Braided line with a 18" steel leader.

Never have a problem with that up here. I run 30lb braid no leader and have pulled in 32" Northerns with no problem.

Only time I lose one is when I birds nest.

Yep that works well. I toss my swim jigs on 30# braid and lose very few of them. 20# Tatsu fluorocarbon also resists northern teeth very well, so that's what I toss my jigs and worms on. These lines get nicked and need to be re-tied sometimes, but rarely do they get bit off. I used to toss swim jigs on 12-15# copolymer and it would get bit off routinely.

Braided line with a 18" steel leader.

The waters are clear up here, for the most part. That bass would spot that giant leader from a mile away and it'll cost you bites.