First off are you using your spinning reel or a bait caster? If your using the spinning reel you shouldn't get a backlash unless the line is just falling off the reel, in that case you may want to try a different line and I belive the person above answered pretty well on a bait caster. You can use what they call a screw-in weight or a slip sinker booth of these sinkers you will put your line through the sinker and then tie your hook, you can probably get bullet weights at walmart or kmart stores( slip sinker). The screw-in type sinkers you will have to go to dick's sporting goods, gander mountain, Basspro, or Cabella's. For line I would recommend Fire line ( a Braid) or if you can get access to some new line they just came out with last year called GAMMA line ( it's like a mono) but is extremely stong I have used it and I'm verry pleased with it, I used 8 lb. test and caught two under docks and had no problem hauling them out. I fish in local tournments in Western NY. Also fish the Walmart BFL in NY and Virginia. If your close and want to go fishing some time drop me a line ( bmck33@yahoo.com). hope this helps you some, Bill