I know it's been brought up before, but I'm doing it again. I'm trying to setup a "utility" reaction bait rod. I want it to throw topwaters, jerks, shallow cranks, and light swim jigs, chatter baits, and spinnerbaits. It'll be a 7' med/hvy- mod/fast with a 7.1:1 and I'm thinking braid, about 30 or 40 lb. I know it's not ideal for any of these techniques, but I really like fishing chatters, swim jigs, and spinnerbaits on a mod/fast rod, and it's a perfect setup for topwaters to me. The only real concern I have is with the occasional jerkbait or crankbait.

I have a Dobyns champion 7MH F that I fish top water, spinner baits, jerk baits and cranks on 30lb braid. I actually prefer it due to zero line stretch.

 

 

IMO braid is a great option for everything you listed except jerkbaits and cranks. But for those you can just tie on a flouro leader about double the length of your rod to give you a little stretch to help with those trebles. 

I use 30# braid with a 12# fluoro leader for cranks. What makes it work is I'm using a composite Lucky Craft rod that is super soft. The rod absorbs the sudden movements.

 

For jerkbaits, I have settled on copoly from McCoy. It has enough stretch to keep fish on and its super tough and casts well.

Top water, jerk baits, light crank baits and light swim jigs play well together, but I'd fish them on a medium power rod with 20lb PE line and fish the spinner baits/ chatter baits on a med. heavy power rod with 30lb PE line.

 

oe

I use 30lb braid with 8lb fluoro leader for jerkbaits, and mono for cranks.

I like braid's sensitivity for jerks.

Josh

I prefer a leader but have gotten by on straight braid also. Just back your drag off some. My only gripe is you tend to get some fouled hooks on poppers and occasionally jerkbaits if fishing them fast. 

45 minutes ago, rippin-lips said:

I prefer a leader but have gotten by on straight braid also. Just back your drag off some. My only gripe is you tend to get some fouled hooks on poppers and occasionally jerkbaits if fishing them fast. 

A short leader helps with those tangles and that's the only real draw back to the braid.