What's the best rod for a carolina rig? Length? Strength? Action?

You almost have to go with something at least 7'0" in order to get a decent hookset. I've got a 7 foot medium heavy rod with a lot of backbone. For deeper stuff I use the same rod in a heavy action. There's a lot of line down there that you've gotta move and it's pretty hard to get a hook into a bass' mouth when it's down 30-40 feet!

7' and over, at least a MH power, and moderate action will be good enough

1+. Also, let me suggest using braid with a fluoro leader. Gives you more sensitivity for those bites that usually occur when the bait is falling and it gives you less stretch for a better hookset on those deeper fish.

Awesome tip guys! I appreciate it

Good advice but be careful with the braid / fluro leader setup. Make sure to use a heavy enough leader. The braid has so little strech that if you use too light a leader the fluro will snap on the hookset every time.

What lbs braid/flouro combination would you use?

50 lb braid with a 17lb mono or fluoro leader. I prefer mono to fluoro for c rigs as I feel that it helps the lure float better.

i only use 7"6" H / 20lb Flouro /1oz weight.....very productive for me....

50 lb braid with 20 lb fluoro leader.

Yepper, what he just said, can go 40 / 20 as well.

IMO and speaking from a bad experience, don't use braid with a mono leader. It will snap when setting on a decent fish. I would use at least 17# quality flouro, like seagar or berkley 100% flouro. Don't use vanish.

Brian

7' heavy

i only use a 7'6" Heavy with 20LB Flouro and 1oz weight.....very productive for me

This is a good thread. I almost bought a set up yesterday just for Carolina rigging. I think I will go buy it now. It has become more of our approach lately.