Crankbait lines

Ok. I have 4 new Shakespeare line counters size 15. They will hold a lot of and I know you need a full spool for them to be accurate. I was thinking of using 10 to 12 pound monofilament as filler line and then about 100 yards give me roughly 330 feet of higher-quality line. But I don't know what brand of line to use for either. I don't have a lot of money to use on this project so I would love some comments or suggestions on what brands and sizes you more experienced crankers use.
I had thought of using some Berkeley 12 pound test filler line that I found about 1200 yards for 7.99 @Bass Pro Shops.
I have seen 10 lb recommended for the final line. I don't anticipate fishing much other than open water. Not many brush tops in other words.

Any and all suggestions appreciated


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not a hi dollar line but i use 10# viscous. never had any problems so far, but i mostly fish flats in the coe's and don't hang up much..good luck, ws

I used the cheapest mono I could find for filler, 15lb from Wal-Mart. Then I use PowerPro 30lb braid for pulling cranks. I have a friend who bought the cheapest braid he could find on line, made in China, but it works and it was a whole lot cheaper.

I use 20 pound of the cheapest walmart has, fill full, pull 100 ft or so off. Cut it off and spool on 150 ft of power pro braid 30 lb. I found some power pro red on sale at academy for 9.98 a spool for 150 yards. 2 spools was more than enough to fill 5 reels. You don't need anymore than 150 ft. We fishing for crappie. Even if you hung a big cat or something your backing is plenty strong to hold anything your going to catch.

You will notice that the spool is marked in increments, I fill with cheap 25/30# junk line and finish with 20# braid now. You wind up with 200/250' of braid, reverse after 3/4yrs, and go again. I learned from the same question.

Why braid? To try and be able to save/retrieve the hung baits?


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Jim...Its kinda like Fords and Chevys......some like braid....some like mono. I use 10 lb. High vis yellow mono myself.

They don't have to be accurate, just the same. I put 500' on all of mine and roll on.....

I use the "offshore angler" 12 lbs from bass pro.. I got a big spool for $12 and have filled at least 8 cranking reels and all of my spider rig reels with it.. Have had 1 break off in 2 months using it and I don't believe dat was a crappie


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Originally Posted by feelay

They don't have to be accurate, just the same. I put 500' on all of mine and roll on.....

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I respectfully disagree. They have to be accurate or you're just pulling crankbaits and praying for the best.

I suggest using 10 pound mono or braid with no larger diameter than 6 pound test. Reason.. Is there's more proven information/dive curves for 100's of different baits with those 2 lines than anything else.

I suggest buying you a trollers bible or get the precision trolling app on your phone, purchase the baits that you use and it's will blow your mind how accurate they are. Those guys have spend countless hours getting the data for that book/app. Look at precision trolling on YouTube and it'll show you how they gather information.

But, keep in mind, every boat does pull slightly different and.. Keep in mind that line length only counts for line in the water.

I pull with my rods horizontal/level. That's where everything is dead in accurate for me. When doing so if I see fish at 8' deep I can refer to precision trolling data to put my baits where I want them to be Insted of under the fish. After doing it so many times.. It's memorized now. I'm 100% confident.

But with all that said, it's accurate up to 14 feet deep give or take a little. After that the curve plays out and is in accurate for the baits I use, bandits, bombers, flicker shad, bad shad, Johnson CB shad,etc. I personally have never been able to hit a 16' bottom with the deepest diving baits I use without having to add weight.