Line For Cranking

[LowePro]

Im just getting into cranking. I was wondering what line is preferred, braid/mono/flouro? Also if braid, are the fish able to see the line (line shy) also if using a brite colored line is there a possibility of line shyness as well? I hear 10pound test is the poundage to go with on bandit 300's, but if I were to use braid what is the poundage for 10lb mono diameter?

["G"]

Its just a personal preference....both have good points and bad points....some like braid....some like mono. I prefer mono....I use Cabelas Pro-Line 10 lb. high vis yellow

[Rees Guide]

Changed to braid simply to keep my baits in my possession as the catfish on Nader were stealing them. I use 40/10 Power Pro Depth Master. Tangles are easier to get and line separation is more important with the braid. Other than not loosing baits mono is just as good and cheaper

[BigRiverMarine]

Mono is easier to deal with as far as getting tangles out and it's much cheaper to replace. I use the Power Pro Depth Hunter myself tho. I use the 20/6

[LowePro]

Thankyou guys for your inputs. I would much rather more visible line I think, cuz Im blind. Have you fella's noticed or not if this visibilty of line has affected catch rates? These questions are not meant to be "loaded for a dispute" just serious wanting to know if I can use Hi vis line and get away with it. Sounds like I can and lovin that!

[wilbur]

Mono is easier to deal with as far as getting tangles out and it's much cheaper to replace. I use the Power Pro Depth Hunter myself tho. I use the 20/6

It might just be me but I find tangles are much easier to get out with braid. The mono seems to want to knot up easily.

[Rees Guide]

Thankyou guys for your inputs. I would much rather more visible line I think, cuz Im blind. Have you fella's noticed or not if this visibilty of line has affected catch rates? These questions are not meant to be "loaded for a dispute" just serious wanting to know if I can use Hi vis line and get away with it. Sounds like I can and lovin that!

Not an issue as far as I can tell, reaction bite more than anything.

[BigRiverMarine]

I usually don't need to see the line when pullin cranks IF you have the right spread on your rods. I just look for the rod to start jerkin back when it gets a hit.

[bfish]

Unlike BGM, I look at the line to see if it is traveling correctly or riding high etc so I like the hi-vis.

I started using 12 and 15 lb hi-vis mono. Moved down to 10 but I am thinking of moving back up. Main reason is that the thicker line is easier for me to see. I use what ever bulk spool I can find the cheapest.

Having all the same line is a pain when getting tangles out. Having different line colors and sizes makes getting tangles out easier. (of course some are just easier to snip and re-tie). I see no reason why braid would not work well (I use it for green fish), but I am too cheap to try it on my trolling rods.

[M R Dux]

After using Viscous and Mr Crappie for years (Suffix hi-vis if I can find it), I just bought a 4700 yard spool of Trilene Big Game Solar Green in 12 pound test. I'm getting ready to respool all 12 of my line-counter reels. In the last 2 trips to Blood River on KY Lake I have lost upwards of 25+ cranks. Yesterday I broke off on a custom painted C55 that snapped almost at the rod with BRAND NEW 10 pound Mr Crappie. NO MORE!! If the Trilene doesn't solve much of this I'm going to braid. It doesn't hurt quite as bad losing a custom painted bait that I probably have $2 in over a $6 Bandit but I seem to be making up for it in quantity. I may lose a foot or two on my cranks dive depth but we'll see. I'll allow for it if I see I need to.

I am a serious line watcher when trolling and when I tried Power Pro Hi-Vis braid a few years back, it faded in just a few trips.

One trick I have always used when pulling multiple cranks is when we get a bad tangle involving more than one crank, the 1st crank that gets to the boat is cut off of its line and put to the side. I find it much easier to retie baits than to try to untangle a rat's nest. When that 1st line is clear, it is allowed to go back into the water with the other lines and most of the time it will untwist on its own. Yesterday we had a fish tangle 3 lines like this and all 3 cranks were cut off and the line allowed to run behind the boat. The rods were just placed back in the rod holders then the baits tied back on one at a time with the lines trailing behind the boat.