Swimbait/Large Spoon Fishing Line - Mono/CXX/Flouro?

[CC268]

I know this has been discussed quite a bit, but most the threads I found were a bit older.

 

I just got into swimbait fishing (just picked up a Megabass Levante Leviathan) and plan to start fishing for some striped bass (as well as largemouth) with swimbaits (e.g. Baitsanity Explorer) and large spoons (e.g. Ben Parker 8" Spoon, Deps Magnum Ghurka Knife, etc). I'm using the same setup to do both for now.

 

As always, there seems to be a lot of differing opinions on this. Some guys use braid to leader, some guys run straight mono, flouro, and quite possibly the most popular seems to be P-Line CXX. I guess I worry about mono or copolymer messing with the action of the baits. I originally planned to run 20 lb FC Sniper since I know it will work great for both the swimbaits and spoons. That said, I also run Big Game on a few other setups of mine (I use it for spinnerbaits as well as my shallow crankbaits). 

 

TacticalBassin (who has been swimbait fishing a long time) recommends braid to 20 lb FC100 (specifically a flourocarbon leader line). I fish braid to leader ALL the time for other baits and I've never had my knot fail (I tie the Alberto knot). That said, it's a little more nerve racking when your using $100+ baits in some cases. I wouldn't want that knot to fail. So I've been leaning more towards just running braid backing and then straight flouro, mono, or CXX.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Thanks!

[Deleted account]

Depending on the size of the swimbaits, 20-30 lb mono, BG or Ande.

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, CC268 said:

What do you guys think?

There is no right or wrong, but there's no upside whatsoever using braid to leader for heavy baits like these, IMO. Heavier baits cast quite far regardless of line type. If you must, then use a very long leader. When you backlash, and there's a good chance you will with braid, with a short leader you'll watch your bait go bye bye. Short leaders don't tolerate shock as well as longer ones.

 

I stick with 20-30lb Big Game on Fast rods for the hook setting power and its stretch for delay. My brother uses BG on half of his swim bait rods, and Izorline XXX copoly on the other half.

[CC268]

Thanks for the reply. I think I’ll likely just try 20 lb Big Game. I do have 20 lb CXX I can try sometime too if I wanted to. I actually think the Big Game would work really well for spoons too and act as a good “shock absorber” when your lifting the spoons off the bottom

[PhishLI]

One of the most surprising things about the 20lb BG is how unbelievably strong it is. I've snagged, wrapped it around my arm and shoulder, then leaned 220lbs of me into it with force, and it's hard to break. Just bends out hooks, or they shear off chunks of wood. Stupid strong after it's wet.

[GreenPig]

I run 20 - 30 lb  BG and CXX. BG seems to be a bit more user friendly , while CXX of equal rated poundage seems stronger. The big bait on braid lessons can be expensive. 

[CC268]

You think it will double as a good 6-9" flutter spoon line as well?

 

It's just interesting watching all these YouTube videos on swimbait and spoon fishing and its all fluorocarbon. Surprised not many people recommend mono for anything now a days 

[PhishLI]

It's inexpensive enough to try and see. Most coplolys will have a faster sink rate though, but if diameter is similar it won't be drastic. You need to find a balance between swimbaits and flutter spoons. Different animals. Which type of bait you use more often than the other should determine what you ultimately choose. Hopefully you'll make it work for the type you use less. If not it's an inexpensive experiment.

[CC268]

Worst case I just use 20 lb flouro which I know works well for both. Just spent $600 on this swimbait setup and don’t plan to buy another setup just for large flutter spoons anytime soon 

[Phil77]

I've tried all three line types over the years. I prefer CXX, braid works well but had a couple of pricey baits snap off on the cast totally my fault but never had it happen with BG or CXX. FC will work to but not as strong as BG and CXX, you can tow a broke down boat with those two mono's. Big spoons are deadly in my lake this time of year, find a big school off shore and drop it on top of them till one bites then it's on. A 3/4 or 1oz swimbait jig with a big paddle tail cleans up off shore this time of year to, looks like a nice rod that should do both quite well. 

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, CC268 said:

Worst case I just use 20 lb flouro

Then my advice is to bump it up some, and re-tie more often than you think you should. Simply making a knot in fluoro degrades it, plus shock at the knot from setting big hooks will get you if you don't make it a habit. This is something that will rarely if ever happen with good copoly or BG. You'll really be laying into them with that stick.

[CC268]

Good compromise is probably 20lb CXX. Idk maybe that is where I will start.

[PhishLI]

31 minutes ago, CC268 said:

20lb CXX.

Cool. Follow up with a report once you've bagged some piggies.

[WRB]

I fished swimbaits since the early 90’s that weighed between 2 1/2 oz to 7 oz.

Ideally slow sink and bottom contact swimbaits FC line sinks nearly at the same rate minimizing line bow to maximize lure contact. I used every premium FC on the market for Toray to Sunline Shooter and Seaguar Tatsu #20 lb lines. The problem that can only be overcome by using fresh line is random line failures. Expensive lures lost form line failing is maddening!

P-Line CXX is a hygroscopic Copolymer line that tends to turn white and very high memory marginal casting line. 

Maxima UG would be a better choice but still high memory.

I settled on Sunline Armillo Diefer 25 lb.

Nylon line and never had any issues over a 5 years period.

braid with leader imo is 2 knots to fail.

Tom

 

[CC268]

Interesting how they only have 19 and 22 lb? I suppose that’s an option. But to be honest it’s not really any cheaper than flouro at that point.

[Jrob78]

I love fluoro for all bottom contact baits and a few other random techniques and I use braid for topwaters, pitching/punching vegetation and frogs. There is no way I would use either for big swimbaits. 20-30lb mono or copoly will give you the least amount of trouble and the lowest chance for random break offs. 

[WRB]

Armillo not Shooter! Armillo is available in 25 lb/.016D.

Expensive swimbaits isn’t about less expensive line, it’s about consistent performance. 

You want less expensive strong line go with Big Game.

Tom

[Cbump]

I like 20lb red label fluoro for swimbaits and hi-vis 50lb braid to fluoro leader for magnum spoons so you can see the twitch on the fall. 

[KP Duty]

CXX FTW.  17lb is the highest I've gone with cxx though.  20lb would probably work as bridge support cable.

[LrgmouthShad]

That is thick line. It beats out big game in abrasion resistance IMO, but it is also the most abrasion resistant line I’ve used. The trouble is…. It’s thick for its rating. Big game is not. I don’t think there is a line out there with a stronger breaking strength to diameter ratio. 

[WRB]

Big Game Mono 15# is .015D, 20# is .018D.

P-Line CXX Copolymer 15# is .016D, 20# is .018D.

Maxima UG 15# is .015D, 20# is .018D

Armillo Mono 25# is .016D.

Tom