I'm still new to fishing so I'm learning as I go, my question is when would you use straight braid (I'm thinking heavy cover) and when would you use a fluro/mono leader?

There is no set rule and I am sure others will chime in

 

I use straight braid for everything that does not touch the bottom......surface, swimmers

Anything that touches the bottom gets FC leader

 

Anything on a spinning setup gets a leader also

For me always,  except I thick weed cover. Punching, Frogging. But even in Finesse situations in not using a leader because the fish might see the braid. IRS for abrasion resistance. And I use actual flouro leader not the  flouro line blended for casting. Real Flouro leader material is so much thinner, stronger, and abrasion resistant. 

 

It seems in the South, away from the Salmon, Trout, Steelhead, and fly fishing world folks think Floro line and leader are the same thing. 

I never use a leader on casting gear with braid.

 

Only time I use one on spinning gear is if I'm fishing deeper and want a line that sinks, or for the abrasion resistance. 

15 hours ago, NHBull said:

There is no set rule and I am sure others will chime in

 

I use straight braid for everything that does not touch the bottom......surface, swimmers

Anything that touches the bottom gets FC leader

 

Anything on a spinning setup gets a leader also

Agree...another opportunity for a sticky topic.

Pretty simple for me...Almost never use braid on baitcasters, and never with a leader except for a few walking baits. Use it all the time on spinning, and always with a leader.

I'll use a piece of fluorocarbon line (InvizX for me) attached to my braid when I'm throwing jerkbaits, tube jigs, shakey heads, popper style topwaters, and weightless Texas rigged senkos.

 

I run straight braid for walking style topwaters and when I'm flipping/pitching in heavy cover.

 

For crankbaits, spinnerbaits, drop shotting, jig and grub combos, as well as for straight ultra light fishing, I run straight fluorocarbon line (InvizX again).