WRB-2.0

Define moderate weight and worm size?? 1/8 oz and 6” worm or 3/16 oz and 6” worm weighs 3/16oz to 5/16 oz approximately that any of the above reel cast cast stock further then you may be able to detect strikes and get a solid hook set depending on the rod and line #test. Tom

Go buy 3/0 off set or straight shank Gamakatsu, Owner or Mustad Ultra point worm hooks in lieu of 4/0 wide gap for 6” to 7 1/2” worms. Watch Glenn’s video on how to rig Texas weedless worms. Set hook firmer, bass have tough hard mouths. Tom

Watching Scoggins Spike-It paint technique will work to achieve what you want. Buy a pearl white curl worm and paint the back neon purple. Tomg

Under $100 you go wrong with David Fritz Lew’s 7’ MH Crankbait rod $90. To,

Owner Ultra Inshore jig is another excellent head for smaller swimbaits, white. Tom

Picasso Speed Drop jig. Any jig is only as good as the hook used to make it. Tom

I am sure DVL can build accustom rod from whatever blank meets your needs.it’s up to you to define what you need. My last custom jig and worm rods came by way if Lamiglas who used to make custom rods for me. Call Lamiglas to order a rod equal to the Loomis NRX but light overall weight (under 4 oz) with a similar fore grip in a 5 power fast action rod. Lamiglas suggested I contact Alex at ALX back in 2012 as he had Lamiglas rod blanks I was looking for. Alex built 3 rods for me that exceeded my expectations. Try talking to Alex, he still make custom rods. Tom

Back in the day when Iovino was guiding at El Salto he had Dave Nichols make a Tilapia color spinner bait. I called Dave and had him make a double holographic shod color Indiana bladed shad colored spinnerbaits. I can’t say the Nichols Company is the same today because haven’t ordered from them. I can say members who have are very satisfied with the quality. Tom

ALX Zolo Twitch is another choice ML+ take a look and call Alex. Tom

Don Iovino Major Craft 6’8” MF NAC-T681M/SI, 1/4-1/2 oz, 6-15 lb line. When I sold over 20 rods and reels in 2020-2021 era kept the Iovino Splash-It rod above because it is a good ultilty rod for everything the OP is looking for, plus Poppers and small crank baits. No longer available at TW, my guess is Iovino has few new rods in his garage. Tom

Higher end like over $12 each? Tom

Just a note the like Bill Murphy didn’t always anchor. Bill cast and retrieved lures including jigs, spinnerbaits, Crank baits soft plastics. Murphy did anchor to present slow moving presentations like stitching a worm or walking a nose hooked crawdad etc. Murphy often trolled home made swimbaits and various deep diving crank baits. I can’t remember Bill flipping but incorporated nearly every other presentation. Tom

Nearly every bass angler starts out as a minimalist using 1 or 2 lures. That is how I started using 1 lure a Hawaiian Wiggler #3 that caught bass for me where and how I fished walking the shore line. Then met another neighbor angler who caught bigger and more bass trolling a 300 series Bomber lure in frog color. My brother was catching bass on a Heddon Injured Minnow. My lure collection stared to grow. 50 years latter my lure collection was several hundred in dozens of colors. Lures I had to have that were catching bass that I didn’t have and had to buy. Yes you can catch bass on 1 or 2 lures as long as those are what the lures and colors bass want at that time. Tom

This March will be 30 years since catching my PB. Tom

Dean Rojas video Walking vs popping a frog. table Rock TW video Dean shows how to walk the frog. Tom

Ask Trey if you can exchange the rod he suggested if unsatisfied to heavier rod. Tom

Xpress H17 is another choice to consider in Lowes price range. Tom

7 1/2” Culprit ribbon tail is available in pearl white. You can use a violet purple Sharpie pen to color the back. Custom color ribbon tail worm require a injection mold to make the worm. Tom

Irod IRG794SB Gen 3 rod,7’ 9” Heavy Mod 2-6 oz lures. $150 Shimano Cardiff 300/301A reel* $150+$35 Sunline Diefer Armilo 25# line, 165 yard spool, fills the Cardiff reel. $21 You can pay a lot more but the performance is outstanding. Combo ready to fish $356 Tom *have ReelEx, Don Isaac tune the reel, upgrade the bearings, $35

The Daiwa TD lures posted are selling over $50 each in box! You might want to consider selling them and buying several of the deep divers recommended by BR members. Tom

Looks like Battery fumes and the batteries are not in a bracket tied down. Tell the dealer to replace the batteries with AGM’s, clean all the wire terminals and check the onboard charger. Lead acid battery compartment should be vented! Tom

The Hunter comes along. Most anglers Gary Loomis a master rod designer and builder, Kistler rods were designed by Gary. Alex at ALX is also a excellent rod designer and builder, plus USA mfr. I don’t know the site sponsor DVL but believe he uses off the shelf rod blanks, not a designer or blank builder, to make custom rods. when I say listen to the rod builder it’s directed to the experts like Loomis , Alex and highly regarded rod. Companies like Trey at Kistler or St Croix for that matter. Tom

Always listen to the rod builder, good advice. Tom

The staple gun was out of staples and then stapled again is my guess. It’s nearly impossible to remove a heavy staple without damaging the cardboard. Tom

Stay seated in the bow of a 1436 Jon boat. I used a tiller controlled TM in the bow of my 14’ Lund for decades in white capped local lakes. The 45 trust with tiller handle TM was mounted to a bracket I fabricated. Just lifted the TM and stowed it cross ways on the bow. It just takes a slight adjust to change direction and foot operated on/off switch to control the boat. A remote with spot lock would be preferred over a foot control do to the heavy stirring cable and TM mount taking up the entire front deck area. It’s you boat and choice at the end of the day. Tom