I am thinking about getting a 7´9 dobyns champion xp swimbait rod, and I was planning to throw 50 lb braid on it until I saw the line rating capped it at 30 lbs. Is the line rating just a suggestion for the assumed technique, or will the rod actually wear out faster if I go above the line rating. 

I look at that as more of a suggestion about the diameter of the line, and they use monofilament as the example. I could be wrong but I don’t believe it would relate to the breaking strength of braid. 

I think the number on the rod is mono. I believe 50lb braid will be thinner than 30lb mono 

50lb braid is a lot smaller than 30lb mono, so should be perfectly fine. 

Line rating on a freshwater rod is next to meaningless. The only weight I give it is to get an idea of where their subjective labels of power (H, MH…) lie. 

Line rating on a freshwater rod is next to meaningless. The only weight I give it is to get an idea of where their subjective labels of power (H, MH…) lie. 
 

I discourage the practice of locking drags in general. It’s especially important when running braid to protect both rod, reel and line. 

Also PSA with swimbaits and braid...  65 minimum if you go braid.  Thinner digs into itself.

Thanks, I have been looking at reels like the tranX, lexa, and toro beast. Those all have relatively high drag settings, so I wont need to set mine even close to the max. The absolute heaviest swimbait I would throw is 5 oz, with most of them being between 7/8 and 3.75 oz. I would use the setup 60% for bass, and a little bit of pike and musky fishing. 

10 hours ago, webertime said:

Also PSA with swimbaits and braid...  65 minimum if you go braid.  Thinner digs into itself.

I choose braid by diameter over pound test. Whatever mono I’d use in a given application, I pick a braid of equal diameter. 

16 hours ago, ohio_fisherman10 said:

 The absolute heaviest swimbait I would throw is 5 oz, with most of them being between 7/8 and 3.75 oz. I would use the setup 60% for bass, and a little bit of pike and musky fishing. 

 

Sounds fun.

 

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