I got to thinking about this today and wondered if there is a rule of thumb you go by, for when you switch from straight braid to straight fluoro/fluoro leader.

 

First for flipping, at what water clarity will you stop using straight braid? 

 

Second for moving baits, at what water clarity will you stop using straight braid?

If your flipping heavy cover, your using heavy weight to get through the cover.   I would recommend 50 to 65 lb braid because you are getting a reaction bite, and therefore the line will not matter.  The braid will also cut through vegetation better then any other line.

 

For casting plastics I would always use Floro.  It sinks, clear under water, and super sensitive.  If you watch the pros, they often use it.  Its expensive, but good stuff.,  Not all floro is the same quality.  Buy good stuff.

 

I use mono for all top water.  It floats.

^^^what he said. If I'm flipping grass or super super thick wood, where I need to set the hook hard and winch then in quick, I'll go 50-65 Gray colored braid.

 

Moderate-semi heavy wood I use 12-17lb fluoro or copolymer, not so much for the invisibility but for the abrasion resistance.

 

Moving baits/topwater I use a quality mono like seaguar senshi.

I don't select line type/diameter based on water clarity (for bass fishing).

14 hours ago, jeff25 said:

I got to thinking about this today and wondered if there is a rule of thumb you go by, for when you switch from straight braid to straight fluoro/fluoro leader.

 

First for flipping, at what water clarity will you stop using straight braid? 

 

Second for moving baits, at what water clarity will you stop using straight braid?

Where I fish the water clarity is very good and I like to use smallest diameter line when it comes to monofilament. I don't like using braid and use it primarily in heavy aquatic cover using 60 lb Fins. 

Big heavy moving lures I use 25 lb Sunline Armilo Defier Nylon line. Lately my crankbaits, top water is 11 lb Armilo, for decades it was 12 lb Big Game and finesse spinning 5 lb Maxima Ultra Green, for years it was 7 lb Sniper FC.

Tom

Most of the lakes i fish around where I live  only have 2-4 feet of visibility. So Im wondering if I would be ok to flip with straight braid or should use a leader.

Your probably fine with straight braid. Dark green would be my choice

Bass cannot see braided line in heavy cover situations, unless the water is absolutely gin clear and many times they might actually see monofilament or fluorocarbon first because of light reflections. So, ultimately I would consider a leader only for shock absorption or for abrasion resistance. As for moving baits, a copolymer, monofilament or fluorocarbon is the ticket.

It is rare in the river I fish for me not to be able to see the bottom, it is also rare for me to use anything other than straight braid. If I do its a mono leader to help with damage to the line from rocks when I am dragging a tube or a hair jig on the bottom.

The Tidal Potomac on a good day will be 1-2ft visibility and those who like braid just use braid and it works for them.

If im fishing in an area with toothy monsters or rock Ill use a flouro leader. I have a tough time buying into bass seeing a green braided line underwater when they think spinning metal blades on a spinnerbait is the scales of a fish.