Swimbait line question

[dodgeguy]

I've never had it be stiff. It's definitely not a soft spinning reel mono. I wouldn't put it on a spinning reel in any pound test. It's definitely not as stiff as pure flouro lines. it still gives some stretch but is way more sensitive than regular mono.I love the stuff.

[PhishLI]

45 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

Suffix Advance is one of the thickest and stiffest line I have ever used. A buddy I fish with loves it - I can't stand it.

I recently bought 3 1200 yd spools for bait casters only. Your buddy's cool. ? Different strokes...

11 hours ago, Swest18x said:

Since I'm tying leaders my line choice also affects reels, my knots on 15 braid/10 fluoro slip through Daiwa T wings just fine but I'm thinking something like 40 braid/20 fluoro and heavier would limit

If you have a Tat 300, they've widened the T-wing line guide section to accommodate leader knots. I haven't tried it with mine as I see zero advantage to using braid with swimbaits.

[Jrob78]

12 hours ago, Swest18x said:

Like I said, I'm a newbie on bigger applications, but thanks for clearing that up. Can I ask what the purpose is of 50 lb braid if you're down to 10 or 12 leader? If the leader would snap first anyways, why such heavier braid? I know there must be a reason I just dont understand the big discrepancy.

 

Also understand I'm a northern guy, the fish I'm catching up here aren't the hogs some of you guys are used to. 

Maybe the heavier braid saves you from breaking off on a backlash?

Is there a reason you want to use braid to a leader for swimbaits? This seems like overcomplicating a new to you technique when it is absolutely unnecessary. There's a reason most swimbait fishermen use mono or copoly and not braid.

[FishTank]

2 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

Suffix Advance is one of the thickest and stiffest line I have ever used. A buddy I fish with loves it - I can't stand it.

 

I have the same opinion as you on this line. I tried multiple spools but didn't like it and it frayed easily and just was not for me. I am not trying to trash Sufix. I like Elite and Siege. I have bulk spools of each. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

14 minutes ago, Jrob78 said:

Is there a reason you want to use braid to a leader for swimbaits? This seems like overcomplicating a new to you technique when it is absolutely unnecessary. There's a reason most swimbait fishermen use mono or copoly and not braid.

Fluoro is popular as well.      I prefer 17-22lb Fluoro, but have an order for the Defier Armilo in 22lb to try out next.   After lots of use with 17lb P line ultimate fluorocarbon with A-Rigs, S Wavers, 5 and 6" BD Shads, 6" Magdrafts, and a few others, I'm not sure I really need anything else, but there is always a better mousetrap perhaps.  

 

Everybody has different requirements for "big Swimbait" setup, for me, I don't need bomb casts and huge line caps.   I also fish more slow sink hard swimbaits and A-rigs than anything else, and I really like the sinking quality of fluoro here.  

 

There is no wrong way as long as you are having success OP, buy the first type of line that you think will work and go from there, again your situation is going to be unique to you.   Overcomplicating things in the beginning is never a good way to start something.  

 

 

[Jrob78]

21 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Fluoro is popular as well.      I prefer 17-22lb Fluoro, but have an order for the Defier Armilo in 22lb to try out next.   After lots of use with 17lb P line ultimate fluorocarbon with A-Rigs, S Wavers, 5 and 6" BD Shads, 6" Magdrafts, and a few others, I'm not sure I really need anything else, but there is always a better mousetrap perhaps.  

 

Everybody has different requirements for "big Swimbait" setup, for me, I don't need bomb casts and huge line caps.   I also fish more slow sink hard swimbaits and A-rigs than anything else, and I really like the sinking quality of fluoro here.  

 

There is no wrong way as long as you are having success OP, buy the first type of line that you think will work and go from there, again your situation is going to be unique to you.   Overcomplicating things in the beginning is never a good way to start something.  

 

 

Yep, fluoro is a good and popular choice but I wouldn't really recommend that for someone who is new to big baits. I personally like fluoro as well but it isn't always the most user friendly line, which is why I didn't include it.

 

I think people should use whatever gear and techniques they want but sometimes I see people doing something with no reasoning other than they saw some Youtuber doing it. Keep it simple until you have an actual reason to change things up and more importantly, understand why you're changing it up. This is why I questioned OP.

 

I got my newest big bait reel today and I'm planning on running 19 or 22 lb Defier Armilo for it also. This set up will be for wakebaits and 2-4oz hardbaits, much like OP. I have it in 13 and 15 on few different set ups and really like it, albeit in limited use. 

[Darth-Baiter]

18 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

If you tighten the knot under water it doesn't fail.

i like this tip...sitting in a kayak, the water is just right there!  nice. 

[ShyBass]

I use 20lb CXX for 1-4oz baits and 25lb for anything above that. Can probably get away with 20lb on the heavier stuff too but I make bomb casts and it gives me extra reassurance. I'll also use 68lb braid for soft baits.

[Bankc]

On 2/23/2023 at 8:47 AM, Swest18x said:

Like I said, I'm a newbie on bigger applications, but thanks for clearing that up. Can I ask what the purpose is of 50 lb braid if you're down to 10 or 12 leader? If the leader would snap first anyways, why such heavier braid? I know there must be a reason I just dont understand the big discrepancy.

 

Also understand I'm a northern guy, the fish I'm catching up here aren't the hogs some of you guys are used to. 

Maybe the heavier braid saves you from breaking off on a backlash?

Thicker braid also doesn't dig into the spool as much as thinner braid.  And if you get too much dig in, it can get caught on your next cast and snap the line and then you'll lose your bait.  Plus, I find it easier to tie leaders to mainlines when the leader and mainline are around the same diameter.  And if you do get a backlash, it's usually easier to dig out.  

 

I'd go for the braid to fluoro lead in your position.  The reason being that braid is softer, more flexible, and doesn't have much memory, so it'll likely be easier to cast with.  Plus it'll last forever.  And the fluoro leader gives you the nearly invisible line, which might be important in clear water.  I just go straight braid, myself.  But I don't fish clear water.  

[Fishingmickey]

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i like this tip...sitting in a kayak, the water is just right there!  nice. 

And you'd have to lean over the side with both hands....

FM

[WRB]

Butch Brown has caught more DD swimbait bass then anyone I know of. Butch uses straight 20#/.016D Seaguar FC, no braid. Butch buys Large spools of FC and changes it often and that is the safe thing to do. Stress creates failure using FC line, change it often when casting big swimbaits.

I settled on 25#/.016D Armilo because it’s stronger, easier to cast, doesn’t need line conditioner like  FC and didn’t need to change unless it was visually damaged. FC sinks and that can make a slight difference fishing sinking swimbaits. Choices.

Tom

 

[Swest18x]

Thanks again for all the responses. Obviously there's lots of opinions on line for swimbaits. As far as my situation, I was out of fishing for 20 plus years, got back into it a year and a half ago. Last season I made close to 100 trips, virtually all with spinning gear and 20 lb braid to 8, 10, 12 leader. So braid to leader is what I've become most comfortable with, I like the ability to change leader from fluoro to mono as necessary. My goal this year is get better with a baitcaster, I'm pretty good right now avoiding backlashes with braid but my understanding is birdsnests are more common and harder to pick out with fluoro and mono. That would be first strike against those two options for me, 2nd strike would be not having the ability to go back and forth between mono and fluoro if I wanted to use one line for say a wake bait or big topwater, but another for a bottom crawling plastic. 

 

So that's why I leaned towards braid for swimbaits, feel free to contradict any of my assumptions, I'm learning from this whole conversation and appreciate the comments. Also understand I have no plans to throw the really big stuff, I doubt I'll be casting any baits heavier than 2.5 ounces. 

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

34 minutes ago, Swest18x said:

Thanks again for all the responses. Obviously there's lots of opinions on line for swimbaits. As far as my situation, I was out of fishing for 20 plus years, got back into it a year and a half ago. Last season I made close to 100 trips, virtually all with spinning gear and 20 lb braid to 8, 10, 12 leader. So braid to leader is what I've become most comfortable with, I like the ability to change leader from fluoro to mono as necessary. My goal this year is get better with a baitcaster, I'm pretty good right now avoiding backlashes with braid but my understanding is birdsnests are more common and harder to pick out with fluoro and mono. That would be first strike against those two options for me, 2nd strike would be not having the ability to go back and forth between mono and fluoro if I wanted to use one line for say a wake bait or big topwater, but another for a bottom crawling plastic. 

 

So that's why I leaned towards braid for swimbaits, feel free to contradict any of my assumptions, I'm learning from this whole conversation and appreciate the comments. Also understand I have no plans to throw the really big stuff, I doubt I'll be casting any baits heavier than 2.5 ounces. 

 

 

You got it opposite in regard to backlashes, and especially not being able to get many bad ones out.

 

That's braid, not mono or fluoro.   

 

In regard to the second strike......mono and fluoro are close enough that you wouldn't need two different setups for two different lines.  Fluoro has less stretch, and sinks vs mono.  Mono has better knot strength generally speaking as well.  I find Fluoro to be king of abrasion resistance.   

 

A big swimbait/a-rig setup isn't a good Jack of all trades host imho.    You should try to dedicate this rig to heavy moving baits.    Throwing topwater or bottom contact stuff on it doesn't make much sense to me.

 

 

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, Swest18x said:

My goal this year is get better with a baitcaster, I'm pretty good right now avoiding backlashes with braid but my understanding is birdsnests are more common and harder to pick out with fluoro and mono. That would be first strike against those two options for me,

If you haven't yet thrown big baits, which can tumble and helicopter which then catches wind, you're missing a key point. Mono and fluoro tend to simply fluff then recover if your brake settings are in the ballpark and you're aware. Braid, on the other hand, needs only to throw up one errant loop, usually during the ascent, which will instantly lock your spool which will shock the terminal knot. This is why I mentioned earlier that a long leader is the better choice here if you feel you must use one. You need the extra length for more stretch.

 

Your braid to leader spinning setup makes a lot of sense, but that logic doesn't really translate to a big bait casting setup. Line twist isn't a factor with casting reels. It's a different thing, and line invisibility goes out the window using a heavier fluoro leader than you'd ever use on spinning gear.

[Swest18x]

LOL thanks! BIG learning curve and lots of experimentation coming this summer!

[softwateronly]

2 hours ago, Swest18x said:

LOL thanks! BIG learning curve and lots of experimentation coming this summer!

 

  I fish bigger swimbaits semi-regularly on a clear water fishery and use braid to leader.  But there's a lot of truth in the experience on this thread regarding big baits and mono and I might personally move that way in the future. 

  65lb braid to 25lb sunline fc shock leader or 20lb maxima ultra green is the system I've used the last few years successfully.  Increased proficiency casting, 50-65lb braid, combined with a fg knot and san diego jam knot, have eliminated any cast-off issues for me.  A great swimbait day is almost a mystical experience, good luck! 

 

scott