After losing $200 or so worth of swimbaits in 3 or 4 trips, i need to make a change. Four times in the last few trips I've lost nice swimbaits to the water. 

 

Each time the failure was at the leader knot (no flouro showing at all) I've been running 65lb PP braid w/ a 6 ft leader of 17lb flouro. (line mismatch?). I've lost roughly two with a blood knot connection, and roughly two with an FG knot.

 

I've used the blood knot for other applications in the past without issue, i'm still new to the FG knot but it seems to cinch down well now after many hours of practice. 

 

I'm open to suggestions for knots or for line. For reference, I'm in SE Virginia (8 or 9 lb bass considered a monster). I fish ponds and lowland reservoirs ranging from stained to 3 ft visibility mostly. I'm throwing in appropriate reels (Curado K 300 and 200) and rods (Dobys Fury 808 and St Croix 7'10 swimbait ranger.

 

I'm open to all suggestions. Tight lines!

I don't personally throw swimbaits and only use braid to mono/flourocarbon for soft plastics, drop shot, ned rigs or small jigs for panfish. Easier to see the bite on hi-vis braid.

 

Why are you using braid to leader? Have you tried just running straight mono or flourocarbon? Probably not very helpful, but sometimes simplicity is better.

19 minutes ago, bleedingshrimp said:

I'm open to suggestions for knots or for line.

I run straight Big Game mono from 20lb through 30 lb for all swim baits beginning at an ounce. No connection knot issues and its strength is remarkable.

12 minutes ago, digitalvoid said:

I don't personally throw swimbaits and only use braid to mono/flourocarbon for soft plastics, drop shot, ned rigs or small jigs for panfish. Easier to see the bite on hi-vis braid.

 

Why are you using braid to leader? Have you tried just running straight mono or flourocarbon? Probably not very helpful, but sometimes simplicity is better.

Thanks. I'm running braid to leader mainly to save money (see how that's working..lol) and reduce visibility in theory. I am considering going just to a main line. What bugs me is I see braid to leader used successfully for swimbaits and i like the concept

 

 

 

Just now, bleedingshrimp said:

Thanks. I'm running braid to leader mainly to save money (see how that's working..lol) and reduce visibility in theory. I am considering going just to a main line. What bugs me is I see braid to leader used successfully for swimbaits and i like the concept

How often do you respool? What's the durability like? Thanks.

Just now, bleedingshrimp said:

Thanks. I'm running braid to leader mainly to save money (see how that's working..lol) and reduce visibility in theory. I am considering going just to a main line. What bugs me is I see braid to leader used successfully for swimbaits and i like the concept

Is it really saving money? 3 types on line when you could just run a heavy mono. I've seen some pretty interesting videos on the topic of flourocarbon invisibility. One thing is for sure, mono is tried and true

For 8" Hudds, 20 lb mono, for 6" Huds, ect, 17 lb mono. Learned long ago that using braid to leader just presented more problems than it solved, and some spendy baits that I lost. After going all mono, haven't lost a swimbait yet.

.40mm copoly, spangler knot.

Straight P-line CXX or straight braid, I wouldn't trust FC for swimbaits. Ditch the leader, I've never needed one and I fish everything from chocolate milk to gin clear waters tied directly to the lure.

I have found that if the connection knot isn't absolutely perfect, it will fail. And it's usually after 20 or 30 casts with a big bait. I went to this knot exclusively and my only breakage has been with the line - not either of the 2 knots. It is very easy to tie.  I use Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo as my leader line.

 

 

I am braid to leader fan, but when it comes to larger swimbaits, I do use braid as backing and straight 25lb InvizX fluor for 75 yards. Since I done that, I am enjoying casting them and never had any issue.

2 hours ago, Big Swimbait said:

I have found that if the connection knot isn't absolutely perfect, it will fail. And it's usually after 20 or 30 casts with a big bait. I went to this knot exclusively and my only breakage has been with the line - not either of the 2 knots. It is very easy to tie.  I use Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo as my leader line.

 

 

I sent the OP a PM with a link to that knot. If you can’t tie this leader knot, you can’t tie your shoes lol. It’s that easy. 
 

I’ve only had one breakage (on a snagged jig from the bank) of the leader. It was at the knot on the bait. The leader knot was fine (although I did tie on a new leader). It’s a great knot! 

Use either straight braid or mono & eliminate the main line to leader knot. Mono is more forgiving if you have a backlash. 

11 hours ago, bleedingshrimp said:

I'm open to suggestions for knots or for line. For reference, I'm in SE Virginia (8 or 9 lb bass considered a monster

1. Blood knot is known the have problems being used as a braid to mono or floro knot. It's used more as a mono to mono or mono to floro. Fg knot, uni2uni, and alberto are better options imo, I use alberto but whatever is easiest 4 u to remember.

 

2. Line type I've been using 20lb subline natural mono, I have been satisfied with it, diameter is .015

I use nothing but copoly on my big swimbaits. My go to line is 20lb Izorline XXX. 

I don’t like FC for swimbaits unless it’s re spooled often. The reason is FC stress fails and weakens from casting heavy swimbaits. 

My go to line for swimbaits ranging 2 to 7 oz is Sunline Defier Armillo 25# test/ .016D. Armillo is a very smooth long casting line with superior knot strength and doesn't weaken form casting stress.

Tom

3 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Use either straight braid or mono & eliminate the main line to leader knot. Mono is more forgiving if you have a backlash. 

Gotta disagree on mono being more forgiving. A bad backlash can damage mono. Braid will be ok. Braid is also easier to remove a backlash.

9 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Gotta disagree on mono being more forgiving. A bad backlash can damage mono. Braid will be ok. Braid is also easier to remove a backlash.

 

Mono is more forgiving because of the built in stretch. If you backlash with braid throwing a heavy swimbait the sudden stop without any stretch will cause the braid to snap & your swimbait goes flying. I know this from experience. About the only braid I found to not snap was 85 or 100 lb. Most swimbaiters prefer mono.

15 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Gotta disagree on mono being more forgiving. A bad backlash can damage mono. Braid will be ok. Braid is also easier to remove a backlash.

Heavy swim baits are a different thing though. I never backlash throwing them with mono. Sometimes a slight fluff up that corrects during the cast is a bad as it's gotten, or a small over run if I miss on the splash down. However, throw up a single loop with braid and lock up the spool and the knot will snap easily, even with 65lb.

3 hours ago, WRB said:

oz is Sunline Defier Armillo 25# test/ .016D. Armillo is a very smooth long casting line with superior knot strength and doesn't weaken form casting stress.

Tom

You got me hooked on sunline sense you first mentioned it, great reccomendation along with the numerous others

Straight P - Line CXX OR Big Game 20 - 30 lb is what I run after my swimbaiting lesson with braid.

I use 20 and 25# CXX treated regularly with KVD L&L for bigger swimbaits.  No issues here.

I use straight Pline PF original in 20 or 25lb for most swimbaits. Remember with braid to leader if you have a backlash with baits that heavy something has to give. I use 65lb braid to 25lb leader for big softbaits and use a blood knot. Make sure you're very confident in whatever knot you choose. I only use it for softbaits because trying to drive home a 12/0 beast hook requires some extra power. But any treble hook baits I strongly recomend against it. I say this as someone who fishes braid to leader exclusively for conventional fishing.

CXX or Yozuri Hybrid in 15 or 17 lb up to 3 oz. 20 lb up to 6 oz, and three Advil for anything over that. Tried braid to leader and straight braid and there’s just  very little room for error with almost no benefit. I’ve had precious few Swimbait bites that weren’t obvious on CXX, and most of those were dragging a Hudd.

I’m a HUGE braid to leader fan for everything but for my swimbait setup I use CXX 15lb on my dobyns 795 for 1-3oz baits. If I was throwing heavier I’d go to 20. But I’ve really enjoyed it since trying it. 
 

I’m waiting on the Armilo defier that WRB has mentioned - I expect I will enjoy it as well. 
 

Part of the reason I went to straight mainline was the risk of backlashing and snapping off expensive baits as you’ve experienced first hand. I’ve had a couple casts that I can confidently say would have lost a bait on a backlashes cast if I had braid on.