I use a size #8 or #10 carlisle style hook (the long shank helps when removing a hook from their tiny mouth) with a whole night crawler, no sinker or bobber let the worm suspend its a more natural presentation. with a ultra light setup and limp line you should beable to cast pretty far. Ive caught some real monsters at a blue gill management lake on this rig. sofar the biggest ive caught was 12 inches it weighed 11 oz talk about a slab.