FLAGATOR49

Unfortunately I get that 105F on a sunny day during the FL summer, fishing on an aluminum Tracker boat. It can be hell but helps build cardio/endurance. I typically use the Ultragreen as a leader that has a green additive, and you can see it get cloudy. The best one I've heard is the worn out rubber band analogy for degraded nylon line, eventually it gives and breaks. Until TaticalBassin shared the Sunline FC 100 leader with us I would avoid fluro leaders like the plague. The Sunline Armillo you suggested seems like its better quality than the ultragreen and has less stretch...one would assume.

I agree with you on 2 knots vs. 1 knot but I've done a year of trial and error on braid to leader and have it down pat. The leader combo can be beneficial at times but tedious as well because a nylon leader will weaken in the sun. The knot to your lure needs frequent re-tying, and you also need a touch of drag with a leader that isn't bullet proof. Fieder's super FG knot hasn't broke on me once (knock on wood)?. Thank you for sharing your rod selection, I'm going to put straight fluro on one swimbait setup and do a side by side comparison! The lines drag you mentioned certainly makes a better presentation than braid to leader for swimming techniques. I did catch my PB on a hollow body in 08' (easy in FL since they had never seen one before) using a 7'6 MH, 6 speed reel, and 15lb big game...nylon line may let a big girl play with it longer/get it down better. I think your on to something there.

The 705CB may be more versatile if you want a multi-purpose rod. I use it for topwaters, lipless, and jerkbaits but I hardly throw lighter plugs. The 704CB should be better for lighter stuff like a jerkbait

Interesting I'll have to give the 765 a shot, I have it in the 765C FLIP. One concern is (braid to fluro) vs (braid to copolymer) is the fluro leader bent out the hook. The feel was important with the fluro leader, and I thought it lead to more fish overall. The 734 is an amazing rod, I imagine a rod with the 734's action into a 7'4" rod with a little more backbone able to handle lures up to 1.5oz ? Would be a perfect frog/hollow body combo imo, the 735C is very stiff. The 7'6 length messes with my swing a bit on those bomb casts for a 1/2oz revenge XL + Zoom hollow body but it does help with some heavier outfits like an Osprey TT.

The Champion 704C has a split grip vs the full handle on the CB models, if that matters to you....Probably not for a jerkbait specific rod. I use the Champion 685CB for jerkbaits with straight fluro and it works pretty well for me. If you're 6'6 and dead set on a 7' rod the 704C is pretty stiff with some backbone. I skip with the 704C and straight 65lb braid in FL. I only use dobyns rods and their C blanks vs. CB blanks are completely different. I think the 703C might be a better fit if you want a faster jerkbait rod or the 704CB for more flex.

What kind of swimbait rods are you working with Tom? Anything name brand or did you build customs like Weber? I would think 25lb Armillo would do well as a leader for topwater/swimbaits have you ever tried that out!?

Interesting! I see the Armillo is sold out on TW, it has less stretch and the better knot strength of mono. Do you prefer one line over the other for swim baiting, or is that just what you keep on those rods typically?

Glad to hear from you Tom, i've seen you answering questions on here for years!☺️ You think straight fluro is the way to go? Good to know on the Expride Webertime, it looks like longer leaner is a good route for braid as the mainline. Toonjitsu nice call on the Sierra 765 vs the champion for baits up to 2oz. Do you feel that model has more flex than the champion series?

Thanks Webertime, I forget the weight but its over an ounce. The 735C is the best rod I have found, and I've thought about the custom route. I prefer the braid main line as its nearly 100% once the hook is in the fish but the downside is way more drops and spit outs. Maybe the expride 7'3 XH has more flex to it? I just bought the DX746 but I'm not a fan of the shorter handle for hollow bodies.

Try Fieders FG knot, make sure to tighten both main lines hard after the first half hitch

I'm looking for a better rod for 5 inch hollow bodies and a 1/2oz - 3/4oz jig head. Right now, I'm using a Dobyns 735C which works great with straight fluro, but its too stiff when using braid to a fluro leader.