I see numerous articles about shortening the leader in the colder water.  But the bait is really on the bottom regardless of length most of the time. (Except with a super buoyant lure.)  So why change the length?

Harder to cast a long leader in thick clothes.?

My standard length is 3’.  I go shorter if I’m around wood (I get hung less) and longer in grass or very clear water.  The bait does stay close to the bottom but it will dart around some as you pull it over rock, shells, etc. which is where I feel a CR shines.  Any time you are feeling the weight catching and bouncing off of cover/structure, your bait is likely dancing around a bit as well.  IMO, the closer the bait is to the weight, the more jerky (less subtle) it will be as the weight bounces around. With that said, I don’t over think it too much.  You can also use some of the floating baits like Z-Man if you want to get a little more distance from the bottom.   

I rarely go longer than 2ft.  Most often, regardless of water temp/season, it’s closer to 18in.  My reasoning is bite detection. Two negative factors come into play with longer leaders. The fish can pick up and drop your bait without your being aware AND they can also inhale and swallow before you know what happened.  I hate gut hooking fish. 

43 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

I rarely go longer than 2ft.  Most often, regardless of water temp/season, it’s closer to 18in.  My reasoning is bite detection. Two negative factors come into play with longer leaders. The fish can pick up and drop your bait without your being aware AND they can also inhale and swallow before you know what happened.  I hate gut hooking fish. 

I definitely agree with the gut hook comment, it certainly can be a negative with a Carolina.  As far as spitting out, my experience with LMB is if they feel little resistance, they almost always hold on…hence the gut hook.  It can be hard to shake off a Carolina bass.  SMB…I have little experience.