So ive lost two swaver 168s recently due to leader snapping at the connection knot.

Using 17lb mono to 65lb braid with alberto knot and lob casting the swaver at most 30 yards.  The knot does seem to catch some of the guides occasionally which may be the issue.

How should i fix this?  Go with a much smaller leader length?  Or spool on an additional 30 or 40 yards of mono on top of the braid and avoid long casts? I like to keep the reel spooled with braid as it is also my punch/frog rod.

 I say there are three choices here ~

Go with straight braid.

Go with straight mono.

Go with braid & mono leader but re-tie your connection knot more often than you're doing now.  May not eliminate the knot failure but certainly can reduce the frequency.

A-Jay

Option A and B that A-Jay provided cures the issue 100%. 

pick up an extra spool , braid is not a good choice for swimbaits .

I dont think anyone sells tatula hd spools

21 minutes ago, Montanaro said:

I dont think anyone sells tatula hd spools

Contact Diawa - spool part number is J09-1501

see below

http://www.daiwa.com/us/service/faq/index.html

http://www.daiwaweb.com/us/service/manuals/image/baitcasting/TATULA-HD200HL_200HSL.pdf

A-Jay

Don't use a leader for sure, that extra knot is an unnecessary point of failure!

How is the knot breaking? I have zero issues throwing a 15 lb CXX leader on 50 lb braid with a wide variety of baits. 

if you throw it on straight braid and get a backlash you'll watch s waver #3 sail off into the distance and to the depths of the lake...

Thats what i was thinking buzzed

 

Plus the braid can tangle with hooks when gliding. 

 

The knot is breaking on the leader line right at knot.  Thinking repeated stress from guides is causing it.  Its 17lb defier armilo

Is the Mono breaking below the knot or the Braid above it? 

There's your problem. Armilo runs thin for a 17 lb line. It's only .34 mm diameter where I'd be using at least a .40 mm leader.

Mono is breaking

But line diameter is not an issue.  17lb monos with larger diameters arent true 17lb test.

Go with 165 yard 25 lb Sunline Armilo Defier Nylon line, .016 dia. 1 knot. Haven't lost a swimmer or a bass in over 2 years using this line.

Tom

I'd say go bigger with your mono.  Or maybe you got a bad batch.  Or you Alberto knot wasn't wet enough and the heat/friction weakened the area. I pull that knot tight while it's against my tongue. 

Your best option is straight braid or mono. 20lb mono is the absolute biggest you should go with that size of a bait, and 15-17 is going to give you a much better glide if you decide to go straight mono. One of the benefits that I like of fishing straight braid with glides is I can fish 40-50lb braid and it has the diameter of 10-12lb mono which creates less drag in the water and better action of the bait IMO. But most guys will tell you to fish mono or fluoro.

Most of the guys I know in the swimbait world throw cxx. Straight one line one knot period point blank. Cxx is the only line for glides imop.  probably get away with 12 lb on the 168 15# at most. I throw 20 pound on 250s never have any problems re tie alot. 

I throw all my swimbaits on mono or copolymer. Only thing I'd ever throw on braid would be floating swimbaits so when I cast them off I can go pick them up.