Is 20 lb braid with a 2' 20 lb flourocarbon leader too much for crankbait fishing?  I lost 2 monsters on 10lb braid with an 8 lb leader today and I will never let that happen again because I am under size.  I'm still sick over it.

I guess I don't see the benefit in cranking with a leader.  Why not just crank with straight braid or straight fluoro?  

I have only been bass fishing for 2 years and have never caught one on stright braid with any set up. Granted, I have not gone a whole day fishing straight braid but  I have given it a fair chance and as soon as I put on a flouro leader I get bit.  I know that there is a great debate over whether or not fish are line shy to braid but in the waters I fish there is no doubt they are line shy.  In fact I never have any luck when I go over 10lbs even with flouro but I will have to try and get some confidence because as I said I will never let the lack of size be a factor in my loss of fish again.  I don't know if I can go right into fishing straight braid though, I wish I could but if I don't get bit in a short amount of time I will revert back to puting on a leader. I love casting braid and the lack of line memory that it gives but I always have to put a leader on it.  As I said it is just a confidence thing.

I assume you're using spinning gear?  I crank with fluoro and casting gear so I probably can't give you good advice about your set up.  No matter what you're using though, you need to make sure your line is in good shape.  Where is your line breaking?  Perhaps you aren't tying good knots or retying often enough?  8 lb fluoro is pretty light but it shouldn't break while fighting a fish if your drag is set right.

20 lb braid has the diameter of 8 lb mono, so a 20 lb fluoro leader is a bit much. If you want to step up to 20 lb braid (which is a good idea), I would use 12 lb fluoro to step up from the 8.

10lb mono

10lb mono

This is what I use.

Hootie

Give 8 pd Yozuri Hybrid a try on baitcasting gear.. A proper rod.... And catch those fish...

Even when everything is right, you will lose a good fish now and then!

I crank with straight 30# braid and I have no problem catching fish. I used to use 12# co-poly and it worked just as well. I've never cranked with a leader, though I've considered it before. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with the idea of cranking with a leader. I'm curious as to how you lost the fish? I'm assuming there was line breakage since you're inquiring about different tests and what not. I can understand losing confidence in 8#, but I think jumping all the way to 20# might be a little over kill. Hogsticker also brings up a good point about the differing diameters between the 20# braid and 20#fluoro. Lastly, I'm curious as to what brand of line you were actually using? I know everyone has different experiences with different products, but I do believe that all lines are not created equal. 

Depends on how deep you are cranking. If you are throwing shallow square bills then your set-up would be correct. 20# braid for accuracy and the 20# leader for strength and abrasion resistance when pulling through cover.

 

I crank with straight 30# braid and I have no problem catching fish. I used to use 12# co-poly and it worked just as well. I've never cranked with a leader, though I've considered it before. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with the idea of cranking with a leader. I'm curious as to how you lost the fish? I'm assuming there was line breakage since you're inquiring about different tests and what not. I can understand losing confidence in 8#, but I think jumping all the way to 20# might be a little over kill. Hogsticker also brings up a good point about the differing diameters between the 20# braid and 20#fluoro. Lastly, I'm curious as to what brand of line you were actually using? I know everyone has different experiences with different products, but I do believe that all lines are not created equal. 

  I have been using Seguar Red Label.  My setup is a 6'6" medium Abu Veritas with a lews speed spool.  The break was happening about a 12" below my alberto knot that I use to tie on the leader. 

You could bump up to 15lb braid and then I would add about 6ft of 12lb FC.  Did you pull the hook or break them off?  If you're fishing 8lb with 10lb braid and only a 2ft leader, you don't have any stretch whatsoever.  May need to back you're drag way off to compensate for the lack of stretch.