Am I Wrong To Fish Straight Braid For Wake Swimbaits?

[rchiuz]

I just start fishing floating swimbaits like bbz 6in floater and shell cracker. I feel comfortable throwing straight braid but now I am having doubts because I keep reading others throw mono or fluoro. Am I worrying for nothing?

[rippin-lips]

Some people do use braid and have no issues but it seems the majority throw #20-30 pline cxx or something similar. The one time when you get a backlash and your braid snaps and your bait goes sailing off you'll wish you had it. Luckily they're floaters and you can possibly retrieve it but what if it's not? By no means do I know much about swimbaits but I've been doing a lot of research because I just bought a dedicated setup to throw larger 6-9" baits with. Pline cxx always gets mentioned.

[MarkH024]

I'm a big bait with braid guy. From musky lures to big bass lures. As long as you don't throw your baits to the moon you shouldn't have any catastrophic events (break offs) while casting. Controlled and smooth casts are the ticket I use either a heavy fluoro leader or sometimes steel to avoid any bite offs.  I will say that straight mono/fluoro will give some baits a better performance but I'd rather keep my baits and not risk a toothy critter claiming it. I've never lost a big bait in all the years fishing them. I'm sure it'll happen at some point, there's a first for everything.

[gulfcaptain]

Pline CXX is my choice or FC depending on the fish. 20lb for 6" and 25 for the larger.  Just make sure you have your drag a bit looser then you would with mono or you can rip the hooks out of the fish.  Have to remember that's a big bait with weight they are trying to throw out of their mouth when they jump.  I fall between the two.  Fish 10-20ft topshots of either one.  And I have had an 8" hudd go flying due to a small backlash so it can and will happen.  Anything over $50 better float or it isn't going fishing with me.

[Bluebasser86]

I don't like braid for swimbaits but if you're comfortable with it, and since you're fishing wakebaits, you should be fine. 

[rchiuz]

So with straight mono or fluoro is there a lot less chances for break offs when casting? Right. Now. I am fishing from the shore so I try to get as much distance as I can.

[Shockwave]

I'm also a wakebait on braid guy.  I use 50# braid without any problems.  I just make sure that when I'm casting, I don't try to whip it way out there.  Just make sure to use a smooth cast and let the weight of the bait take it out there and even if you do get a backlash, you won't snap the line.   

[rchiuz]

Ahh, thanks. I will do that, was wiping it hard trying to get it far out there since I am fishing from the shore

Shockwave, how do you cast them side or overhead?

[Shockwave]

With that heavier rig, I usually make overhead casts.

 

You definitely want to try to avoid whipping it way out there.  Try a smoother sweeping cast and you'll find that once you get it down, you dont even lose much, if any distance. 

[Montanaro]

I have the shellcracker g2 and I throw it on a 7'3" heavy xfast with 65 pound braid.

1. I can dive it deeper due to thin line diameter.

2. I can rip it out of weeds easier (boom!)

3. Loosen your drag and really play them to the boat....haven't lost one yet.

4. I roll cast nice and easy. Overhead cast is too wippy and plunks the water too loud!

[rchiuz]

Thanks Montanaro

[hatrix]

It's basically what bluebasser said in regards to break offs from a backlash. As for other lines that people use P-Line CXX was mentioned but also P-Line FX, Big Game, and Suffix Seige.