Don't bother myself rarely have a bust off. I use 50 pnd braid to swivel tri crane 150 pnd jinkai for trace. Tried leader more bust offs usually where leader joins the braid.

 I always run leader prior to rigs, having said that, I rarely use rigs with swivel-leader-hook/lure, I normally run braid to leader via fg knot then strait to lure or hook with a running sinker

 Plus one for FG knot to tie your braid to leader. I ensure my leader is higher strength than my braid, and if you use the FG knot, then your weak point up to there will be the terminal knot on the leader to swivel/snap swivel/lure. Whereas if you just go braid to your swivel/snap swivel for your 'rig' or lure, then the weakpoint is the terminal knot in your braid as opposed to the terminal knot in your leader which will be stronger.

Whether the leader affects your catch rates. If lures yes. If your talking your 'rigs' as in paternoster rigs etc, then I don't think it will affect catch rates.

I do this more from the strength point of view. Takes a while to learn the FG knot properly, but when you have it down pat, it is one of the most valuable things you will learn in fishing!

 I tie my braid straight to the swivel no leader, make sure you use plenty of twists. Never had one fail yet, same as Willo had more failures at the braid to leader knot

Camzak

 I tie a swivel to my braid then my leader strait to that

never had a problem in well over 10years

tieing an extra leader in my opinion is just something else to fail 

 bimini double tied straight to clip swivel. My rigs or lures always have a (short) leader anyway. Don't see the need for a few metres of leader before it. Not with my type of fishing anyway. 

i spose it does keep it simple, ive only tied my braid to a swivel on occasion when my braid has snapped for some reason. since ive upgraded my braid i havent had that. checking the leader after a few fish i see some abrasion even on a longer leader so i couldnt imagine braid would hold up long, we fish over shallow reef in shark bay alot. im another for the FG knot, practised it untill i could do it well and have never had 1 break even when i as still learning, normally my breaks occur in the leader or rig where it was contacting the structure so a heavier leader than my mainline seems logical to me

 blue up north I would recommend tying a heavy leader so you don't have the braid hitting the snags but my mate ties directly to the swivel and hasn't lost to much around Perth. With trolling I highly recommend tying leader as you want something to take the shock from the strike

 The braid tends to tangle around the swivel alot when using 3ways on a paternoster rig.

I've done both but prefer using a wind on leader because 1# it keeps the braid away from reef and saves the braid a bit and 2# it gives you something to hold on to once the fish is at the boat and also to take up some shock loading on big hook ups.  There is not really a wrong way or a right way, you just have to find what works for you and what you are comfortable using. 

I switch up between bait rigs and jigs/lures/soft plastics so I run FC leader with an FG knot down to a shogun coastal clip.

I once tied a squid jig straight to my braid and realised pretty  quickly you need to at least double your twists on your knots.

What's a swivel ? Haven't used one in about 6 years. Braid straight to 2 metres of leader or rig suits me for all of my fishing exploits from bream to demersals.

braid directly to 2-3m of mono leader to a crain swivel which connects onto an o-ring which is connected to the lure works well for me.  

Yes I agree with Jack frost.  We all know that people like to have a setup for lures and a separate setup for bait rigs as they require different rods and setups according to specifications of the gear. But whether boat fishing, or landbased there's always a situation where you want to quickly change from say bottom fishing to lure o jig quickly when you spot a school. This is where it comes in handy having you fc leader there already. So for me braid fg knot fc leader then snap swivel/swivel or clip whatever your preference. Then attach your bait fishing rig or lure. 

good mixed response, does show that everyone has their different styles and by the sounds of it once youve found ur method and practised it they all seem to work.
i still find a leader provides alot of security and benifits but its interesting to hear the other opinions

Yeah that's true. We have all caught fish on our preferred techniques 

I run 250 lb braided cord straight from my handline directly to the hook, tripple granny knot, never had a problem.

PE 3 braid, bimini , GT knot to 60lb 1.5m long leader. I've pulled 2m plus sharks up with this kind of set up and never lost a fish. 

 Bimini twist on braid to improved Albright for two arm spans (4m) of 100 lb Jinkai leader. Uni knot 100lb swivel n clip on the end. Easy for switching between rigs n lures with the bonus of a nice wind on leader to grab when fishy fish is boat side. Keeps me happy 

All my paternoster rigs have a foot or so of leader above the first dropper/three way swivel, then connected to a crane swivel and the main line/braid straight to the swivel, no bimini or clips.

 I always tie my braid main line direct to a flouro Carbon leader. Sometimes use a clip swivel on the end for ease of changing out lures.

 Braid-swivel-leader. Never had a problem. I think a lot of problems are caused by people not running enough leader/having short rigs, resulting in un-noticed chaff on the braid, regardless of swivel/no swivel or bimini/fg preference.

 using an FG knot. I tie lures and plastics straight to the jinkai and after changing lures a few times then "yes" i have to retie another 2 mteres of leader to the braid. I find a swivel changes how my lures work. 

 Same here, FG knot to a couple of meters of leader which works for me most times...sounds like there are a few different methods and theories around and they all seem to produce fish which is the main thing.!

 Fishing metro I tend to use braid to swivel to leader..

Of the rocks straight to leader using double Uni not

 To snap lock. Change rigs . Lures ect with ease . 

I sometimes just tie a couple of figure 8 droppers straight into my 80lb braid, while skipper shakes his head. I average about 1 lost rig per trip doing that, been doing it for years with some success, even as a pro decky at the Abrolhos. I wouldn't advise doing this over shallow sharp coral ground though.

 Off the beach chasing Taior and Salmon I go 20lb braid to swivel to around 500mm of trace.

offshore chasing bigger stuff that may require a little more control at the boat I go a wind on leader using the FG knot.

I like to cut of a metre or so of braid every trip or so if doing repeated casting witout a leader.

 Yes I sometimes/often do tie braid straight to lure, jighead or rig but I find i get less control with it. Definitley would rather the leader when i can tie it out on the boat.

What's a leader, never used or intend to use one, just gives you another knot to worry about.
Always tied braid directly to the swivel or lure using same Albright knot with 2 or 3 turns through the eye of the swivel or lure before tying the knot off.
This has worked for me since first bought braid when it came out many years ago and hasn't let me down once.

 Depends on the target.a leader does save your casting finger getting cut etc

same as a lot on here ...braid to jinki leader with FG knot then straight to jig, placi head or stickbait/popper.

occasionally bottom bash with braid to jinki leader via FG to swivel then premade and tied rigs tied to swivel.

I usually run braid to a length of leader, maybe 2m. Not sure of the knot name, but basically a super slim knot that "plats" the braid around the leader, and it casts through the guides well. Been very happy with it's performance. Then leader to snap swivel to enable quick and easy change of rigs. Not sure it's the best setup, but is pretty reliable and versatile, and can tie the braid to leader knot on a boat no problems.

Cheers,

BD.