What Line For Crankbaits? 2025

Josh Smith reply :

Hello,

I am setting up my crankbait rod.

Years back I'd have gone directly to Trilene XL.

I read somewhere on here that it's changed. True?

I do run 12lb XL on my light crankbait rod and it still seems decent.

What mono would you choose, and what weight? I will be running mid to deep drivers, and I cannot run a leader because the rod has micro-guides.

Thanks!

Josh

Oklahoma Mike reply :

Flouro is probably a better choice for crankbaits, 12-15lb. I personally don't care for flouro as a main line but use it as a leader with braid. But your 12lb XL will work fine too.

Raul reply :

My take ?

whatever tickles your fancy

me ? Berkley Trilene Big Game, why ? XL doesn't perform well where I fish.

bigturtle reply :

depends on what you want to do with the crankbait.

Fluorocaron if:

you fish a lot of hard cover, like trees or rocks. you need that extra abrasion resistance
want your bait to dive deeper, or dive quicker.
very clear water

Monofilament if:

you want more "give/stretch" in your system to prevent the hooks from popping out. This can also be achieved with a softer tipped rod or a lighter drag.
run the lure higher in the water. ticking grass, fishing super shallow, or fish are suspended just above the lure's max depth.

Braid if:

line visibility isnt a issue
0 stretch isnt a issue (solved by your rod/reel)
need to make hard hooksets at a looong distance.

When I crank, I usually use mono because I fish a lot of shallow weedy areas where the weeds come anywhere from 1-4 feet from the surface and I need my cranks to run just a tad higher so i can tick the top of the grass

IndianaFinesse reply :

I'm not sure if the Trilene xl has changed. Pretty much what bigturtle said, but my favorite mono for cranking is big game. Depending on if you plan to fish over trees/weeds I would probably choose twelve or fourteen pound test line.

eyedabassman reply :

I like Big Game, or Gama Copolymer.12 lb.

Josh Smith reply :

How limp is Big Game?

Thanks!

Josh

ww2farmer reply :

I like braid for cranking, most people don't.

tbone1993 reply :

Big game is stiffer IMO same with XT. I would use a fluorocarbon of your choice in 10,12,15 depending on the application. I'll flip squarebills on 15lb into the thick stuff (trees etc). Haven't used braid on crankbaits but I've gotten some better rods so I think I'll give it a chance this year.

IndianaFinesse reply :

Big game is fairly stiff, but since your using it for cranking it shouldn't matter.

Mike L reply :

I switched my crank, spinnerbait/chatterbait combo's to 12# Yo Zuri and won't be changing any time soon.

Mike

Raul reply :

On 3/26/2016 at 11:34 AM, Josh Smith said:

How limp is Big Game?

Thanks!

Josh

Stiffer than XL for sure but not as stiff as XT, but it really doesn't matter much, you don't have to worry about coiling since you are using it for crankbaiting, besides, coiling happens mostly during the first maybe half an hour, once the line absorbs water the issue practically disapears.

Montanaro reply :

I'm trying sun line armilo this year in 13 pounds. Diameter is nearly same as sun lines premium fluoros but has better manageability and low stretch

Bluebasser86 reply :

I use Big Game for cranking 8-15 depending on what I'm doing.

new2BC4bass reply :

I'd have to agree Big Game is stiffer. However, after it gets wet you shouldn't have any problems. Previously I always used a MF whenever I wanted to throw a crankbait which means I was using 8# mono. Siege being a favorite. Normally I am fishing shallow to 8-10 feet max. A crankbait rod is now part of my arsenal. Currently I am using 10# Excalibur on it. Rod was acquired over the winter so has seen very limited use. Only been out to practice with it so far this year so no feedback on how well the line works, but expect no problems.

crypt reply :

big game 10-12 lb. for most stuff. heavier if in a lot of cover 17-20.if i'm cranking deeper than 10 ft. will use 15 lb. braid. thin diameter will let it get down better,have better feel,use a softer action rod though. med. act. that seems to work for me.

Mosster47 reply :

8lb CXX. You'll get max depth on your cranks, it won't stretch, and it stands up to rocks.

Ski reply :

You will find that the rule of thumb for cranking is Fluro, as mentioned above it allows for maximum depth of your bait and very abrasion resistant.

R/ Chris

Mike L reply :

On 3/27/2016 at 11:11 PM, Ski said:

You will find that the rule of thumb for cranking is Fluro, as mentioned above it allows for maximum depth of your bait and very abrasion resistant.

R/ Chris

I use that on my bottom contact plastics combo in scattered vegetation and really like it. Never thought about useing it for moving baits....I'm cheap

Mike

Wbeadlescomb reply :

You don't need flouro to throw a crankbait. It's just a marketing thing to convince you that you can't catch fish unless you have ----- product. Any decent mono will suit your needs well

flyfisher reply :

6lb diameter braid for me. Lass forever and gets baits deeper due to the smaller diameter.

Ski reply :

On 3/28/2016 at 12:14 AM, Wbeadlescomb said:

You don't need flouro to throw a crankbait. It's just a marketing thing to convince you that you can't catch fish unless you have ----- product. Any decent mono will suit your needs well

Hardly a marketing scam.

It has totally different properties that gives the user other options.

And yes you are correct in saying "you don't need Fluoro" But it is another "option" and tool to tune your performance.

Wbeadlescomb reply :

On 3/28/2016 at 1:26 AM, Ski said:

Hardly a marketing scam.

It has totally different properties that gives the user other options.

And yes you are correct in saying "you don't need Fluoro" But it is another "option" and tool to tune your performance.

That you don't need..... a fish is a stupid thing they aren't going to say dang it I'd have hit that crankbait if he was using fluorocarbon but I don't like that clear mono.

kickerfish1 reply :

You could note the strengths of picking a certain of line for certain lake structure conditions or such but for me I just prefer mono, as I will turn around and throw topwaters using the same outfit as well.

Josh Smith reply :

Thank you, gents.

I had some 17lb fluoro laying around, so I spooled it up since I generally throw cranks in the river. Lots of rocks.

I'll try it, and go from there.

Josh

Logan S reply :

I prefer flouro for the simple fact that it's more sensitive than mono. Both stretch to some extent. Line diameter has more of an effect of running depth than the floating/sinking properties. Visibility is the same with both and I'm not convinced it even makes a difference anyway.

Plenty of people use mono with success, but I find that the extra sensitivity helps me detect more strikes and feel cover/bottom better...Believe it or not, there can be some very subtle crankbait hits.

10 lb for anything I want to get depth out of, 12 lb or 15 lb for banging around cover.

5739

What Line For Crankbaits? 2025

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