BINGO!

No leader needed.

I use braid in winter and spring. Never use a leader.

The most important thing is to not buy cheap 4 carrier braid. Invest in a bulk spool of 8 carrier line. I buy a 1500 yard spool and lasts me all year.

10# Power Pro to a 12# flouro leader in the winter and 15# hi viz mono leader during the spawn.

For me it is not about line shyness. (I don't think crappie care.) It is all about abrasion resistance and ability to tie a knot. I prefer a loop knot for jigs. IDK how to tie one that doesn't slip with braid. The mono and flouro make this possible. The switch from flouro to hi viz mono in the spring has to do with stretch and seeing the line. In the winter I fish 10-30fow. Finicky crappie bites are sometimes difficult to feel this time of year so I take the stretch of the line out of the equation. During the spawn, line stretch doesn't matter fishing <5fow and I Iike to be able to see my line. Also fishing heavier cover makes tougher line important. I use an FG knot to connect the braid and leader. It is hardly noticeable when reeling so I can make the leader up to 5' long and still reel past my eyes.

I use 30# hi-viz braid on mine and use no leader.

Heck, maybe I made a mistake going with 8# braid, if I could have gone with 20# or 30#. Oh well.

I would recommend 20#.

You can't use an improved clinch knot with braid, try it and see what happens.

I did try an Improved Clinch Knot, just to see if it would slip. Yup! It did. Going with a Palomar knot.