Should I be tieing my braid directly to topwater lures?

I do, the only leaders I use are flouro leaders which will sink, and drag the top end of the lure down messing up the presentation. Braid floats.

Take this for what it's worth...about zilch....but I am not a fan of braid except for certain techniques.  Top water isn't one of them.  I think it gets tangled in the hooks more than a mono or co-polymer.  However, if I were to use braid, I probably wouldn't go to the trouble of tying on a leader.

If you have Pike, use a leader of some sort. Otherwise straight braid is fine.

Depends upon the topwater, IMO. For straight retrieve type baits, or protected hooks, baits like Ploppers, frogs/toads and buzzers, I tie direct. For walking type baits like Spooks, Gunfish, or even poppers I use a mono leader. The mono leader provides line stiffness that won't tangle with the exposed trebles on those baits nearly as much.

-T9  

For fishing heavy cover I always tie direct. In open water I'll tie on a leader if the water is clear. If its stained I don't bother.

leader for me, seems to tangle hooks a lot less

It depends on the lure. For poppers and frogs it's straight braid. But for prop baits and walking baits I'll tie a mono leader to avoid fouled up hooks and props.

5 hours ago, lakeannaangler said:

It depends on the lure. For poppers and frogs it's straight braid. But for prop baits and walking baits I'll tie a mono leader to avoid fouled up hooks and props.

Either this, or I'll switch out the spool on my reel to one with straight mono.

For frogs and buzzaits I go braid.

And for the treble hook topwater lures, I use braid anyway!

Sure, the braid gets caught in the hooks sometimes. But that's no more hassle than tying on a stupid leader. Playing with an uni knot for ten minutes does little to raise my spirits. Besides, the knot to the leader sometimes breaks.

Oh yeah, I'll toss small floating topwaters, like baby Heddon torpedos, with FC using my crankbait rod. Got a biggun that way quite recently. So don't always believe all the hype, man. Try whats at hand to see if it works for you.