I have a ton of different fishing rods...pins, bait casters, spin casters, and I have a mix of both braid and mono. I know a lot of guys here don't like braid but it has some distinct advantages over mono and its few (imo) disadvantages are easy to overcome. I think a lot of the negative impressions about braid are because people come off of the fraser with 50lb braid, Bouncing betty harnesses and 15 foot leaders and just make a mess of vedder with that rig.
Here is one of my favourite rods to fish right now: 9 foot lami rated 8-12lbs, with a shimano conquest loaded with 30lb moss green power pro. I have caught coho and steelhead float fishing this rod on gin clear water so I am convinced a little bit of braid doenst spook them off. Let me quantify that though. I fish a drennan on the 30lb briad to that I tie a swivel with 2-3 feet of 12 lb maxima to which I pinch on split shot, then comes another swivel with leaders running from 6-10lb. Works like a charm. Casts super smooth, backlashes pick out easily, low stretch means a newby can get away with being a little slow on the hook set, braid is lighter than mono so its easier to mend and has less water drag...I tell you, 20-30lb braid can be very nice to fish.
case in point, the last report I made where I got my first coho of the season, I was using the above rod with a 3 foot 8lb leader and on the end was an inline spinner I made (#4 french blade, green tape, 1/0 hook and 4 plastic beads). Its a light spinner and that rig with no added weight, I can cast 50-65 feet. The light spinner can be retrieved super slow as it doesnt sink too fast...its a deadly presentation and I know I couldn't fish it with 12-15 lb mono...casting would be too tough.