Swim Bait Line

[tbone1993]

Most people I know throw big swim baits on braid. What are the pros and cons of throwing a big huddleston swimbait on braid rather than fluorocarbon. I have watched a lot of videos of people throwing them on fluorocarbon. I would not mind throwing small powerbait swim baits on fluorocarbon but I would be scared throwing heavy hudds on it. Does anyone have experience with throwing these big hudds on fluoro or braid? How about the smaller weedless shads ?  I fish up north so I do not throw swim baits as often as people in California. 

[via]

i have thrown huddlestons on braid, copolymer, and mono but not fluorocarbon.  for copolymer and mono, i used 20-25lb test for the 8 in huddlestons with no problem.  i have also tried braid, but the bad thing about it is that when you backlash, you have a high percentage of snapping your line and loosing your lures.  i wouldn't recommend braid, unless you tie a mono or fluoro leader.  

[Maico1]

I throw up to 3 oz. and have no problem with 25lb. Trilene Big Game......

[Jrob78]

I wouldn't use braid with a big swimbait either.  It's a bad feeling when you hear that loud snap and see your bait go flying.  I like a heavy copoly for large baits.  I use 20-25 Pline CXX.  Heavy mono would work as well.  Fluro would be fine too, I just don't see the need for it.  It's more expensive and harder to manage in large sizes.  I do use fluoro, just not for heavy swimbaits.

[Hooligan]

I don't know of many people that swimbait with braid- not wood baits, anyhow.  I know a few that throw Hudds and Matt's with braid, myself included.  I prefer 20lb Big Game or 20LB Silver Thread AN40.

[Bluebasser86]

20 or 25 pound P-line XXtra strong for me for big baits. I usually fish the 4" weedless shads on 15 or 17lb fluoro or copoly. Not only is it more forgiving if you get a backlash, it's more forgiving when a big fish surges by the boat on a short line.

[The Next KVD]

I throw big swimbaits on 25lb Trilene Big Game mono because I braid to me often gets hung up on a hook somewhere but Trilene Big Game is stiff enough to stay away from the hooks

 

On smaller swimbaits like hollowbelly baits I throw them on 17lb fluoro just to help get them down deeper and stay there.

[Crestliner2008]

Two years ago (when I started tossing the big baits on my musky rig), I filled an Abu 6500-C with 20# test fluorocarbon. Big mistake, as I it is too stiff to cast well. I then tried 30# test PP. Bit into the spool too much. After some discussions with knowledgeable musky and big bass fishermen, I switched to 25# Triple Fish Perlon monofilament. Best move I've ever made. This stuff has low stretch, but enough stretch to soften the stress on your rig. Casting 8" Hudds and other similar large baits is no problem any more for me.

[tbone1993]

Two years ago (when I started tossing the big baits on my musky rig), I filled an Abu 6500-C with 20# test fluorocarbon. Big mistake, as I it is too stiff to cast well. I then tried 30# test PP. Bit into the spool too much. After some discussions with knowledgeable musky and big bass fishermen, I switched to 25# Triple Fish Perlon monofilament. Best move I've ever made. This stuff has low stretch, but enough stretch to soften the stress on your rig. Casting 8" Hudds and other similar large baits is no problem any more for me.

I did not think about asking my friends that fish for musky.  My only concern would be if they tie on a leader, I would tie directly to the bait. 

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I use 20# CXX