Cranks and fireline?

[Walljie]

What are the advantages and disadvantagas while using fireline? What size should a guy use, and how much more depth can you get out of it? Thanks, Walljie

[EYE FISH]

Fireline has no give to it like mono, so you miss alot of fish to the hooks pulling out. It will go deeper in the smaller dia. sizes. Big D

[Ristorapper]

I generally run 6/14 (6# dia./14# test) pulling cranks. Many disadvantages and a few disadvantages. I like the sensitivity and being able to get deeper with the cranks due to small diameter. I also like to be able to pull that crank out of a snag if that should happen. Never lost a crank the first year and lost one the second year. Fireline is more expensive that mono in most cases however, cranks snagged up with mono are more difficult to recover.

Now when ya get that trophy to the boat and there is no stretch to the fireline you better know what you are doing or the fish can rip the hooks right out of their mouth. This is where mono has its advantages; STRETCH, where fireline has little if no give. Your selection in a rod with the fireline is important too for this reason. Set your drag lighter using fireline due to the no stretch characteristics.

Sensitivity: I find that I can feel when I am dragging a weed or anything else unusual when I am using fireline. You can feel the crank "working" using fireline and I have a difficult time feeling that with mono.

You will get varying opinions on this topic as each individual is different but that is what this forum is for. good luck with your selection.

PS
When I switched to fireline 3 or so years ago I have not gone back to mono. Don't know if I ever will. Wife and I will also use 2/6 fireline in the spring jigging in certain situations also. She likes the high vis line as she has trouble seeing the low vis line. BW(ND)

[ristorapper]

Sorry! Many advantages and a few disadvantages.............

[Bob Z]

You have about a 25 - 30% depth advantage with 10 lb Fireline over 10 lb mono. (13 foot deep with Fireline rather than 10 feet with mono, or 26 foot deep rather than 20 feet with mono)

I have used 10 lb Fireline on Erie for 4 years for trolling cranks. I use 20 lb braided line on Dipsey divers size #1.

Have a soft rod tip and lighten up on the drag. Most important - don't let anyone set the hooks. The fish will do it for you. Just reel them in slow and easy. For big fish you will want to stop the boat. For the smaller fish you can keep moving.

Besides the depth advantage the line is super sensitive. You can feel weeds or perch with briaded line which you cannot do with mono line.

[The Wicker Man]

One disadvantage is if you happen to cross lines with your partner, It is tough to untangle.

[Kevin/CO]

I normally use my set up that has Fireline on it for fishing bouncers for all of the advantage that have been mentioned in the other posts (sensiitivity, the strength/diameter ratios, ect.). When we pull cranks we notmally use SpiderWire Fusion but for the same reasons that I use Fireline for pulling bouncers. The biggeest thing that we do with the crank set up is taper down from teh strength of the super line with high stretch and abrasion mono, and normaly never more then a #15 difference (#28 super line #10 mono no less). Its been our consenseous that the leader tapering gives us that extra shock absorbtion and sensitivity for the fight and the strike while giving enough muscle to not break off.

[Chad]

One tip. Use Smoke on one rod and yellow on the other so that you can tell which line is which. Also, it is usually quicker to cut your snap off and re tie then to try to untangle a mess. Make sure you carry along a scissors and it will be easy.

I always use a palomar knot which is easy and quick to tie.

[strand]

If you are a veteran at pulling crank or just starting it would be a benefit to buy the Precision Trolling Guide. It tells you what depths your lure would be running using whatever size line you prefer. There is know stretch in braided line but if you use a medium action rod and asweeping hookset you will do just fine.
I prefer to use 10lb. test 4lb. diameter you can't believe the feel and the amount of action you get on your lure. Spool some up and compare to mono you'll see what I mean.