Great read Ralph,
Some of the farm ponds we have access to around here are quite similar in that most fish are 3wt fun. Not having pickerel around, the occasional big fish is generally a large bass, which will grab a fish the size shown and scale the whole thing. Of the several ponds like this, we have yet to land one of the bigger fish, as the "bait" always pulls out when pressure is seriously applied....even after the whole fly line is surrendered for "swallow time".
Precious ponds indeed!
.....lee s.