What braid do you like

[cojab]

I am going to take a tip from Lee and throw some braid on a deep diver crank bait reel. Figured I'd give this a chance since I really disliked the florocarbon I've tried before.
So far all I know is I'm going to use something 20 lb (or less) and I want to try some line conditioner.

What braids do you all like, how do you think it would work for this application, and what line conditioner would you use with it?

One other thing. I know there is a bit of debate about whether braid floats, sinks, or is neutral. From what I've been reading, some people claim that different braids perform differently with some of them having a bit of sink to them while others float. I would think one that sinks would help with getting deep divers down so it would make sense to me to look for one that sank if one was available.

[LgMouthGambler]

If its gonna be in open water while cranking, I would look into Daiwa J braid.

[rockchalk06]

Are you running a spinning reel or casting? Reason I ask, is 20# braid is really thin. 6# mono diameter. You will need to be very careful with it digging in on your spool (casting reel). I prefer 30# for smaller stuff with braid.

I like several braids. Open water, not many rocks, limbs or vegetation to worry about, I like Power Pro Slick 8 or Daiwa J-Braid. Its smoother and much quieter coming through the guides. I like Original Power Pro for everything else. Its noisier, but its much heavier duty.

I know on the surface, braid floats. I can dead stick a topwater Pop-X for ever and the line never sinks. As for when it's under water does it float up, suspend or sink? Not a clue. Hopefully someone will come along with more info.

For cranking, I use 40# Power Pro Slick 8 in timber brown. It matches the dirty water here well and I don't crank with a of lot rocks, timber or grass. 40# doesn't dig in at all for me and its still thin enough at 10# mono diameter I get plenty of line on the spool and I can throw lighter cranks like Square Bill A's etc. I may eventually switch to J-Braid, but this spool I have on has been on their for 3 years with no issues.

My 2 reasons for switch to braid on crankbaits was 1, for the zero memory and 2, so I could get my crankbaits back. I don't crank very often and I hate line memory that fluoro or mono will give me when my set up sits all winter. 40# will generally bend the treble hook and let me get my crankbait back with braid.

[bassinbrian]

In the thinner braid I like SUFFIX .... for heavy stuff I like the Stren Super Braid.


Line is such a preference thing , probably get a bunch of different answers.


BB

[cojab]

Are you running a spinning reel or casting? Reason I ask, is 20# braid is really thin. 6# mono diameter. You will need to be very careful with it digging in on your spool (casting reel). I prefer 30# for smaller stuff with braid.

Should have mentioned, casting reel.
I agree about it digging in. I had to go up to 50 lb on my other braid because of that.
I was hoping that as mentioned in another thread that if I spooled in on nice and tight and used line conditioner the digging in would be minimal.

[rockchalk06]

Should have mentioned, casting reel.
I agree about it digging in. I had to go up to 50 lb on my other braid because of that.
I was hoping that as mentioned in another thread that if I spooled in on nice and tight and used line conditioner the digging in would be minimal.

At first yes.

If you were using this for frogging or some technique that you reeled slack line in under no tension, it will dig as the line has lost its tension you originally spooled with. But since it's for crankbaits and there will tension on the line almost all the time, it may work better.

[cojab]

If its gonna be in open water while cranking, I would look into Daiwa J braid.

Diawa huh? 

[LgMouthGambler]

Diawa huh? 

What?  Its not cause it says Daiwa I swear.

[cojab]

What?  Its not cause it says Daiwa I swear.

The only way to know that for sure is if they start making Senkos! 

[LgMouthGambler]

The only way to know that for sure is if they start making Senkos! 

We all know the answer to that one. 

[basss]

I've had good results with Power Pro and Spider Wire.

[Smallie_Stalker]

What braids do you all like, how do you think it would work for this application, and what line conditioner would you use with it?

One other thing. I know there is a bit of debate about whether braid floats, sinks, or is neutral. From what I've been reading, some people claim that different braids perform differently with some of them having a bit of sink to them while others float. I would think one that sinks would help with getting deep divers down so it would make sense to me to look for one that sank if one was available.

Out of necessity in a tournament I discovered braid for cranks in 2002 and have never looked back.  So to your questions:

1) What braids do you like - I prefer Spiderwire Ultracast Flourobraid. The reason being that it sinks like flouro but has the almost zero stretch and all of the sensitivity of a braid.

2) How do you think it would wok for this application - Absolutely awesome. Gives you a better feel for bites in deeper water. Now, deep is a relative term but on pound test I will offer a personal suggestion, and that is if you are throwing BIG cranks like a Strike King 10 XD or a Norman DD22 and are fishing around or over vegetation I would bump up to 30 lb braid. You really won't lose much depth but if you do get snagged deep that extra break strength can really help get your bait back. Don't ask me how I know. 

3) What line conditioner - I prefer the KVD line conditioner, but I have used Reel Magic in the past. I just found the Reel Magic caused problems with my reels (subject for a different thread).

4) One other thing. I know there is a bit of debate about whether braid floats, sinks, or is neutral. From what I've been reading, some people claim that different braids perform differently with some of them having a bit of sink to them while others float. I would think one that sinks would help with getting deep divers down so it would make sense to me to look for one that sank if one was available.

-True on all counts. Normal braid floats and can cause a bow in the line which results in you losing some depth and a bit of feel. Suffix 832 has 8 strands out of which a single strand is Gore fiber (1/8 of the line) that helps it sink at a slow rate. Spiderwire Ultracast Flourobraid also has 8 strands, but it has 4 strands of Gore fiber (50% or 1/2 of the line) and so it sinks faster than the Suffix.

5) I would think one that sinks would help with getting deep divers down so it would make sense to me to look for one that sank if one was available. - I agree 100%. There are at least 2 available that I know of and have tried and those are the two above.

I hope that helps.

[SFL BassHunter]

Powerpro has been the deal for me. I like Trilene braid as well. Both are strong.

Going to test MaxCuatro from powerpro soon.

I don't use braid for my cranks but I may in the future. I use mono at the moment. But I never use deep divers and while most people want to get their cranks down in the water column down here in Florida, I want to keep them up cause our column is usually really shallow.

As far as braid sinking or floating? Every braid I have used has floated. I've used Power Pro, Trilene, Suffix, Stren, Spiderwire. I can't remember any of them sinking.

[j102]

I have tried other braids in the past. PowerPro is the only braid I use now.

[cojab]

Great info coming in. Thanks guys and keep it coming!

[cojab]

Just looked at that Spiderwire Ultracast Smallie. Looks interesting.

[NHBull]

PP or 832 have been the most user friendly in my circle of friends