I wasn’t sure if this should be posted here or under Tackle, but I think it’s more a rod and/or line question. 
 

I have jigs between 3/8 and 1/2 oz. Most of the ponds I fish are no deeper than 7’-8’. I currently am using a Daiwa Aird X AIRX701MHFB rod and 12 lb YZH. Unless the jig is very close to the boat or shore (like 10’-12’), the line from the rod tip to the jig is slack unless I raise the rod tip very high, which does not seem to impart much action on the bottom (at least as far as I can tell). Maybe that’s normal. I’ll be the first to say that my experience with jigs is very limited. All I know is that if I simply twitch the rod tip it seems to move the line and not the jig. If I twitch the rod from the side it will impart more action, but I am guessing that would make it more difficult to detect strikes and/or set the hook. 
 

My gut tells me that in deeper water things would be different, but I’m not positive about that. What say you? 

I use Sufix 832 30 lb braid on a Megabass Orichi XX Braillist and I can tell you that I feel every weed, rock, and twitch. It takes time to get the feel but I really think my "experience" upped quite a bit with a better rod and the sensitivity of braid.   No, I don't use a leader of any sort.