Big Surprise Today

We have a store chain up here in Wisconsin called Fleet Farm. It is a large chain store that is like a Tractor Supply, Menards/Home Depot, and Cabelas all in one. Today I went there to buy some new underwear and walked out with a brand new Leeland TCB rod, a Diawa Legalis 1000 reel (That is my 6th Legalis), and a spool of 2lb. test. I can't for the life of me figure out how that happened. Worse part is, I was 10 miles down the road when I realized I forgot to buy the underwear!

Anyway, I can live without the new underwear. I got home and checked the mail and sure enough, my package from Leeland arrived! Minus the underwear, things were going great! I put the new reel on the rod, spooled up with Trilene XL 2 lb, and took a few test cast. I love the rod, but it is taking me some getting use to with the amount of blank they have behind the reel. Seems quite long for a UL rod.

Out to the water to test it out. I rigged up 2 UL rods and 1 Light rod. I had on a Panfish Magnet (Bison), a Trout Magnet Spin, and an Eyehole Fin Spin with a Crappie Magnet body. It was an all Leeland night! The Panfish Magnet scored perch and smallmouth. The Trout Magnet Spin was one of the items that came in the mail and it scored perch. The EyeHole Fin Spin scored a couple of northern pike.

Now thanks to you guys, I am addicted to UL fishing. That 14" smallmouth on 2lb. test was a blast! My two UL rods had 2lb test on them and the light had 6lb. After tying so many knots with the 2 lb., the 4 and 6lb feel like cable!

Here are few pics!
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Those are some great ultralight fish !
I agree about the extra rod length in butt section of the TCB rod .

Awesome catches. That’s a great rod and almost everyone says that about the butt section.

Sounds like you have your priorities straight.

I love my TCB rods! Once my wife used it I had to buy another for myself. Great catches by the way.

On an U/L those are beauties! Nice catch.
Bob

That extra rod length is my biggest gripe with them as well. I really dislike repeated casting with it and will chose another rod for that style of fishing. Works fine trolling and pulling in a fish. Fun rod for that.

Some real nice ultra light fish there! I’ll bet the pike was a hoot. I’m a weak man when I get to Mudhole. Being around all those rod parts just fires me up and my last three builds have fueled the fire badly. I have guides, grips and reel seats and I shove my hands in my pockets and run for the door before I grab another blank. 32 combos already I’m just about rod poor. But I agree that you have your priorities in line and about the handle length. I simply love throwing a rooster tail with mine but I have to remember what I have in my hands or I’ll be putting lures deep in the woods.

that would be a fun day:ThumbsUp