Crab Line Question

Paracord is strong, cheaper than leaded line, and sinks. Any reason not to use it for crabbing? I've never seen anyone do so, and want to make sure i'm not missing some obvious reason before deploying it w/ my traps.

It is slick and small diameter - harder to get ahold of when you're pulling a full pot in deep water.

It doesn't sink and would be a hazard for boats in the area. Leaded line is the way to go.

The floating part is overcome with a line weight, but the diameter is far too small to grip when hauling your gear.

Ditto the leaded line - it was designed for crab/shrimp pots and to sink so boat props don't get tangled by them. Sporting goods store sells them usually in 100 foot lengths and I only go down to 60 feet and get my 5 crabs that I am allowed. It's also true for better grip. 

Dave, I have a spool of yellow poly rope, and you're welcome to 100Ft.  Like Ravdakot said, drop your pot, tie a loop 10 ft. below your buoy and clip on a weight. 

sweet. thanks all for responses -
jon - i may take you up on that generous offer.

I also use a clip on lead weight that slides on the rope and keeps it down on the bottom below my float in the shallower waters such as Sunset Bay. When we came in on memorial day weekend there were so many crab pots we actually had to navigate in, out and around people's crab pot ropes.

Ditto the leaded line - it was designed for crab/shrimp pots and to sink so boat props don't get tangled by them. Sporting goods store sells them usually in 100 foot lengths and I only go down to 60 feet and get my 5 crabs that I am allowed. It's also true for better grip.

I don't actually like leaded line for kayak crabbing.   It's too bulky IMO.  I use whatever cheap 1/4" rope I have lying around and tie in a weight.  I try to stay away from the kinky twisted poly too.

-Allen

Ditto the leaded line - it was designed for crab/shrimp pots and to sink so boat props don't get tangled by them. Sporting goods store sells them usually in 100 foot lengths and I only go down to 60 feet and get my 5 crabs that I am allowed. It's also true for better grip.

I don't actually like leaded line for kayak crabbing.   It's too bulky IMO.  I use whatever cheap 1/4" rope I have lying around and tie in a weight.  I try to stay away from the kinky twisted poly too.

-Allen

Hmm. How much weight and where in the line do you at it?

Ditto the leaded line - it was designed for crab/shrimp pots and to sink so boat props don't get tangled by them. Sporting goods store sells them usually in 100 foot lengths and I only go down to 60 feet and get my 5 crabs that I am allowed. It's also true for better grip.

I don't actually like leaded line for kayak crabbing.   It's too bulky IMO.  I use whatever cheap 1/4" rope I have lying around and tie in a weight.  I try to stay away from the kinky twisted poly too.

-Allen

Hmm. How much weight and where in the line do you at it?

The majority of my crabbing is done in 25-35 feet of water.  I run 50' of rope and put it about 1/2 way down.  2-3 ounces, whatever I had lying around.  I use torpedo weights with eyes on both ends.  Then just tie the sinker to the line on both ends with some paracord.  There is enough friction on the knot that it doesn't slide.  I've also use limp, braided poly.  In this case I pounded the sinkers to a slimmer profile and inserted them directly into the braid.  I like this setup and you barely even notice the lead when coiling the rope.

-Allen

Cool, thanks.

I think I am using 1/4" poly line. Cheap stuff from Home Depot.  About 15 feet from the top I have tied a loop.  I have a couple of 8 ounce canon balls with loops that I attach to the lines to keep them down (two traps).  I also use the "bsteves" anchor line extension cord reels to manage the lines.  But, unlike in the anchor configuration the reel goes in the water, the crab line reel stays in the boat.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/54098312/kayak/Crabbing/Kayak.Crabbing.html