Curious how everyone determines how much weight to use? For instance on a T-Rig or Carolina Rig...do you have some rough numbers in your head based on depth of water? Or is it just a feel thing...I'm often playing the guessing game.

Wind/current is my main factor. I like to fish as light as possible, but wind dictates what size weight I use.

and depth.

the lightest weight you can get by with

And water clarity...in cleaner water, I like the slowest fall possible, especially if the bass are not very aggressive...

+1

Depends, if I'm pitching to heavy cover I usually always use a 1/4 oz but if just dragging it around hydrilla ill go with a smaller weight if the wind allows it.

Whatever it takes to let me feel the bottom. I use the lightest weight that lets me feel the bottom when I'm fishing worms. I feel like it helps me avoid snags. When pitching jigs I like a heavier weight. I'm pretty new at that. I will probably gravitate to lighter weights as I get better at it.

Some baits need a heavier weight to make them work. Hyper worm, super speed craw both will need a little more to get the tail to work.

Pitching a tx rig craw type bait I jus always throw a 5/16. Baby brush hog a 3/16. Works for me. Fast fall equals reaction bite

KVD said this - and we all know he can't win anything if he isn't throwing a spinnerbait or crankbait... so I'm not sure how much value we can associate with his thoughts on this subject...

But anyway, he said he either goes for a slow fall or a fast fall and doesn't focus very much on anything in between. I kinda thought that was interesting and I definitely had to gnaw on that for a bit.

Depth, how fast you want it to fall, how windy it is, how you are fishing it, lure, line.
If your going deep, a quarter ounce will take forever to get down there.
If the fish are on the reaction bite, a heavy weight will fall faster cause reaction bites.
It it's calm you can use lighter weights and still feel the lure on the end of the line. If the wind kicks up it makes it hard to feel your lure.
It you are hopping your lure I prefer a lighter weight so it falls back down slow. But this also changes with the way the fish are hitting. If they are aggressive a heavier weight will be need to get their attention.
If your using a very light soft plastic and want to get it down then you need more weight.
If you are using like that floats, you need a little more weight to counter act that. And for sinking line a little less

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, but in KVD's book he talks about wanting a faster fall in clearer water so that the fish have less time to decide if it looks real or not. One of the main things I've learned after reading a few books and time on the water with a few different people is that I'm terrible at fishing and I'll never figure it out.

With that in mind, I try not to over think it and just use the lightest setup I can get away with.