I recently purchased a Lucky Craft Carolina Rig rod, 7' 6" XF H, rated for 1/2 to 2 oz. lures. I'd like to throw some larger swimbaits with it, probably nothing bigger than a Mattlures gill and nothing heavier than the rod's 2 oz max rating. I've heard that for swimbaits you don't want to use braid because it pretty much can't absorb any shock and will break if something happens. I was curious if this applies to baits in the weight range I've specified as well. I can easily picture a big 6 oz. Hudd snapping of 65 lb. braid, but will 2 oz. and smaller lures do it as well?
I ask because I'd also like to use the rig for carolina, frogs, etc., and braid would be much nicer than mono or copoly in those situations.

It pretty much applies to any swimbait. I have snapped off 1.5 oz Mattlures using 65 pound power pro and 25 pound leader on random tangles. It did not snap at the FG knot I tied but right in middle of the leader. Yes it was my fault that it snapped off, but it was from the tiny tangles that can form randomly. Braid is wayyy too finicky for me, but you could make it work I guess...

Hm, thanks for the info. That's too bad. I was really hoping to use braid, but it looks like I'd probably just better play it safe.

16 hours ago, IAY said:

I have snapped off 1.5 oz Mattlures using 65 pound power pro and 25 pound leader on random tangles. It did not snap at the FG knot I tied but right in middle of the leader. Yes it was my fault that it snapped off, but it was from the tiny tangles that can form randomly. Braid is wayyy too finicky for me, but you could make it work I guess...

 

I have broken off 3/4-1oz crankbaits numerous times whenever throwing them with 40lb. braid with a 12-14lb. FC leader, and it always happens in the middle of the leader. It always happens on the release of my cast too (if I'm casting hard). Because of the braid, the 12-24" of fluoro isn't enough of a shock absorber to handle the jolt from a heavier bait. 

However, I never seem to have this issue whenever throwing 1/4-1/2oz lures. So this leads me to believe it's solely from the heavier baits. 

I have that Carolina Rig rod.   If I were tossing big(ish) baits, I'd still use 20 lb mono

Does straight fluorocarbon have enough shock absorption for larger baits?

17 hours ago, Evan K said:

Does straight fluorocarbon have enough shock absorption for larger baits?

Yes