I am making the switch this season to using a lot of braid. How long of a leader do you use when tying braid to fluoro. My main concern with going to a too long of leader would be with the knot going through the guides and decreasing the casting distance.

Use a double Uni knot and 6ft of line.

^^ This.

I just try to keep the knot from reaching the spool. Once, you learn the uni to uni the knot lays pretty flat and there isn't a noticeable impact on casting. A good rule of thumb is about 6 wraps for each knot if the lines are similar diameter. Sometime you may need to go a few more if the braid is smaller.

FG or Alberto knot

Really depends, but my leader lengths have been getting longer and longer as time goes on for the sole reason of being able to change baits more before having to retie my leader. My leader length is usually about the same length or a little bit longer than my rod. I use a double uni knot and it goes through the guides with no problems at all.

Improved Alberto or double uni (whichever you can tie easier/faster)

Don't worry about the knot going through the guides (unless they are micro guides)

Length--I know some people like very long leaders that go into the spool (I don't like feeling the knot under my thumb)
Usually have the knot between the reel and the first guide with the weight/hook between the last two guides (about 6-7ft of line)

Alberto...and I leave the tag ends long so they have some length to flex and not get hung up in the eyes as much.

Learn the FG knot and you don't have to worry about it casting through the guides.

Alberto knot and a 10ft leader.

FG knot for sure its small diameter and I have never had a problem with it going through the guides.

Here's a video I did on how to tie a FG knot. It's the knot I trust. It's looks A little intimidating to tie but honestly after some practice you can tie it properly in about 30 to 45 seconds. I would use use a 4-6ft leader.

For almost all finesse applications, I like my junction knot between my main line and leader to be right up, say 4" or 5" from the reel. I rarely, maybe 1 out of a hundred casts (if that), feel anything with the line being cast out.

I am more apt to feel a very tiny bump reeling in line if I have a heavy lure on.

On occasion, you might consider doing what Aaron Martens does. He spools on braid, then a length of fluorocarbon that exceeds his longest casts by a decent safety margin. Baitcasters mainly, but also his spinning tackle. He claims it makes for longer casts. This is one way to fish certain techniques with straight fluorocarbon without spooling up a whole reel with it. The braid on a reel like that can stay on for a very long time.

Brad

Thanks for all the suggestions. Don't really use micro guides anymore so shouldn't have to worry about that.

Another issue with the knot in the spool (very long leaders)
Sometimes the tiny tags can snag on the fluoro during the cast--especially on a spinning reel--if it happens to you once, you don't ever want it to happen again

I love the Alberto...