Well, curiosity got the best of me and I ordered an umbrella rig to see what it's all about when ordering some other stuff.  It was a Luck-E-Strike Umbrella Rig:

 

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12580205

 

After reading up about umbrella rigs, I am quickly learning that I don't believe I'm properly equipped to be able to tie on of these on and use it.

 

I current have a pair of these rod/reel combos:

 

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Stampede-Spinning-Combos/product/1204201101336/

 

I have them both spooled with 10lb mono.  I got the 7 foot rod and on the Bass Pro website they consider it Medium action.

 

 

It seems that in my reading, I'm going to have to have some kind of heavy rod and potentially use braided line.  Does anybody have experience with these rigs?  What kinds of rod/reel and line am I going to need to use to be able to effectively fish this rig?

 

TC

If you have a 7' MHF or HF jig/ soft plastics rod, it will be fine.

50 or 60 lb braid (Kanzen or Sufix 832). If you want to invest

in a rig specifically designed for The Rig, most guys prefer

7'10" HF and a stout reel (Calcutta).

 

Note: I am fishing light baits and experimenting with a couple of

different rod & reel combinations: Lamiglas SR705R/ CTE200GT; 

BCR854/ Curado 200E7 and MBR844C/ Cte200GT.

 

My outside baits are either LFT Live Magic Shad or Rage Tail

Single Tail Grubs rigged on thin wire Gamakatsu #4 Offset Worm

Hooks, unweighted. On the inside arm I have a Johnson Silver

Minnow.

 

 

 

 

Depends how much lead you add. If you're using 1/8 oz heads, I think you can get away with "normal" MH or H casting bass tackle

For heavier heads than that, in my opinion, you're approaching the need for bigger tackle.

7 ft 9 H fenwick aetos

revo winch reel

65lb braid 

manns a rigs or any other solid wire a rig

strike king squadron heads or buckeye heavy or light wire depending on if you want to be able to bend the bait out

reaction innovations skinny dippers or little dippers in the middle ill put a strike king shaddalicious or a yum money minnow. 

I have thrown an alabama rig on  a 7 ft 3 mh with 12lb test it really is not fun and it feels like it is going to break every cast.