I try to carry as few rods as possible and I’m planning to use a 7’ Med Mod(or modfast) casting rod as an everything treble hooks rod essentially. With that being said, I’m having a hard time deciding between braid (and if so what test) or a mono or copolymer. What lines work well for cranking and would also work for a spook or even a small plopper or popper? Thanks for any advice!

I'd go with a mono or copoly, probably 10 or 12lb for all around use with the baits you listed. 

13lb Sunline Defier 

I use 12 lb Big Game for both .

Sufix 832. 

12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid

 

That's what I have on my crank/topwater rig.

12lb copoly is my go to for both of these techniques, I like Pline CX but any copoly or mono would work great.

The issue will be the diameter more than the actual line chosen, sure for poppers and other small top waters and cranks most any 10-12 lb mono or copoly will work fine, for larger top water baits 15-20 lb makes most sense, and that will work for larger CBs and squarebills fished relatively shallow, but will keep deep divers from getting down. I'd go with 12 or 15 lb, depending on what and where you are throwing baits.

4 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

The issue will be the diameter more than the actual line chosen, sure for poppers and other small top waters and cranks most any 10-12 lb mono or copoly will work fine, for larger top water baits 15-20 lb makes most sense, and that will work for larger CBs and squarebills fished relatively shallow, but will keep deep divers from getting down. I'd go with 12 or 15 lb, depending on what and where you are throwing baits.

Would the small diameter of braid eliminate this problem? That’s the main reason I was considering braid, but I know braid for cranking might not be ideal

I fish 30 lb 832 as my main crankbait rod (7' MH/MF) but I'm just as happy to fish anything from 10 lb fluoro up to 17 mono depending what it is.  I have fished the same rod/line for topwaters and it works okay if you add a length of mono (braid tangling on walking baits is real for me).  If I were choosing between those options, I'd go with 12-14 lb thin mono, something like supernatural.  In fact that's what I have on my topwater rod and I also fish crankbaits on it every now and then.

10 lb Suffix Advance Monofilament  (copolymer) is what I’m using.

4 hours ago, Turnkidd said:

Would the small diameter of braid eliminate this problem? That’s the main reason I was considering braid, but I know braid for cranking might not be ideal

I'm not a fan of braid for either, but yeah, you can make it work. I never use straight braid with trebles because I hate untangling them.

4 hours ago, Turnkidd said:

Would the small diameter of braid eliminate this problem? That’s the main reason I was considering braid, but I know braid for cranking might not be ideal

Braid works great for cranking. David Fritz converted after using mono for years. You can feel everything.

Just now, dodgeguy said:

Braid works great for cranking. David Fritz converted after using mono for years. You can feel everything.

 

That's why I've stayed with it.  I converted in the first place because the rod I was using them on was lacking just a little bit of oomph for lipless crankbaits especially when popping them through weeds.  The braid tidied up the combo nicely.  Then I left it there after fishing it all spring and loving the feel.  Every little tick of grass you can feel it.

I'd use either 12lb big game or 30/40lb Power Pro.  Classically I prefer the braid for feel and don't find that it fouls too many casts with the top water.  It also helps the topwater action in particular with a moderate rod.  Personally I fish most topwater on my XF jerkbait rod, but occasionally use my CB rod as a backup.

Copolymer. I like McCoys 

The only thing that doesn't work satisfactorily for both, in my opinion, is FC for line or leader for surface.  It tends to drag the lure under on the twitch since it sinks (higher density than the water).  Mono and braid are about the same density as water so this doesn't happen. 

I’m a big fan of Suffix Advance mono/copoly.  Using both 10# and 12# for cranks, jerkbaits, spook, ploppers and poppers.  Terrible on spinning gear, but I’ve been very happy with it on a bait caster.  So much so, I bought a bulk spool.  This line floats, so great for the topwater and might cost a bit of depth when cranking. 

I use 12# Sufix Siege for everything but Texas rigs and jigs. This is the best mono I have ever tried and I plan to stay with it.         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reason Braid can be a poor choice for both top water and crank baits is the line loosening on the spool creating backlashes impossible to get out without weakening the using 20 lb / .008D braid is about the smallest diameter for baitcaster other then BSF shallow spool reels. 

If you use a leader then 2 knots to worry about failing.

Braid is a advantage ripping lipless through weeds, if that is you primary use.

I used 10 and 12 lb Big Game for decades successfully. Today Sunline Armillo Nylon Mono 11 lb/ .011D is my go to line for both surface lures and crank baits.

Tom

10-12 pound YoZuri. 

What ever 10 or 12LB. Mono or Co Poly you like. I use Gamma Polyflex  . I personally wouldn't use braid for any diving bait but it does make a average running topwater or wakebait better.

The same 12 pound mono I use for everything else.  

12 pound test Sufix Siege

10# or 15# Big Game depending on the weight of your bait, and the cover you are casting around.