If you want to learn to float fish take a trip to canada. It is basicly the the rule up there. Level wind or centrepin for a reel. 10.5' rod is standard(sensitivity does count it's not all about just watching the bobber). Weights are your choice pencil lead sometimes , split shot the other time(they both have their place). Floats some like dinks some like balsa some like drennans. Bait works good, so does pink worms, so does rubber eggs so does jigs, so does colorados (the fish usually decide). Floats work best in smaller well defined water or where precise holding locations are known. Big water still is the place for driftfishing or hardware(but not always).