I always wondered..I know I hooked at least a dozen but always did something wrong...most of the time the drag was not set properly..

A.She will make about 4 good runs...

B. She is simply a glorified 5 pounder..except the first take off..is like arm wrestling Arnold Schwarzinegger..this is where perfect drag must be set..to keep the hook from straightening out or in open water..mono from snapping in a split second..it's been my experience if you are going to lose her..it's within the first one second..it,s tap run smack..that fast..

C.If your drag is set right...your rod is sorely tried..tip is probably close to the water and your heart is racing..you have the advantage here..she has just used her max on you and it did'nt work..now she must try and out smart you..this bass is about 9 years old and is a survivor..

D.You must keep your wits.Do not horse her in..you are winning the battle and you have no idea on the hook positon.you must keep a tight line..but do not horse her..she's coming in..

E. now..she' like a fresh 6 pounder..she is trying to live..watch for the jump and try to not let her jump..if the hook is not tight she is gone..

F.after 4 runs..she is about 3 feet from the surface,,watch that trolling motor...be prepared for the last under the boat run..she 's now a healthy 3 pounder..be careful and keep the rod tight..any slackness is a lost dream fish..

G net is in the hand ..don't be over anxious and smack the fish..it happens...fish in net..yes..thank you Lord (-;

nice post

While I can not say exactly what a 10 lb plus bass feels like I did have one break my line around 2 years ago while perch fishing. The drag was set heavey and I was fishing from the shore line. One big run and it broke my 12 lb. test mono like nothing to it at all.. Another guy coming in by boay picked my bobber up for me.. LOL

Also had some really large lakers on before that ended up straightening out my hook and in one case breaking 40 lb mono almost like it was thread off a jig stick. That one took me a good 5 minutes just to get it started off bottom.

Other than that Atlantic Salmon and what a blast they are on a fly rod. When those big brutes come sailing out of the water be prepared to drop the tip of your flyrod down in a hury. Just the wieght of them falling back into the water will either cause your fly to come out or an instant line break. They feel more like a cement block on the end of your fly rod untilthey come to life all of a sudden.. That teaches a lot about playing a fish out.. The last 2 I have ever caught was in fast water in which one wieghed in at just over 9lbs. and the other was a little over 12 lbs. Both were caught and released on the same day.

sounds like fun indeed (-;