With using braid, I've heard that the braid cuts groves into the guides as well as onto parts of the reel where the line moves across during reeling. I would like to be able to feel the softest of bites but also would prefer not to be damaging my rods and reels in the process. For those of you who use a leader with the braid, do you loose some sensitivity by adding the leader (& barrel swivel I'm assuming)?

My experience.... and you will many more opinions..Braid was said to damage equipment when first on the market. Mostly competitive advertising. Also only when prolonged heavy pressure was applied.
I switched to braid and the Thump experience is a huge difference. Used power pro 20 for a long time with rod end loop frustration. Switched to orange 12lb from http://boneheadtackle.com and love it. You might also consider their 7 ft rod for the ultimate thump combination. I use Vanish 6lb fluorocarbon leader with uniknots. Braid gives ultimate in sensitivity and leader allows maximum in low visibility in clearer or shallow water. No loss in sensitivity.

Over the years, I have never experienced any rod or reel damage. I keep expecting it to happen but it hasn't.

15lb invisx by spiderwire, direct tie. Can see the line above water very well.

If you're have braid and use a leader, do tie your leader directly to the braid line or do you use a barrel swivel? Part two is if you're using braid with a leader, will you loose very much sensitivity with a mono leader vs. a flouro leader?

Look up the uni to uni knot...once you do it a couple times it is a fast knot to tie and strong as hell. I normally use 15lb Power Pro yellow with a 10 pound flouro leader w this knot...caught some big ole catfish and stripers and this set up held. That is my vertical jigging setup.
For casting jigs or slip bobber set ups, I am going straight mono...just for ease of use.

+3
Been using 4# & 6# Nanfil tied to mono (Trilene XL) with an Albright knot. It's nuts what you feel side my side switching out spare spool to straight mono (Trilene XL) in the same trip. I like a mono leader because I like the stretch and line spring back that I get from mono compared to FC. Might try a hybrid line for a leader next year.

i use the Berkley Lightning Rod (shock) 6' medium .its designed for braid and guides will not groove on this rod. i also use 30 lb power pro (slick) HI VIS Yellow and a 12" leader of 12 lb mono and have no loss of sensitivity. i have grooved other rod eyes bass fishing where you crank a lot.iv tried about every set up out there and for me this is by far the best.

10# high vis braid with a 10# mono if the water is stained floro leader if it is clear which is seldom.

You know what opinions are like, everybody has one...so here's mine. I've switched back and forth, braid to mono, mono to braid, several times, and here is what I've finally done and think I got it right this time. First off, I've got a bad shoulder, so weight is important. I have switched to the G-rod 7'. Extremely light with lots of tip and mid sections strength. I coupled it with a 50 series reel (less weight than ALL my many 1000 series). I use 20# Suffix 820 tied with a blood knot to a 12# Trilene XL leader. This set up is extremely sensitive, light, and strong. I'll try fluro as soon as I'm convinced that the feel is better....so far, I'm not. And I do believe that tying the leader straight to the line helps with the sensitivity. So that's my opinion, and remember, everybody's got one

Almost exactlly what I do, 'cept I can't afford G-rods just yet. Some reels have 10 pound power-proslick with 8 pound Trilene, but 20/12 is pretty much the standard. All rods are 7' to 9'foot, and we've gone to the 5o size reels,..love the sensitivity. I find the lighter braid works best using smaller jigs, and
when using slip-bobbers.

For vertical jig fishing, I have fits with line wrap on the long poles (11') I like to use. I normally tie a 2' - 3' leader under a very small swivel. I would prefer to use braided with mono leader combination, but line wrapping the rod tip drives me crazy. Use 10# mono leader below swivel with 10# Power Pro until I get too frustrated and then will revert back to all mono with the swivel. Absolutely love the feel of Power Pro, but line wrap on tip drives nuts. Does heavier braided resolve the line wrap?

Huge second on the GRod. I have mine coupled to a Pfluger President LE. Killer. Killer killer

HV, since I went to 20# Suffix, I have not had as big of a problem with line rapping around the tip, but then when I changed to G-Rods, that problem (so far) has gone away. G-Rods put a tip guide on that is different than most others and it definitely helps.

And BTW, I also live in Highland Village so send me a PM and I'll let you know where I live and let you see the set up I have.

The only thing I would add is for those of you now using or pondering using a 6' (that is, short) mono or fluoro leader tied to a braid main line? A 6' attached length of either line type is simply not long enough for much stretch to occur.

The rubber effect of a stretchy mono line becomes an issue when you have yards and yards of it to stretch. An inch or so of stretch, if even that, for a short leader would not alter the feeling at all.

The stretchiest mono I have ever used was found on a Zebco reel, that red cajun line. It truly was rubber band like.

Brad