During the past dozen years or so, I've primarily used the fly rod fishing ponds, from 0wt to 9wt. I hung the 0wt up because I couldn't learn to cast "dental floss." I use a 2wt and/or 4wt for general pond fishing when I'm just wanting to catch some fish. When pursuing largemouth a 7wt or 8wt is generally in hand. On occasion when I need to get in the heavy stuff with the potential of tangling with something substantial, I break out the old Sage Bass for "chucking and ducking."
One fine, fall day in the Low Country of SC, I caught six species in one pond with my 2wts. A Sage XP 286, six pound tippet and size 10 bead head Mohair leech pattern and/or a T&T HS 802. The Sage sports a newer model Lamson and the T&T an old Lamson LP 1. Most of the fish that day were on the T&T.
Since 1990, I've been fishing that pond once or twice a year. I normally catch largemouth, bluegill and black crappie. Sometimes I get a grass carp, red ear or chain pickerel. The planets had to be aligned that one, special day six species were tallied. Its days like that you live for.
My version of Mike's Mohair leech. I used white, black and olive during the day.
Bass - estimated 3 pounds +/-
Grass carp - estimated 7 pounds +/-
You can see the #10 leech hung in it's snout.
Chain pickerel
Bluegill - 10"
Black crappie
Red ear sunfish