Throwing swim jigs is my favorite thing to fish with. Can I set the hook hard like I did with braid. How do I know how much pressure I can put on the fish before line snaps? I fish in mostly in ponds that have big bass. If i set the drag correctly should I be okay or should I go back to braid? I love the less visiblity that fluro has bc I fish heavy pressured water most of the time.

no

Solution. Go back to braid? If yes what pound test. I see a lot of guys throw 30 pound braid on the pro tour

15-20 lb Fluorocarbon

you can set the hook as hard as you want on a fish with 12lb fluoro knotted correctly without breaking it.

But there's probably no need to go down to 12# on a moving bait.

As I tell all my friends. "12 pound will break your heart" but works great for crankbaits.

I'd recommend 15, 17, or 20 pound test.

20 Flouro on Jigs for me, especially swim jigs. Very little stretch and I can swing hard which is what I like to do with confidence.

20 pound fluro to me is a B*(*& to cast.

I have zero issues casting with 20 pound test. That being said, I would never throw a swim jig on 12 lb. 17 is about the lightest I'd go.

Agreed, use a palomar knot and you should be fine. Now if your catching 9-10-11 pound bass you might want to go to 15lb. and if you are and need a net man call me.

To answer your questions about 12# fluoro:

There are a lot of variables that can cause line to break. If the fish has the bait way back in its throat and the line is rubbing against the teeth as you fight it, then 12 can break. Even 20 can break. If you have a good knot and you hook the fish in the upper lip or the corner of its mouth then you will have a hard time breaking 12# line UNLESS he gets around a stump or lily pad stem.

The only way to know how much pressure you can put on the fish before it breaks is to put pressure on the fish until it breaks and then don't put that much pressure on the next one!

The primary reason I use 17 to 20# fluoro is for the added insurance in the event I have a tiny nick in the line or the fish gets around something and I have to drag it out. When the fish start biting we all get excited and most of the time unhook a fish and throw right back out without retying. I am a fanatic about retying but I still occasionally get lazy and don't retie after a fish.

I will guarantee that if you hook a bass over 3# bass on a jig or soft plastic bait and he has it down in his mouth to where the line has rubbed against his teeth, there are tiny nicks on your line just above the hook. It happens every time. Once this happens, your 12# line is now 8 or 10# line. Look at it closely the next time you hook a fish and he has choked it.

If I only fished open water with no cover (never) I would use 12 as well. It casts great and is more manageable than heavier line but I fish mostly Fork where every cast your line is in contact with stumps, limbs, shell beds, etc. As you stated, you fish ponds with big bass. You will absolutely get more bites with 12 versus 15 or 20 but is it worth it?

I just realized you have started about six threads all about line. Why don't you just start a thread and list the bullet points on the questions you want to ask?

THIS.

All my pond reels have 17# just because you have to drag the fish over some moss usually to get him to the shore. Why risk loosing a big fish when you can step up in Floro. to 17#.

Ponds with lots of moss and shore weeds stay with your Braid in at least 30#.