No question is a dumb question. what I do is put a small shot a hands width up from the hook and a little larger one a hands width from that one. I use mainly slip bobbers with a bobber stop to be able to change my depths alot quicker. don't normally use a leader unless fishig for saugeyes or some form of pike. the hooks I've been using are long shank cricket hooks #6. my cousin Darryl Morris turned me on to them last year and have had pretty good sucess with them and if they get hung up on brush the hook will normally straighten out without breaking off. good luck and good fishing.
welcome aboard Johns there are alot of very helpful people on this web site you'll get hooked if you stick around.
MT.DEW AND JP8 IN THE MORNING GETS THE BLOOD FLOWING.