Crankhead

This year I started using power pro braid for soft plastics & think it's great. I've been using fluro for cranks, no complaints, but was thinking of switching to braid. Some of the guys I fish with use braid & said there is a lot less backlash and they can cast it further. But the fluro guys said that one of the negatives about using braid is that when your lure gets caught up on something, you're probably going to lose it. The fluro guys that did try braid also said that when cranking in the lure, the braided line made a loud rubbing noise as it was coming through the rod guides. So I'd like to hear the pros & cons of if you use fluro or braided line for crankbaits & why?

I only fish at night w/3 spinning rods all with power pro 8lb diam. Rod #1: 4/0 gammy, 1/16 bullet & either a red & blk palm tree or a junebug palm tree. Rod #2: 4/0 gammy, 1/16 bullet & either a blk, red & silver or junebug or peanut butter & jelly senko. Rod #3: 2/0 gammy, 1/16 bullet & a blk w/red, or junebug or a smoke w/blue & gold flappin' hog. The last 3 trips out (in the past 1 1/2 wks), the black/red palm tree or the junebug flappin' hog have been red hot. Hope this helps.

We fished last night & it was tough at times. The lake (southern Wisc.) had been hit with heavy showers on & off for the past 12-14 hrs. We caught a total of 6 bass, largest just over 3lbs & all were caught in less than 10' fow. Got off when the rain picked up and the bite turned to zip.

I'd like to hear from you all about fishing after heavy rain has hit the lake. I'm thinking about hitting the lake later today after heavy rain (for the past 10 hrs) is suppose to finally be over. How much does this affect bass?

I just started using Power Pro braid line and noticed a few of the Gamakatsu hooks bent when catching a bass. So I bought some Gammie superline ewg hooks to try them out. I noticed that they appear to be thicker and feel a little heavier. The only negative so far is that a couple of times when I texas rigged a lizard for example, the superline hook tore up the bait when sliding it through the head. I'd like to hear from others that have used these hooks.

I've been rigging them with a 2/0 superline Gamakatsu, 1/16 bullet weight & Mega Strike jel.

Thanks for all of the input guys. Peter E you were right on! I chose last night & hit the water at around 7 pm and fished until the rain got to be too much at around 3 am. What a night! I found all of the smallies and largemouth in less than 10 ft of water out roaming. Once I upped my weights fishing texas style, senkos & flappin' hogs were the baits to use. I caught 20 bass, most were 1-2 lbs but 2 were over 3lbs. The GYCB flappin' hog accounted for 15-17 of the 20 I caught. The hog has been a fantastic bait this year especially for smallmouth.

I'd like a little advice. I'm fishing a clear lake and the weather has been in the 90's with todays high reaching 91. But a cold front is coming. The high temps for the next 2 days is projecting to be: Weds 73 & Thurs 65. Now if you had only 1 day that you could get out, which day would you pick? Thanks for any thoughts and advice.

I've used power Pro mainly for plastics. I did try it out with cranks but it sounded kinda ruff as I was reeling in the crank. Does anyone use Power Pro for cranks or is braided primarily a soft plastic type of line?

I guess what I don't like about filler line is I think the knot. I use a uni knot and I think it just messes with the Power Pro in casting.

Sigma, Power Pro says with no backing it can give your hook sets problems. You've had no trouble?

I just started using Power Pro and think it's very good but i don't like using a mono line for backing. I've got a few questions for those of you who have been using this line. Power Pro gives a few options for spooling up this line. It states: "if the reel has a hole on the barrel, use it" and/or "put a piece of compressible tape or arbor tape on the barrel before attaching the line". I'm take it the barrel they refer to is the spool. Now using the hole in the spool, are they talking about just tying Power pro to the spool? The 2nd suggestion was to use compressible or arbor tape. I've never heard of arbor tape. Is anyone familiar with using tape for backing?

I've been fishing gycb flappin' hogs for a couple of weeks and man do they produce. The smallies just eat them up. I've been texas rigging them with a 1/16 slip weight and a 2/0 gammie with mega strike applied to the head. The 2/0 is the biggest hook I've been able to use. Just wondering if anyone has a different hook set up that works.

I've been reading on different posts that several guys prefer braided line for topwater. I thought mono was the best way to go for topwater since it doesn't sink as fast as say fluro. I just started using braided line and found power pro to be the best out of all the brands I tried. I never really thought braid was used for topwater. What are the positives & negatives for using power pro over say berkley big game mono line?

Was at BassPro the other day and saw the Daiwa Viento reel. I thought the twitching bar was interesting and played around with it in the store. I did talk myself into putting it down and walking away. But I admit I keep thinking about the twitching bar and if it's worth the $179 asking price. So how about hearing from those who have bought and used this reel.

how about the spinning reels? I don't use backing and have had no problems.

I just started using power pro braided line and really like it. I've got it on both my baitcasting and spinning reels. Now I've been told you need to put backing on before putting the braided line on to keep it from spinning on the spool. I've been putting the braid on without backing and haven't had any problems. What does everyone think? Also on my curado I put 20lb test with 6lb diameter. Is the diameter too small. When I cast out I don't really get the distance I usually get when I use fluro.

I've tried the rageshad a bunch of times with no luck. I've been setting it up with a 4/0 hook weightless and a spinning reel set up with Berkley Big Game 12lb green line. I've tried fast, slow, slow stop and go and sometimes just letting it drop. Any other suggestions. I keep going back to it because I love the way it moves through the water.

I love to fish at night. Usually get on by 7-8pm and fish till 6-7am. I have rigged: flappin' hog, a senko, a lizard & a fat ika. And the colors are: junebug and anything with black & red. Good luck

Try fishing at night. The lake has settled down, no jet/water skiers...pleasure boaters...very few guys fishing. And it's a great time to find the big ones.

I went out last night and used suffix & powerpro. I liked it. Once I tried these two, it made the fireline feel like dental floss. And I liked the green better than the white on the other two. I just started fishing plastics about 2 yrs ago. I wish I had tried the braided lines then, it would have made learning when to set the hook much easier. Thanks for all of the info.

Just a follow up to what dodgeguy said earlier. I fished at night a few days ago on a clear natural lake. I used the braided line without a fluro leader. At night I was doing fine. Then day comes and I figured what the heck might as well experiment. I stayed with the no fluro leader and continued catching bass. Now I'm thinking dodgeguy was on to something & maybe you don't need a leader for braid.

I see Zoom is the clear favorite. I like GYCB lizards. For those of you who love Zoom, have you always used Zoom and never wanted to try others? Or is there another reason you picked Zoom. I do know that they offer a huge color selection. I use to use Zoom years ago. But I tried GYCB and have had great results. The only negatives about GYCB is that they tear up easily and if you add a spike it scent, the lizard starts falling apart.

Let's hear what is your favorite brand name for lizards?

Well I've tried both fireline crystal and spiderwire invisi-braid and I can't feel any difference in either of these lines. I've used nothing but fluro on spinning reels and I'm just starting to use braided lines & the braid does feel more sensitive. So if you tried all four, when using Sufix and/or Power Pro, what in the performance makes these two better than fireline and spiderwire? The cost is almost all the same. I'm using these super lines rigged texas style fishing plastics on a clear natural lake. And I've also tried it both ways, with & without a 6" fluro leader. Like to hear what all of you think.