When casting I've used braid straight to the bait ... when Pushing I use a 6# mono leader, whether it's braid or heavy mono main lines. My Pushing setups use duo-loc snaps on the main lines & on the end of the trolling sinkers. My casting setup isn't used much, anymore, but when I did use it I had PowerPro 10/2 hi-vis braid attached to the jig with a Improved Clinch knot. When the braid was fresh out of the package, I left a long tag & tied a double overhand knot in the tag close to the Improved Clinch knot & trimmed off the excess tag line. Then when I pulled on the line to cinch the knot tight, and it slipped, the double overhand knot would stop any further slippage. Once the line had been used awhile & the coating was gone, the Improved Clinch knot worked fine without the added knot in the tag.