Recommend my next fishing rod

[Shadowx]

After many years I have recently rediscovered bass fishing as a hobby. Most of my fishing in my youth was done with more or less steady retrieve lures- Rapala minnows, jitterbugs, inline spinners, shallow crank baits etc. I was never able to land anything on a plastic worm or rubber frog, so now that I'm fishing for bass again, that's what I'm trying to get good at.
     The rods I have are:

A two piece  7'6" medium action Star Stellar spinning rod rated for 10-20lb line 1/2-1 1/2 oz lures with a Diawa BG 3000 reel and 20lb powerpro braid.

Dobyns Sierra 735c Rod with a Tatula 100 BC reel and 50lb suffix 832 braid 

A cheap 6' Medium spinning combo
A cheap 5' light spinning combo

 

So hopefully the Sierra will be a decent frog set up, now I'm looking for a Texas rig set up. I've been trying to throw 7" Power Worms and 9" Jelly worms either weightless or with a 1/16-1/4 oz weight.
I've landed two decent (for me) bass on the Star Stellar, and one on the Sierra with t-rigged worms, which I have never been able to do before. The issue I ran into tonight was I hooked up with a good bass on the Star Stellar, he ran into the pads and got stuck. By the time I got to him he had gotten off. So I switched the worm to the Sierra, but even though it's a rod that's twice as expensive, I couldn't really feel the 1/16th  oz weight with the 9" Jelly worm, so I feel like it's much less sensitive. 

My question is, is the Sierra just not a sensitive rod? Is my issue the 50lb braid Vs the 20lb?  Would I have better sensitivity with the Sierra fishing with heavier weight?

Basically, can I do anything to make the Sierra more sensitive, or do I need a different rod for Texas rigging worms?  If you think I need a new rod, can you recommend the best most sensitive rod for my application under $200?

I had hoped I could do frogs and larger t-rigs in heavy cover on the Sierra, and buy a really sensitive medium spinning rod for light texas rigs and drop shotting, but now I feel like I may have chose the wrong rod. Sorry for the book, but sometimes people asking for help seem much too vague. Thank you for the help.

Here's the first fish I caught on a t-rig worm, 18.5" 

[Manifestgtr]

I’m not a Dobyns guy. I’ve never owned one or, indeed, held one…but I do know that the Sierra line is very nice and very highly regarded. In order to noticeably step up the sensitivity from there, you’re spending quite a bit more, typically $400+ 
 

This is probably not what you want to hear but honestly, you miiiight wanna consider just getting some time in on the Sierra and learning how it feels in every situation. You’re already doing better than 99% of the rods on the market…and unless you wanna swing for the fences and spend $400+ dollars on the nicest Dobyns/Loomis/SC, it’ll mostly be splitting hairs. Skill and experience trumps gear ten times out of ten. 
 

All of that being said, the one rod line I can think of in that $200 range is the Shimano Expride series. They’re just as highly regarded as the Sierra line is and they’re known for being highly sensitive given the price point. 

[Functional]

I have a Sierra 704c micro and its a fantastic spinnerbait rod but I dont find the sierra sensitive. I have a spinning rod Fury and find it similar.

 

I'd look at the Diawa Tatula cork handle version or an ARK tharp. I even enjoy my old St. Croix mojo bass SCII in terms of sensitivity than the Dobyns....so maybe look at St. Croix as well. 

[Cbump]

Your Sierra is a great Texas rig rod but not for 1/16th weight. 3/8 to 1/2 or heavier is what you need on It. 

Get a Falcon lowrider weightless worm rod for light stuff. 

[Shadowx]

58 minutes ago, Cbump said:

Your Sierra is a great Texas rig rod but not for 1/16th weight. 3/8 to 1/2 or heavier is what you need on It. 

Get a Falcon lowrider weightless worm rod for light stuff. 

 

I know the 735c is made for casting heavier lures. If I put a 3/8 oz weight in front of the worm will this give me better bite detection? I figured that would be too much weight for ~4ft of water so didn't go that heavy. 

[Cbump]

36 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

 

I know the 735c is made for casting heavier lures. If I put a 3/8 oz weight in front of the worm will this give me better bite detection? I figured that would be too much weight for ~4ft of water so didn't go that heavy. 

That’s what I would do. You need to be able to feel bottom. 4’ is fine. 

[Shadowx]

1 hour ago, Cbump said:

That’s what I would do. You need to be able to feel bottom. 4’ is fine. 

Will the heavier weight let me keep less bow in the line affording better bite detection? I'm just trying to visualize how this works. Also, would 30lb braid be more sensitive than the 50lb? Thank you. 

[Cbump]

21 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

Will the heavier weight let me keep less bow in the line affording better bite detection? I'm just trying to visualize how this works. Also, would 30lb braid be more sensitive than the 50lb? Thank you. 

Yes, you’ll have less bow in the line. That rod is a beast. Need the weight. 
I can’t answer the Braid question. I either use 20lb fluoro or 50-65lb braid on my similar setups. Bites are easy to detect with either. 
 

If you want to throw light t-rigs get the weightless worm or all round fast. Falcon Lowrider. $129. 
 

Or buy my combo I’m selling because I have too many:

Daiwa Fuego CT 7.3, Falcon Lowrider “All ‘Round Fast” 7’ MHF, 15lb fc. $160 shipped. 

[Shadowx]

31 minutes ago, Cbump said:

Yes, you’ll have less bow in the line. That rod is a beast. Need the weight. 
I can’t answer the Braid question. I either use 20lb fluoro or 50-65lb braid on my similar setups. Bites are easy to detect with either. 
 

If you want to throw light t-rigs get the weightless worm or all round fast. Falcon Lowrider. $129. 
 

Or buy my combo I’m selling because I have too many:

Daiwa Fuego CT 7.3, Falcon Lowrider “All ‘Round Fast” 7’ MHF, 15lb fc. $160 shipped. 

Thank you very much for the advice and the offer. I will consider it.

[BrianMDTX]

My Falcon Lowrider All ‘Round Fast is my primary Texas rig rod. For use in shallow ponds (no deeper than 8’), I normally use a 3/16 to 1/4 oz weight. It’s a great rod for that application. 
 

I don’t use braid for that. I spool 10 lb. Big Game on my Daiwa Fuego for Texas rigs. 

[casts_by_fly]

The lowrider all round fast would be a good choice for what you want.  The head turner model would also be a good choice.  I have the head turner in the expert and bucoo SR for jigs, bladed baits, and light texas rigs like you're talking about.

[Koz]

I have one Dobyn’s rod and it’s decent. But in the past year I have been buying Shimano Expride rods and I can’t say enough good things about then.