Use both. Had a pro tell me that braid will catch fish but will cost you bites. Most all I have talked to seem to believe braid is visible to the fish. I think they all have their place so I say use the best line for the job.

Interesting subject. I was a 100% flouro guy until I went bay fishing. The saltwater guys are mostly braid users. I was using my bass rigs and the guide was saying the flouro has too much stretch. After breaking off, I used one of his braid rigs and the difference in sensitivity and hook set was night and day. The Flouro really did feel like a rubber band after using braid. Now remember, bay fishing means casting extreme distances, so the stretch on a long long cast using flouro is magnified.

I went home thinking that on long casts (i.e., deep fishing) the braid was more important to avoid stretch. I'm talking about single hook baits now, not moving treble hook baits. I found that SpiderWire makes a sinking braid that is much better ("FlouroBraid") to avoid the dreaded bowed line. It uses 2 Goretex strands which are dense, along with 6 Strands of Dyneema (which float) to make a sinking line. I tied the leader using flouro. On a CRig, the swivel is the leader tie on point. On a jig or Trig, I learned the Yucatan knot that was already mentioned. it is very small, and very strong.....no breaks and no guide friction. You'll need to practice it. I sat at the kitchen table tying Yucatan knots for a week until I had the subtleties down.

Now, for shallow presentations, I still wanted to use braid. But the sinking "FlouroBraid" only comes in moss green and I cannot see that color line when retrieving. So I found the Suffix 832, it only has one Goretex strand, but it's better than pure Dyneema and still sinks, albeit slowly. The best part is it comes in flourescent green.....very easily seen. I tie on a 3 foot leader of Flouro (Yucatan knot) and the fish are none the wiser. Incredible sensitivity and hookset. Use 15# or higher for leader or you'll snap that leader when you hookset......sounds like a 22 rifle going off. I have caught many fish using this setup, and feel like a stud having such a high tech setup. You will feel them smell your worm or jig. Give it a shot and you'll like it, I promise.

I still use flouro on sinking moving baits and mono on topwater baits. Things have gotten more complicated, but it all makes sense once you think about it. Good Luck!

Braid on top in the muck, or as a main line with a leader.. I use 20 to 25 flouro for jig fishing or thick slop..15 pound flouro for plastics and some finesse plastics, cranks..15 pound Big Game Mono for top water or bigger if necessary..8 pound spiderwire mono for finesse as well..I dont like flouro below 12 but some people swear by it down to 6-4 for drop shot, other techniques. Big Game is my all around, and Pline floro-coated...Braid is for Frogs, punching...Cover that you need to cut, or that will cut line..Braid is about wating to feel the fish, and getting them on top, before they bury, leverage you.

You would have gotten a better hook set with 15-20 pound line. Use 8 pound test for crappie fishing.
If you were using 8 pound test and a light action rod, it would be very difficult to get a good hook set on a bass.
What bait were you throwing, and what rod power are you using?

I use it on a spincast reel, but the rod is a old im6 medium I bought at Academy..It is my finesse worm teaser..Like a small c-rig..And it is the finicky or post spawn, ring fry rig..As far as hook set goes, i use smaller well sharpened hooks..I dont hammer negative fish..I lean in and real into them, and yes saved my azz many times..

I always carry reels with both, but let the water clarity, cover and bait I am using dictate which one I throw.

I use braid sparingly but only because of water clarity..or technique..Last 5 years I use 20-25 pound floro..Anything that stout that has the DIA of 15-17 pound line, with the water hiding properties is greatness...Case in point, in 2010-2011 on Fork water conditions about what they are now in July August..With grass limited from the 515 bridge on down, my partner and I concentrated on that part of the lake..When the rest of the field was out in 15 to twenty, we found the fish on swim jigs in 2-5 on the main lake with fish up to 9.5 pounds on grass and docks..They would hit nothing else...One jig color, with 20 pound floro..heavy rods and abus, and jigs in August..We didnt win, but we had a shot..We didnt get manned by any slaunches but caught several close slot fish in August to 9.5..

Thats wise catfisher...My partner refused to throw a spincast and seldom does..More out of fear of being overpowered..I match the rod, reel,line to the need..You can get some of the results with 15 pound floro, but light baits and finesse tactics on tourney day always a need..Drop shot, shakey head, the pinch teaser, french fry all have a place when bait action, or non action is key...Trust me, I would always rather break necks, but sometimes a check, or five fish is a good compromise..Tight lines..

Flurocarbon leader is stiffer and generally a more durable material than just fluro line of the spool. The line is meant to be casted of the spool and is more supple, while the leader is stiffer and less abrasive because it is meant only to be at the end of the line.

I use either for specific applications more than anything. I don't concern myself with timber. I use what I feel helps me get bites by what bait I am presenting.

One other note. Braid is very sensitive and those days that your partner out fished you might have been a light bite day.

I think bait selection & presentation are the most important factor. Good grief, the A-Rig has been outlawed in major tournaments because of it's effectiveness. And it looks like a wad of coat hangers coming through the water.

True but that is a reaction bite.

I fish alot of 8lb Fluoro. The size of the hook makes a big difference. A 3/O EWG is on the big side. A 2/O or 1/O is a better choice. That was my first thought when the poster said he didn't get a good hookset.

8 lb fluoro!,?? Wow!
You are tougher than me that's for sure.
Yes you need a really skinny hook for that lol!
I don't know much about lines below 12 lb.- probably need to learn.

Braid with a fluoro leader, beat that!!!