Questions about braid...

[sweetwater]

I would recommend you keep doing whatever you have confidence in. Confidence in your equipment and methods is everything. A good example is I hate using spinner baits and I've had very little luck with them, on the other hand I love crankbaits and I can outfish almost anyone with a crankbait. It's just a feel you acquire with experience.

I use mono almost exclusively, I like using it, I know how to fish with it and doesn't break the budget. Sometimes I use a flouro leader with it especially with c-rig. If you want to use braid Tyme2fish's response absolutely nailed it, unless your wealthy or single.

[Deven Hall]

I read above about a few guys using Fireline. I have been using it for about 5 years now, 6-12lb on my Spinning rods and 50lb on my Catfish rod. On my spinning rod I use a mono backing then spool rest with Fireline. On my Catfish rod however, I use all braid. A few years back I hooked into a pretty big fish down on the river and it ran my line down to where I used to split braid/mono and it instantly broke off and the fish was gone. If you are targeting big game fish I would highly recommend using all braid on the spool.

[Fishin is life]

Give the power pro super slick 8 a look....Handles better than any other braid on the market

[smljaw]

I threw braid more last year than I ever have. I've not tried lots of it but really like Power Pro (40 & 50# is what I use for football jigs and frog fishing for bass). Pappy gives good advice about spooling about 50 yards on mono backing.

As for making it last a long time, I've heard of guys fishing it for a season or 2 and then directly spooling it to another reel. This allows you to use the other end that's been deeper in the spool for a year or 2. That's more or less new line if you have enough on the spool.

[JUSTINHALL]

I have fished with fireline since 98-99 on my bass rods it is very critical for feel in up in Lake St. Claire and Erie when dragging tubes for small mouth. It also lasts a very long time, I have had the same fire line on my bait casters for easily 5 years now. I tie a florocarbon leader on about 4-6 feet long for clarity and the fire line will last for ever. Albright knot is most def the strongest and slides through guides best when joining the two but takes practice to make it perfect. You can watch on youtube how to tie it makes it easier.
Power Pro Super Slick 8 as someone else suggested is very good too, that is what I use on some of my saltwater rigs. I have 80lb on jigging rods for Amber Jack and 100 lb on my bottom rigs for Grouper and Snapper, but again a leader is needed I dont run straight or Amber Jacks wont touch it.
As others suggested you must but mono on first never tie braid directly to the spool or it will slip.