These guys are right on the money. I would recomend at least a 7 footer but I use a 7 1/2. Sometimes it takes a 4 foot plus leader to get a bite. It takes a long rod to cast that and you need the longer rod to pick up some of your extra slack when you set the hook. I would also go with a 7:1 ratio reel to aid with picking your slack up. When you do set the hook, you sweep hard to the side. It is not a reel down set the hook up over your shoulder. You start doing that and you'll miss a lot of bites. Fish it very slow. When you can hardly stand it because your fishin it so slow, slow down from there even. Charmers Timber pup is my choice as far as plastics. That is a baby brush hog that will float a 3/0 hook like its going out of style. The carolina rig is very versitile. You can about any soft plastic on it and catch fish.