Been using PowerPro 10/2 hi-vis yellow braid for several years, now. Tie it directly to the jig, Roadrunner, Whirly Bee, or whatever ... and fish in lakes that are generally only slightly stained. I've seen Crappie chase my bait right under the boat, come up and grab the bait just before it came out of the water (under docks), and hit the bait in all depths from 20ft deep & up. They ain't skeer'd of it, one bit ... which is why I don't bother adding a leader.

Gerald is correct ... good idea to have a wood dowel to wrap the braid around, when trying to free a snagged lure. Braid will cut you !! (been there, done that) It's also a good idea to have a pair of Child Size Fiskar Scissors to cut braid with. They do a better job of leaving a blunt tag end, which makes it easier to poke the tag end through small jighead line eyes. You can usually find them in any of the "-Marts", in the school supplies or crafts sections, and they can be found on sale for $2-$3. Clippers/cutters/knives can leave some of the fibers sticking out of the tag end, and because the braid is so limp, those fibers can make it frustrating to get the line through a small jighead eye (been there, done that, too).

I can't say that braid affects ones ability to catch fish, one way or the other ... but, I can say that I'm more likely to get my baits back, feel or see the slightest of taps, get a good hookset with the slightest of rod jerks, and hoist a Slab over the side of the boat without thinking about the line breaking. SO ... well, yeah, maybe it does affect ones ability to catch fish, after all

... cp