when fishing a trap/lipless crankbait do you prefer fluorocarbon or braid?  what line size?

I fish them on braid, usually with a wire leader on account of the abundance of Trap-lovin' pike around here. Minimum of 20 lb. line.

Didn't you just ask this in the rod and reels section like yesterday?

I thought I put it in this section and didn't realize it was in the rod and reel section.  Thanks man

Didn't you just ask this in the rod and reels section like yesterday?

I actually like to fish copoly or mono for traps. I used to fish them with braid but the fish would always throw my hooks so easily. 12 lb hybrid is my favorite

Fluoro from the boat.  Braid from shore - just so I can get it unhung if I have to. 

Mono for traps, and most other baits that have treble hooks.

When I fish a trap, and it isn't all the time, 

it is on braid + leader. The leader may be 

fluorocarbon, but more times than not, it 

is copoly.

I Like braid leader. On a long cast with a half ounce trap, I feel I have more control. Even copoly seems to stretchy to me on a long cast.

I leave the drag just loose enough so it doesn't slip when I rip it from the grass.

My general rule of thumb is if it has treble hooks I am throwing Mono. The stretch helps reduce the amount of pressure applies directly to those little treble hooks, and reduces the number of lost fish.

Same answer as the last time you asked, and it will be the same next time too.

Mono... Yep, mono.

If you use straight braid with a rattlebait a lot you're going to lose a big fish sooner rather than later. Especially at the end of a long cast.

If you use straight braid with a rattlebait a lot you're going to lose a big fish sooner rather than later. Especially at the end of a long cast.

Nope, if anything braid would help in a long cast situation. It would let you get a better hookset. atleast thats how I look at it...

I like mono because of the stretch but its not very abrasion resistant which can be a problem especially in grass where I usually throw traps. Fluorocarbon is probably the best choice. Haven't tried it, but sunline reaction FC looks almost perfect for this application.

Wrong. The no slack of the braid is going to create larger holes where the hook penetrates. When she shakes her head with a trap she will throw it with braid much more often than mono. The key to keeping a big fish buttoned up is not letting her head get out of the water, much easier up close than when you first hook up and their fresh and full of steam at the end of a LONG rattlebait cast. I'M talking about long distance, as far a cast as a bass fisherman makes with conventional gear.

I had access to a private bank only lake for about 5 years w/a lot of DD fish and watched it time and time again. Again this is more at distance than close.

I've heard many many people talk about how braid rips bigger holes in the fishes lips and I really don't believe it, I have never seen any other evidence besides peoples claims...

When fishing with braid you don't need to lay into the fish and you need to take into account the fact hook sets will be easier because of the zero stretch...

I avoid braid with crankbaits and traps.  Mono for traps and mono for crankbaits unless I am fishing deep and need the extra depth I can get with fluoro.  

I've heard many many people talk about how braid rips bigger holes in the fishes lips and I really don't believe it, I have never seen any other evidence besides peoples claims...

When fishing with braid you don't need to lay into the fish and you need to take into account the fact hook sets will be easier because if the zero stretch...

I have fished a lot of treble hooked baits with braid and without it.  You really do have to be easy with a hookset.  However, I have noticed you won't catch those fish that swipe at it or bite right at the boat near as much on braid with cranks or jerkbaits. 

Its not just the holes in the fishes mouth. The elasticity of a line with some stretch keeps them pinned better. Braid is either dead tight or slack, no in between.

In additon some of the 1/4 oz and smaller traps have lighter wire hooks, which flex a great deal w/a superline. You certainly can catch a lot of fish with braid a rattlebaits, but unless you're ripping them out of millfoil to trigger strikes its not the best tool for the job IMO.