First off, welcome aboard!
Second "Bills Fan" gives you points on
my board, so long as you mean the BUFFALO
BILLS!!!
I use leader line for all my fishing, anywhere from
4-15 lb test. I don't face the pike you have up north
much down here, but I catch plenty of Pickerel.
Rarrely lost a Pick, and actually have caught most
on 8lb test.
My braided mainline is 10lb on spinning and 20lb
on baitcasting. So no, you don't have to match
your braid.