Hey guys I am just wanting to learn what to use and when, in terms of line. I never know what poundage and type of line I should be using for each situation. I am new to bass fishing and just beginning to acquire the rods and reels I need, I do not have the budget to go out and buy six new rods and reels. Right now all I have is a 7ft MH baitcaster and a 7ft medium spinning rod. I am mostly fishing Texas rigged soft plastics with my baitcaster. I love to use braid and right now I have 30# braid on my baitcaster. What is the best set up for soft plastics?  

Add a 10 or 12 lb fluoro leader to your braid and you'll be set. For the spinning combo if you still want to use braid then go with 20 lb and then a 6 lb fluoro leader.

How long should the leader be?

However long you want!  I tend to make 5' leaders 'cause I hate retying.

So you are saying that is fine to just use braid with fluoro leaders? Why do I see pros saying that they primarily throw soft plastics with an entire spool of fluorocarbon?  

Not everyone believes a leader is needed with braid. It depends on your situation. But for someone new to bass fishing, to keep things simple, try your braid without a leader for a while. If you have some issues that you think a leader would solve, try it later. The extra knot, and extra leader material will make things more complicated than they have to be for you right now.

I go from 4' to 8' on the leaders, depending on what I'm doing.

 

I used to be a snap-swivel junkie, but now I just tie fast.  Braided line doesn't have the memory of mono, and twisting with spinnerbaits has ceased to be much of a concern.

 

Josh

Try this:

 

http://avidangler8.tripod.com/id10.html

 

I used to prefer the Albright, but it was complicated to tie.  I now prefer the Seaguar knot -- it's very simple and fast to do.

 

Josh