QED

None of the above. Steez Air or Aldebaran. Weight is an important decision variable

It's an old Shimano pistol grip graphite casting rod with an aluminum reel seat. I still use it and it functions just fine.

Phenix K2 ML I have a couple of these and they work very well.

SPRO, Livetarget, and Booyah make small popper frog baits. They all work well.

"Nice" and "upgrade" are relative terms which require more context in order for others to provide helpful feedback. In general, pareto improved gear implies mid-tier stuff. After that, you're dealing with marginal improvements, which if you can afford it, are wonderful. Catch more fish - maybe not. Enjoy fishing more - absolutely.

After a bit of use, I definitely like the 2016 Aldebaran BFS XG or 18 Aldebaran MGL 30HG models better. Nothing significantly better in the newest BFS model, but the now fully exposed drag dial is annoying while palming the reel. Ergonomics trump newness.

Given the incremental improvements over time, a plain vanilla 22 Aldebaran BFS XG might be a better choice.

Intesting academic study on the effect of lure colour on bass fishing productivity: https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10026.1/11441/1-s2.0-S0165783615001903-main.pdf;jsessionid=8D17D10EEE09E22E7D5E4136C73331DE?sequence=1 TL;DR - colour doesn't matter that much except in a couple of corner cases where: (i) certain colours work less well (e.g., firetiger on crankbaits) and (ii) certain colours work better for catching larger bass (i.e., "[i]n our study bright lure colours, orange and white [note: correlate with colours found on golden shiners], had a significant relationship with the total length..."). BTW, I didn't double check the authors' methodology nor the accuracy of their regression analysis, so if you have a beef with the study (or studies cited therein), then please take it up with their respective authors.

Looks like a custom, raced out version of a normal Shimano Aldebaran.

I'm not able to do this because I find it difficult to operate the free spool bar. How do you manage to actuate the free spool bar while palming?

Ordinarily, even after hedonic quality adjustments, I would espect reels at a particular price point to get better over time. But these are not ordinary times, so given the current inflationary environment, I reserve judgement on the question.

Not directly. But if I like the form (especially ergonomics), fit and function of a particular reel, then I am more likely to buy a successor model of that particular reel.

Hard to say. I bought a bunch of motor oil mann's jelly worms last year. Compared to my old motor oil jelly worms from middle school, the new ones have more green and the old ones are more brown - BUT - my recollection of the motor oil jelly worms is more consistent with the new ones than the old ones in their current state. I suspect the worm colors may change over time even if properly stored in a cool dark place.

Google "Cartesian Doubt" and then be prepared to enter a rabbit hole from which you may never emerge! ?

Fair point, but a truly light BFS or spinning rig will blow through that budget constraint, so in either case it's the null set, since I only recommend stuff I've used.

Another interesting observation is that a BFS rig can be as light (or lighter) than a comparable spinning rig. That just continues to amaze me.

Interesting. I don't think any of my UL/BFS (casting) rods would handle 2 lb test especially well. Are you using specialty JDM casting rods for this application?

Agreed - but when you are looking at cutting edge, very light gear, it isn't likely to be budget friendly. My favorite ML casting rig: Shimano 22 Aldebaran BFS XG 4.6 oz Shimano Poison Adrena 163ML 3.24 oz

Most of what I throw is in the 1/16 - 3/8 oz range (total lure weight) so the casting rods I use most frequently are in the UL/BFS/L/ML range and the rod/reel combos are in <= 8 oz range. If you haven't fished really light casting rigs, it will be a real eye opener.

I fish a small, nearby lake and the 4" versions work best there, usually wacky rigged. I also use z-man finesse TRDs on a drop shot rig (instead of senkos) since they are more buoyant.

Mann's Jelly Worms and Auger Tail Worms in Motor Oil. Still work as well as ever but sourcing them going forward might be problematic.

I bought a bunch directly from Mann's last year but they no longer seem to have them on their website now, so I guess they've been relegated to history. But at least I have a stash! ?

I only have experience at the high end of mass produced gear, but smoothness and durability seem to be concurrently improving.

I bought bulk packs of 4” senkos in black/blue flake and green pumpkin/black flake. That’s all the senkos I need until they are depleted. I’ve said it before but it is worth reiterating - given the different sizes/weights, colors, and lure types, the combinatorial explosion makes it unwise to explore all options. I stick with stuff I know works so my bait expenses are trivial.

Excellent suggestion! I have that very rig except with a JDM Aldebaran MGL 30 and it’s brilliant. You all should get one! ?