Keeping them is the same bag they came in is a good idea. At Bass Pro, you can get small 2 ring binders that are sized just right to hold several of those bags. It has a velcro tab to hold it closed. All ya gotta do is punch a couple of holes in each bag to line up with the rings.

Was there about 4-5 years ago for 3 plus weeks during January/Febr. Lake level was way up, but fishing was good.

Talk to the locals at the bait shop or marina, you can get some good advice on the better spots. I highly recommend a nice GPS unit on board. The marshy areas grow up to around 7 to 8 foot or more high. Many trails down and thru those marshes and once you are way inside some of that, you will no clue as to direction. With GPS, you can tell exactly where you are.

Don't recall suggesting you live under a rock, merely brought up the existing conditions nation wide that are causing most all businesses to not have the level of service that most expected. For sure I have political views, but didn't think that was part of the discussion either.
Makes no difference to me if you never shop at BP or Cabelas again cause you don't like their services and lack of catalog sales info.
By the way, I've also learned a few things in my life too and at 79, maybe more than you have.

As now being part of Bass Pro Shops, whether it says BP or Cabelas, it is the same company now.

Used to work at Bass Pro in Myrtle Beach in the fishing dept. In years past, there has always been a sale or two during the year where you could bring in an old reel (most any type and condition) and get some $$ off on a new reel.
In fact, some folks would come in and buy the cheapest new reel in the store and then turn around and submit it as their swap for a new reel of their choice and (still be ahead money wise on the deal).

Lived in Raleigh for 20 yrs and now down at coast.

Raleigh has two major lakes with plenty of bass and crappie too. Falls lake on North side of town and Jordan Lake on south west side. Both lakes recently on TV shows showing big bass tournament days.

I don't like Pepsi, been a Coke drinker for over 75 years now. Assuming I had my first one at age 4 or 5. My Dad worked at the local Coke Bottling Plant for some 30 plus years.

As a summer job, I also worked in the Bottling room myself for a couple of summers. Those were back in the days of returnable bottles that got used again and again. You could look at the bottom of the bottle and find where they originated and could be from most anywhere around the country.

The higher ratio takes in more line per one rotation of the handle. So higher ratio is better for spinner baits and or buzz baits on the surface. On the other hand, lower ratios would normally be better for crank baits with large bills that run deep as they would crank in easier and slower.

I'm astounded that you are in Texas and are using the term "pond" While most all of us from other states clearly use that term, my experience from many many years ago is that Texans when it comes to farm ponds especially that are used by cows/horsed, they call it a "tank".

I'd consider using a bottom bouncer. There is a short length of wire hanging below the weight and the lure rides behind via a short leader line. This would be much more "snag" free in rocks. Going with a Texas hooked rig and using Z Man (elastic) plastic might not work too well. Their plastic is very stretchy and getting a hook point back thru it is not gonna work as well as most other plastic lures might.
Or consider using a lighter jig head. In rocks, you are not likely getting shagged via the hook point but the lead head itself falls between rocks and hangs up.

If you are fishing in a boat, be sure to stand up so you can keep the rod tip pointed downward. Same deal if bank fishing. A raised rod tip will promote more jumping which enables more head shaking and unbuttoning.

Low rod tip helps keep the fish down below the surface.

You are correct that it doesn't take much wind to move it around. Of course as mentioned, you do want to have the gas motor down to help out.

I've got an older model of the same boat. I made a bracket for the transom that enables me to (manually) insert a long pole (about 11 or 12 feet as I recall without going to garage to look). That works just as a "power pole" but you have to be in about less than 4' or so to have it work.

I also have a similar pole mounted to my trolling motor that does a (power pole) thing for the front. But same deal, you have to be in fairly shallow water and wanting to remain in one spot for a while.

Bass Pro shop has small bags that have two (notebook like) rings in them. You punch two small holes along the bottom edge of the original worm/bait bags that line up with those two rings.

Each B.P. bag will hold 8-12 worm bags like a notebook. You just open it up and fan thru the bags till you get to the one you want and then unzip the bag top.

You have a great bass lake nearby...............Jordan Lake. Check it out.

"When I was a kid we always used a minnow seine to catch minnows in creeks and stock tanks. Have you considered that? Just Sayin...RJS"

Yup, Been there, done that. If my cousin was still living, he'd be quick to tell ya that it ain't fun when you get a big minnow seine full of nice shiners but you also got a big water moccasin in that seine also and Uncle says......Don't you drop that seine boy.......hold your end to the side and let him crawl on out.

As a kid in Mississippi, visiting my Uncle and other relatives, I saw one that was maybe 35-40 pounds and nearly the length of this guys pickup bed. They have some TEETH.

You surely wouldn't wanna be swimming around with one anywhere close to the size your friend caught. They can tear up some tackle.