HOSSCOOPER,

If you get into this with small regular hooks and want to get into smaller mouth fish, check out the the tanago hooks that Chris has on his site. They have a shape that presents the hook point with not much shank and this may allow easier hook ups and more fish per one hook baiting. If you do, talk to Chris, these hooks can come with an eye or without.

On bait, you might try some you tube videos, I saw one or two that showed the Japanese mixing up a paste bait. I sure if you can get a base bait you can experiment by adding extras stuff. First time I went out for 'gills I used cheese, but then bulegills will also go for bubble gum...once.

Dennis