What are your guys thoughts on leaders? I've got 30lb power pro on my poles. I saw a technique where a guy just used a bullet weight and two bobber stoppers. Would this work? Or should I use a swivel and add a leader?

It will work, but the action is different.

Using a swivel, the hook and lure are completely free of the weight (more natural presentation)

Less important than change in action... is the fact that a braid leader twists up like a SOB.you wieght gets all backwards and is a mess. Also bober stops peel off and or get loose pretty easy...

Braid main line with flouro leader for me. 18 ish inches long typically. 30 lb is light imho... i run 40 or 50 typically. Look at the diameter and compare it to mono or flouro. Im 17 or 20 lb leader typically. If your running braid take advantage of it.

I've done it that way before, however "collincountytx" is correct. One of the reasons C-Rigs are so productive is the natural presentation and that the fish cannot feel the weight when they pickup the bait. I feel like the line being able to slide through the weight allows the fish to hold the bait longer giving me a better chance at a hookset. Might just be a confidence thing, but I think my numbers increase with a swivel and a leader, others may have different experiences and I'm sure they will chime in.

Agree with above braid main Line.....I throw 65....on a long Rod for deep water. Sensitive and no stretch for Hook set on long casts. Swivel is a must for best action. Liter can be floor or mono depending on presentation.

No, No to braid leader. You need to be able to break off the leader. If you are doing a CR correctly it will get hung up. All you lose is bait and hook.

Should I set up my Carolina rig on my baitcast or spinning rod?

Baitcaster

I prefer a 20 lb main line with a 15-17 lb leader, depending on where I am fishing.

If you were fishing a light rig shallow you might get away with a spinning rod. I basically only throw one with a 3/4 oz+ weight so its baitcast for me.

Slower the better, I feel as if I get more bites after a long pause then move it. Be ready it catches big fish

You can pause and all that, but you will cover more water if you simply use a heavier weight (3/4 to 1 oz),point to the bait and simply reel in. You feel every rock, stick or bush, Don't use a sweeping motion, then reel down to it to take the slack out, just keep a slow steady reel going. You will catch more fish this way 90 % of the time. There are times when you just need to pause and see if they are just following it, that's when it kind of floats up in their face and they can't resist it. If that is how they start biting, go to a drop shot. If there is lots of grass, you have to go to a light weight and slow down. If you don't believe me, the next time two of you are fishing together, one of you fish with the constant reel, the other pause and wind and pause and see which one catches more fish.

Swivel and 12 # mono on the leader.

No braid.

20 lbs. floro main line. Swivel, bead, weight. About a 3 to 6 ft. leader. I use 14 lbs. floro on my leader.

1 oz. weight deep, 1/2 oz. shallower than 15 ft.

Crigs are an excellent way to present baits in a unique way .
I set them up two basic ways , one for more shallow water , the other deeper water .
1) shallow water , spinning rod , 10/12 lb main , 10/8 lb floro , 12/18" leader , small straight tail worm
2) deeper water , baitcaster , 20/15lb main , 12/10lb leader , 12/18" length . Any bait can be used here , confidence for me is longer straight tails , brush hogs etc..
Titanium weights from 1/8oz to 1oz .
My PB , was 12.4lb on the shallow water rig version .
Lastly , I take a 12" length of an old pool noodle , I tie up about 8-10 leaders in advance ( using 2 pool noodles, one for each set up --various hook sizes ) I use 1/2 of a paper clip to secure the swivel end on the pool noodle .
I retie frequently because the main line closest to the weight tends to become the weak spot , especially in rocky area's . The pool noodle really saves time on the water