Braid for Finesse Swimbaits ?

[ChrisD46]

For those who use a spinning set up with braid main line + leader with finesse (2.8" ~ 4") swimbaits , what size braid and color are you using for open , clear water ? I currently have Power Pro #15 lb. (.007 diameter) Hi - Viz Yellow  + FC leader but will consider a #10 lb. braid + FC leader and moving to a green colored braid (if it makes any difference to the bass) . Seaguar Smack Down and Power Pro are on the thinner side for a given braid strength (#10 lb. is awfully thin !) whereas Sufix 832 #8 lb. is about the same diameter as Power Pro #15 lb. Lastly , do you think braid color matters with a small finesse swimbait (it's not much of a line watching technique) .

[The Baron]

The setup I use most for that has 20# PP green braid to a 10# Seaguar Blue Label leader about 4-6ft. long (I start about 6ft and change it once I'm down below 4ft).   I use this same line setup for jerkbaits.   I figure on moving baits or dropshot in stained water I can go a bit heavier on the line and I find the 20# braid is much less prone to wind knots that 15# braid.  My clear water dropshot setup is 15# hi-viz braid to an 8# leader.

[MickD]

I use mostly 15 pound test, .006 dia if I remember right.  Just because I had a lot of it.  Will be using more 10 pound test, not sure of dia when I need to change.  In the open water I normally fish, higher pound tests are not of value and the long casts of the lighter pound tests are valuable.

 

I've used the bright yellow with a 15 pound FC leader a lot in clear open water and I don't think it spooks the fish.  But it spooks me, so won't buy more.  One doesn't know what has chosen not to bite.

 

My favorite braid is Hitena 19 pound Pureline, which is about .006 or a little smaller.  Looks smaller.  It is white.

 

I think if one is worried about line visability the logical thing to do is make the leader longer.  I use about 5-6 feet to start, change it at about 4. 

[JMac603]

I fish a lot of grubs in place of swimbaits. I toggle between #8-#10 green or black braid to a #4-#8 ultragreen mono leader. I like long leaders - 12'-15' or so. Most waters are tannic where I fish so line color doesn't matter too much. If I happen to fish clearer waters, I'll use Yo-zuri copoly in 0.009. I don't think high vis with a longer leader would much matter but I only use it for dropshot and ned on my shorter rod. I like a longer rod for small swimming style baits. 

[A-Jay]

For that sized swimbait on Spinning gear, I go 7' MF stick rigged

with 10-15 lb braid and an 8 – 10 lb mono or FC leader.

I fish clear water and my leaders in front of braid are always at least 20 feet.

Works well for me. 

Never felt like this was 'long' until I stated reading

that many bassheads use something much shorter. 

Sure that works too, I just like the extra length.

as for line color, I started using the 'green' and have stuck with it.

Tried the white & bright colored braid mainline and didn't care for it.

For leaders, the mono is green (Maxima Ultragreen or Big Game) and the FC (Tatsu) is clear. 

A-Jay

 

 

[FishTank]

I use 16lb Sunline Xplasma with 10lb Seaguar Gold Label leader, about 15 feet. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

8-10 pound braid no leader plenty strong no issues.

Dont be fooled by smackdown rated 15# line its thin and not that strong will break like most other 8# 10# lines.

I 100% believe wind knots are operator error just based off using 4-6-8 pound braids for decades with nary an issue with wind knots. Braid manages on a spinning reel way better than equally rated fc or mono.

[Deleted account]

10/10 braid main line, mono leader.

[JohnnyF]

Braid color won't matter since you're using a leader. Big fan of the 15lb 832 ghost to 8lb leader. Trying out some 15lb smackdown so we'll see how that goes. 

[WC53]

10lb suffix unless I am in weeds. It still breaks at like 25.  I tried 6 and 8 but tend to gravitate back to 10. The thinner line seems to help in wind with light baits.

[Chris at Tech]

15lb Daiwa braid in chartreuse with 4-5 ft of fluoro leader has done fine for me.  I’ve colored the last few ft of braid with black sharpie as well.

[WRB]

Take a look at FINS Spin Braid; 10 lb is .004D, 15 lb is .006D

Sling Braid 10 lb is .005D, 15 lb is .007D.

Tom

[casts_by_fly]

I fish those swimbaits on a baitcaster (my lighter crankbait rod in fact) when I'm fishing them, but similar line setup to what you're saying.  I'm using 30 lb 832 to 10 lb red label.  On my 7' MH (which is closer to M) that will work down to a 3.3 keitech with an eighth ounce head or hook or a 2.8 with a quarter.  I pitch it a lot rather than cast so I'll keep my leader to 5' or so such that the knot is outside of the rod tip.  If I'm casting a swimbait all day around docks, then I'm on straight mono.

 

Yeah, I know a spinning rod would be better.  When I eventually fish the delaware for smallies I'll have a spinning rod set up with one.  For lakes I don't normally carry the spinning rod so I need a BC that will do the job.

[looking45]

I’m using  green Daisy Samurai 18# braid and 6# fluorocarbon. It’s soft and doesn’t “sing” when I’m playing a fish. For me, coated braid coming thru the guides is like running your fingernails on a chalkboard YMMV

[Revival]

Neon Lime 10lb Sufix 832 to 8lb hybrid or sniper.  I fish clear water regularly.

 

 

[ChrisD46]

I appreciate the replies including new braid lines I did not know about - It stands to reason that if your leader is long enough a high viz colored braid will not deter bass from biting .