floatandfly.com was started last year and has some good information but I will chime in on some myself. I started with a 9' rod, Lexar IM7 I believe ($49) at punisherjigs.com. Broke it and have since used a 10' All Pro which I love. The 9' footer was easier to learn to cast but I get more distance and like the feel of the 10' All Pro ($129) better. I use a TI-30 Quantum spinning reel but any quality spinning reel will work. If you don't backreel (like me) a good drag in necessary. There are many different jigs but 1/16 oz Duck Feather with some chartruese and blue mixed in is on my reel 95% of the time. I use Garlic Fish Dope on all my jigs either on the feathers of the jig or just the head depending on whether I want more action or less action on the feathers. Gives it the slime feel that all baitfish have plus GARLIC scent.(Another piece of advice for the Newby's, don't blow your nose on the same towel that you have been wiping off the Garlic dope on for the vampires will not bother you for day's or your wife either, keeps mustache tasting of Garlic for weeks) Foam bobber, either buy them 2 per pack for $4, or make your own out of a standard weighted foam bobber for about a quarter. I posted step by step instructions how to doctor the bobber last year so you can find them here somewhere. The idea of the float is the weight is in the middle so it lays on its side as the jig is dropping, then when it reaches it depth the float will turn upright. Then if the float lays on its side you are either on bottom or a fish has sucked the jig in and floated up in the water column. You will NEVER know this with a traditional bobber for it stays upright no matter what. Take the bobber and put it 10' above the jig, wrap the bottom hook only of the bobber 3 times. This is what I do. I plan on using the 3-way rig this winter, 8lb fireline on reel to a 3-way swivel, 6lb Vanish or 6lb Excel works just as good down to the jig, and hook the bobber on the other part of the swivel. I have been broke off by a couple of fish when I put bobber straight on line and have made it a habit to re-tie after every 3lb or better fish. When you are cutting 10-12 feet off every 3lber, last winter I was LUCKY enough to re-tie a bunch, it eats a lot of line off reel. With the 3-way rig, there are more knots involved but not the wrapping around the bobber. THere is a whole lot more to it but this is the basics, find a bluff at Dale or Cumberland when the water drops to around 53 and begin (50) is prime time for me. Make a long cast to the bluff as close to it as possible and barely move your wrist so the whipping action of the rod tip is doing the moving of the bobber/jig. Keep tight line on bobber for when it goes under you have to remeber that you have a 10' rod with a lot of line out to a bobber then 10 more feet below to get in before the hookset. I CONSTANTLY KEEP MY REEL MOVING. Even the slightest movement insures me that I have no slack which is the biggest mistake and why many miss fish. They don't #### it in and swim off with it for days. You have to be ready to lay the hammer when it goes under. THis setup landed a 6-4 and a 6-2, with several more over 5 and probably another 30-40 in the 3-5 range last winter all at Dale. There are many more things I could say but I have to do some work now, just because I am the boss does not mean I can spend all day typing about fishing even though I would like to. send me an email or private message and I will call you if you want more info.