Been running lead for many years and I usually have at least two lead lines out at all times, if I'm fishing in 5 fow or 40 fow I usually pull at least two. I run 10'6's and 7'6' scheels rods, which are decent and daiwa 47's with 18lb lead and 9 colors, 10 foot crystal leaders tied to the lead with #16 barrel swivel. Best thing you can do is get a couple of setups and go out and fish the more you do it the better you get, just like anything. Lead is an efficient way of being able to cover many different contours with one setup...I can start out shallow(under 10fow) with #5 shadraps and a minnow styled bait like a #7 flicker minnow or whatever and If I want to move over to the 20 foot contour I don't have to switch a thing besides let more line out which is a huge time saver for me. This year I have been running more 2/2 setups with smaller shad style baits on two lead core setups and two minnow styled baits like a Reef Runner or yo zuri 3d crystal minnow on crystal so I still can cover a lot of different depth if I need to. On Oahe our water is usually fairly stained so many times I run lures right in the prop wash and in fact I think at times it gets an even better reaction bite...everyone has a method that works for them, you just have to get a couple or 4..lol and start trollin...Good luck...it's very addicting....Josh