I'm fishing it 8-15 feet deep. I mainly fish by myself and I don't think I could get a fish in with a leader longer than 15 feet. Like I wrote earlier, I can catch 20-30 trout a day in Laurel with the FNF - but haven't caught the first bass.

I have heard, just like you, that most of the guys on Laurel are going without the floater - that might be the trick.

I've never done very good with a Silver Buddy but I have had some great days with a spoon or Little George on that lake. I have never fished a Silver Buddy that I didn't leave on the bottom of the lake. I get hung up every time.