For me, fishing a Texas rigged worm was always about the dropping worm. Once it hit bottom it didn't stay long. I'd give it a hop and reel it in and chunk again. The bite was always on the falling worm and you can feel it. TAP TAP. Don't think, both hands straight up over your head and break his neck.

On jigs, you're on your own. That's next for me.

You can buy very good used rods off this site or bbc. $150 will buy a very good rod

I switched to 1/16 oz weights and won't ever go back to anything over 1/8th... Better action on the worm and slides through cover better. Fluorocarbon line is also the only way to fly.

Peg your weight. Your worm is seperraiting from your weight, and is hanging up on the grass. Bobber stoppers work great.

I will have to agree with yakaddict on this one. I fish my jig on a h2o express 7'3 heavy and works great. Paired with 100% florocarbon line.

You buy it at Academy?

Use the Berkley Lightning rod for crank baits and topwaters with big game mono

The All Star Classic 7' Heavy casting rod is on sale at Academy right now for $29.99 (online price with free shipping)
I'd use this rod for jigs/trig and grass. Start with hi viz braid and tungsten--you'll get the most visual and tactile feedback with the high viz braid and tungsten. You'll be able to see what your line is doing and feel what the lure is doing at the same time. With experience, you'll get better and better at detecting when a fish holds/grabs/swims with/bites the lure. Use a fluoro or Pline CXX leader if you have more confidence with a less visible leader.

Those H2o rods are supper solid for the money

yes sir i did