In the last couple of years I learned how to"pull crankbaits".I've always used fireline for this.I've been thinking about going to mono,Berkley XT in 10 test and using leadcore for when the fish are deep.I set my drags light so fish don't pull off with the no stretch braid.Sometimes with new fisherman in the boat the drags get "hammered" down to get the fish in the boat.Lots of fish pull hooks when this happens.I just thought for early season shallower water fish the mono would be more forgiving and less visible.Any shared experience with this would be appreciated.Bill,who is impatiently waitng for the ice to go off Oahe.

Just tie a long mono leader to the Fireline. Best of both worlds.

Fireline or braid can enhnance the feel of a moderate crankbait rod. For xfast graphite rods, it's not always necessary. However it's all up to individual feel and preferences.

It would depend on the rod. With a fiberglass or soft composite rod, I'd use a braid, since I used dacron with a glass rod years ago. If the rod was a stiff (a.k.a sensitive) graphite, I'd use mono. When the fish hits the crankbait, something needs to absorb the initial shock, or the hooks are more likely to tear loose.

Your crank depths will be different running mono vs. super. one thing you could do is use both on a given day and see what the fish are looking for that day. I have found by personal experience that the walleyes don't see the super line when trolling. I should say that they react like they don't see it. super line will allow a crank to dive deeper than mono, but mono is more forgiving.

Most of my trolling is done for salmon and I have found that a 50' shock leader really helps. Another thought might be the new stretch braid that was just introduced, I haven't used it but it might be worth a try. Tom

What's the name of the stretch braid?

Nevermind, I just looked it up. (Suffix Stretch Braid) Very interesting stuff. Might have to try it on my trolling rods and maybe my cranking rods too. Anyone have any reports on this stuff yet?

I allways use braid 3-waying or long lining. Here on the Mississippi we have zebra muscles and they cut the snot out of mono bye bye crankbaits. I really like the way braids telegraph what my cranks are doing much easier to read rod tips expecially when someone new is in the boat..

can ya tell much difference in the braid and the super lines as far as feeling a shad rap or another plugs being pulled on it

i like that power pro seems to tie easy to

I've run 10 lb Trilene XT and my buddy has run a black braided superline for a few years now. Can't say I've seen any real long-term difference in our results.

He did spank me pretty good yesterday with a Thunderstick he picked up for $1.99. I'd feel bad if I hadn't caught the biggest fish...

The ability to feel what the bottom was like or if I touched a weed was the reason I used dacron with a glass rod.

Best setup I've found (especially for clear water) is 10 lb Fireline with about a 10' Fluoro leader. I've settled on 15lb fluoro as my leader, tied onto the Fireline with a uni uni knot. I get very few biteoffs with the fluoro, it's completely invisible, and it adds a little forgiveness to the hookset. I still get most of the added sensitivity and depth of the Fireline.

I really don't have enough rod storage to keep dedicated soft trolling rods, so I keep my drag set really light and tighten if necessary.

Beepr,
The best thing to do for yourself is to rig up two identical rods.
One with braid, one with mono.
Rig each one with identical baits.
Give yourself a month of running both rods and record both the number of hits on each rod as well as the number of boated fish with each rod and then and only then can you give yourself the best answer.

Because, the simple answer is - It depends.
It depends on the boat, it depends on the boat speed, it depends on the lb test being used. it depends on the amount of stretch or lack of stretch in a line - whether it is mono or braid, it depends on the line diameter, it depends on the action of the rod.

So, to be fair to the lines, you as a fisherperson really need to fish with both and compute and record your information so you can reach the best decision.

Bottom line - both lines will catch fish just fine when used with the right rod, the right reel, and the right fisherman.

However, neither line will catch fish if used incorrectly.

Good luck
REW

The ability to feel what the bottom was like or if I touched a weed was the reason I used dacron with a glass rod.
It seems you like using a glass rod because of the sensativity. I am thinking of getting a new jigging rod, would you also choose glass for jigging.

It seems you like using a glass rod because of the sensativity. I am thinking of getting a new jigging rod, would you also choose glass for jigging.
You misunderstood him. Before they had graphite rods he used dacron to increase sensitivity because glass has poor sensitivity. You do not want to jig with glass.

Mono is a smart choice in the spring time in a lot of lakes. Baits won't dive as deep, so you need to let out more line...getting the bait further away from the boat in the shallow water. Also you add action to a bait by using a small diameter lline, you suppress action by using a larger diameter....sometimes it makes the difference when fish aren't quite cranked up.