So Mooch-
Are you saying you hook plenty of fish
with the high vis straight to the plugs? In cloudy water this should work fine and that is what I will try. Like it has been said before The big nate's do not appear to be line shy.
Chrome

I don't use hivis or braided lines when pulling plugs. I use Izor 20lb for fishing nates and 15lb
for brats and I tie to a hotshot clip. If I use treble hooks I use Bobs tip. I don't use a barrel swivle. I feel that a knot is just a place for breakage!! In other words I just like to keep it simple.

Keta and Mooch

That second knot is a half and half version of a blood to uni-knot. The braid is the blood half, the mono/fluoro is the uni- half.

Can you use a snap swivel? Using the braided to a snap snap, then snappin on the plug?

What about the Palomar, easy field tie and super strong?
Paul

I like to use a ball bearing swivel because its easy to change plugs that way. 98 % of the time, I am on the sticks and 50 % of the time, the guys up front could not tie any of the mentioned knots if their life depended on it. Its just way to easy to un-clip one and put on another. Also can't say there is any diff in performance. On a spinning rod, if you don't use a good swivel, the line will twist up like crazy. When rookies are up front, I prefere spinning rods ( 9 ft GL2 Loomis HS1025) because they are easyer for them to use. Nothing like having someone backlash the hell out of a casting reel for ya. I fish with lots of different people and most often use my poles etc.