I generally use a 9 foot leader( rod length) for bass. Bass are not leader shy but the longer leader helps me to fish a little deeper when fishing weighted patterns. Popping bugs cast better with a tapered leader. I use to make simple tapered bass leaders with 5ft of 30lb, 2 feet of 20lb and 2 to 3 feet of 12lb mono. Now i make twisted leaders ( somewhat like a furled leader) which make a tapered butt section that I add 12 lb test tippet to. If there is a lot of moss the fewer the knots the better.