I use braid tied to a 8 LB mono leader for trolling in are stocked lakes and I see lots of guys using 14 lb to 20 lb braid for there trolling rigs and the trout do not seam to care as they are dumb hatchery raise fish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0aMto_cTQI

Generally I like to suspend the bait about 14-inches or so off the bottom and the drop shot rig makes it easy. Simply tie the hook on leaving at least a foot and a half from the tag end. Use a Palomar knot. You always want the point of the hook up so it will stick the fish better and won't get hung up as much. To make sure it's up run the tag line back through the top of the eye of the hook. Drop shot weights are available everywhere now. I only use 3/16-ounce tungsten most of the time. If the water is deeper than thirty-feet I'll use a 3/8-ounce just because I get tired of waiting for it to sink. These drop shot weights just clip to the line. Run the line's tag end through the eye of the weight and wedge it in place at whatever depth you want. The only thing that you might want to do different is to use reel bait like a live worm with air in it just to give it a bit of lift and I bet it will work good.

Have always had good luck with drop shot on bass never tried it on trout.

I think you just solved your own problem! Shakespeare owns Pflueger and there Quality will be a bit better but any combo under $24.00 might be hard to find and a garage sale might just be a better way to go.

Very carefully my lips are closed.

Get a family size outdoor cooler and put all your gear in it and everything will be fine. The plastic lures and all your rubber worms will stay cool and clean all year long in both summer and winter.

I love this stuff for cleaning my boat.

If you reel with your left hand you will want a left handed reel because the handle is on the left side and I find that as a right handed fishermen myself this make it much easier to do both cast and fish.

WD-40 was not made to be a fish attractant it was first made for NASA to dissolve rust not for fish.

For a lefty that cast with his left hand and reels with the right hand I right handed reel is the way to go as it lets you cast with your natural left handed arm and reel with your right hand and watch the link below on how to do a roll cast. I am right handed and all my reels are what what most call a left handed reel but a left handed reel works best for me and a right handed reel sounds best for you and watch the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IX8zoSLrCE

Always

Learn how to correctly bleed your catch to keep them fresh and then keep them on ice.

I have bought lots of fishing reels on AliExpress and everything was good you just need to buy good stuff and not just a cheap deals like some reels made in China can be cheap but some can be junk so just buy smart.

Falcon BuCoo SR Casting Rod $109.99

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/falcon-bucoo-sr-casting-rod

FXB graphite blank
Cross-directional carbon fiber
Cobra cloth reinforcement
Fuji guides and reel seat
EVA split-grip handle

Pair it up with the Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Reel only $39.99 0n Amazon
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Duckett Fishing Silverado Casting Rod 6‘8“ M/H fast action 10/17lb $99.99

This rod is the most sensitive and lightest weight rod I have ever found anywhere near its price range. So far I've been extremely happy with it. If I can get a few seasons out of it, it's definitely worth it to me, since the quality of rod is so much higher than most other rods in the 100 dollar range but it does have steal guides.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/duckett-fishing-silverado-casting-rod at only $99.99

Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Reel it is a great reel and it has never failed me going on 2 years and it feel as good as my Shimano reels very smooth casting reel.

only $39.99 on Amazon and free shipping

Total for both $139.99

I have 2 boats a 17 foot Nitro bass boat and a 24 foot Apollo that I use for Salmon in the deep blue water.