i am looking for braid for my bait caster that i bank fish with its a 7' medium heavy action i need a all around braid for carolina rigs, texas rigs, frogs, senkos (wacky and weight less), chatter baits/ spinner baits, jigs etc. what size and should i use a leader? I know i need a mono leader on carolina rigs.

Lots of good info in the search function ...#40lb. braid to #15 mono leader will get you pointed in the right direction .

Learn the fg knot anD you'll be covered

I would use 30lb for all of your mentioned applications.

For clear water I tie 15-17 fluorocarbon leaders for t-rigs, senkos, jigs, chatterbaits, and swim jigs.

Straight braid for Topwaters and when fishing muddy water

30 or even 40

I like 30 or 40lb and I use a leader mainly because if your fishing from the bank and get hung up you can break off easier than with straight braid.

40lbs and the appropriate leader to match will serve you in all the techniques you mentioned. 

40lb with leader. You can use 30lb but IMO 40lb handles a lot better and has less dig ins.

40lb with or without a leader.  For cranks I tie direct and for soft plastic, definitely a leader. 

I prefer 50# and would use leader for the plastics and jigs but not the moving baits and frogs. 

thanks so much guys i really learned a ton on the size, thanks again.

Nathan

A few words of caution with braid, sounds like you're new to braid.  To break off from a snag that won't loosen, do not wrap the braid around your hand.  It is so thin and strong at the same time that it can cut you.  Wrap it around something, like your pliers, and then pull.  Pull with your rod pointing directly at the snag.  Don't whack it over and over by whipping your rod against the snag-with little to no stretch you can overload a hi tech graphite rod and break it.

 

Don't max out your drag just because you are using hi tensile strength line.  Braids, some more than others, dig into the line on the spool and one thing you don't want to have to do it cut about a hundred yards of braid off a spool.  It is very difficult to do, and it can happen with a dig in.  I tend to set mine lighter than others and add drag with my thumb if necessary.  Experiment going from light to heavy and you'll find the tension that is right on the edge of digging in.