Thanks everyone.  I am going to get him to pick some of these suggestions up and let you know how it works out!

Jeff

Your retrieve does not have to be textbook perfect to get bit!

I fish Chug Bug, Hula Popper, Pop-R, Baby Torpedo, & Devil Horse by simply giving it a jerk, jerk, jerk, pause, & repeat!

Another steady retrieve lure is a Stanley Ribbit, fish it super slow

Don't know if you've tried this one or not, but it's the easiest walking/popper I've every used:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r251/Crestliner_photos/PopNImageJr_zpsb5982451.jpg

I believe Heddon puts it out under the Bill Dance line-up. Called the "Pop n' Image, Jr.". It's a crackerjack!

 

 

The new Molix Beetle looks like it could kind of do what you're looking for. Have you tried adding a split ring on the fluke as well? That makes it even easier to walk one, might be worth trying before investing in all these other baits.