Switched to a Kuying Teton TTS622SUL (.8-3 g lure rating), Stradic Ci4+ 1000 reel with a 7X Trout Magnet Phantom flouro tippet leader and 4# Seaguar Yellow Hunter flouro main line. The lure was a Trout Magnet in Bison [correction: bulldog] color on a 1/64 oz sickle hook jig head (also caught one on a small 2.3 g minnow). My expectation was that I'd get loads of sunfish. Reality was that the largemouth were the ones most interested in the TMs, allowing me to bring over a dozen to hand. I assume they mistook them for fry. Got about 4 or 5 pumpkinseeds.
The SUL rod let me cast the Trout Magnets with ease and then twitch them back in the shallow water. Had I planned on bass, I would probably have upped the leader size but in the end I didn't have a single break off. The rod did a great job at protecting the tippet. Just had to remind myself to let the drag do it's job and not rush. When the bass run for the weeds, let them. Even w. very light drag they don't go far.
I really like the medium action on this rod. In general I'm more comfortable with flexible rods. I generally lose fewer fish with them, since it's easier to keep a bend in the rod and I often crush the barbs on hooks.
In the end, I couldn't have been happier with each piece of gear and the experience as a whole.
)
