The culprit Ribbon Tails have been pretty much my go to worm since I first learned how to catch bass in NY when I was 7-8. 35 years later, they have still been in my bag, or rigged on a rod at all times. I switched to the power worm for a few years when they first came out, but I truly believe they make the best ribbon tails. The colors you mentioned Red Shad and Tequila Shad are still my 2 favorite colors. Culprit has colors and laminates that have a different look, more shine, different tones of purple, red, and all the new colors are great as well. If you fish clear water, the Pumpkinseed translucent culprit worm is dynamite. Pumpkinseed has fallen out of favor since Green Pumpkin, but I use them whenever I find clear water and they are awesome, especially in the Spring....I throw them weightless, light weight, shaky rigs, and I use the 6" for light line, they no longer make the 4" so I just bite a piece off. The 7.5" weightless casts plenty well on a baitcaster, and that is my favorite size all year long.
They also make a few other really good baits that are actually quite popular at least in Florida....The Fat Max Ribbon Tail is great for pitching and swimming over cover....and the Incredicraw is a great alternative to the BB Cricket and brush hog style creatures for punching....There is a reason that Walmart only has a limited tackle selection, and they carry a good stock of culprit worms, and they don't advertise....Dicks has them, BPS has almost an entire row of just culprits...So they clearly still sell plenty.....
Get some for sure, Your Father fished them all the time for a reason. There were plenty of competitors back then as well. In the summer when fish have seen every worm, they will often catch fish behind other people.....I think weightless or light weight like you mentioned is the way to go as they have a flat bottom and gliding action and tail is different than other ribbon tails. The worm looks super natural in the water.
And the Sluggo, Still one of my top soft baits, For stripers in saltwater when I go up north, and they seem to get bigger bites than a fluke.....The 4" are awesome little pond baits.
I picked up a whopper plopper because of this site as well. I ended up getting the big one, in black figuring I would throw it at night. Its kind of heavy to throw on a most of my rods, so since I am limited to only 3-4 rods, I almost never use it. I almost purchased the Berkley Model at BPS the other day....I imagine the Berkley version is plenty good, I was impressed with how good all their new lures look, and the price....I had to buy the double prop bait since it had plastic propellers which is different, and come with really good hooks where the Devils horse and Boy howdy often have lighter hooks that are an issue as I use it on heavier line....
I notice you like all the Berkley hardbaits. I picked up a few of the deep cranks after reading your posts...So you have caused me to buy a few crankbaits....