

What about using fireline with a floro leader? Low diameter, higher pound test, plus the floro leader would keep the business end clear.

Andrew

[Todd2]

I also read on another board about putting a very small bullet weight or a split shot up the line to get crankbaits down further without giving up line size. Anybody here try that?

[Swift1]

10 pound would be the smallest line for deep cranking, Ive also carolina rigged cranks to get them a little deeper.

[Col Forbin]

A very well experienced crankbait fisherman said he was killing the 5 and 6lbers on Louden by running a deep crank on 6lb flouro

There were quite a few of the Elite series guys here going that low, most are sticking to 8 and especially 10, but there were a couple of them that came in to get a few spools of 6.