Just got back from a 2-day business trip to North Texas, and wow, what an unexpected fishing experience! When I booked the trip, I noticed there were a couple of public ponds within walking distance of my hotel and a few others just a short Uber ride away. Being from SoCal, where fishing spots aren't exactly this accessible, I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity.
Here’s the thing—I didn’t own a travel setup and didn’t feel like dropping serious cash just to make this happen. So, I took a gamble and picked up a $12 telescoping rod from Temu. For the reel, I used an old Ugly Stik 2500 series spooled with mono that I had lying around—originally meant for my kids, but never something I’d actually use myself. Tackle-wise, I brought only what I could fit in a 350-size box and tossed in a bag of mixed soft plastics.
The result? Some of the best fishing I’ve ever had. No joke. In just a few hours, I landed over a dozen solid-sized bass. I started out with a weightless fluke, and as the evening rolled in, I switched to topwater. Both were getting absolutely hammered.
The whole experience was humbling. I’m usually the guy chasing after "nice" gear, always thinking it’ll make the difference. But this trip showed me something: the experience isn’t always about having the most expensive setup. Not saying I’m about to sell off my nicer gear, but this was definitely a reality check and a reminder that sometimes, less really is more sometimes.
Posted by Upstairs-Lion8100