•The harder you fight, the harder the fish fights. Once you pull the fish from the cover, let up and let the bass tire out before bringing the fish to the boat.
•If a bass swims under your boat, extend your arms as far as they will go with rod in hand. Maintain the pressure and you can usually draw the fish out into the open again. Avoid hitting the trolling motor start button while the bass is under the boat, you can cut your line.
•Don't fight or pull the fish in the direction opposite to which it is heading. Turn the fish by guiding its head.
•Don't get tensioned at any moment Use the tools in your hand: your rod, reel, line and brain. Horsing a big fish to the boat usually means losing it.
•Don’t pull a bass out that is buried in weeds or other heavy cover. It's wiser to move toward the bass with the boat.
•Long rods are of great advantage when playing a big fish. They provide more shock-absorbing power, move more line when setting the hook and give you more control over the bass.
•Even a professional fisherman loses fishes while fishing. Learn from your mistakes, but don't let them spoil your fishing trip.
•When you land the bass, do not grab the line, especially on a big fish. I have lost a 6 pound largemouth and a 4 pound smallmouth in the last year, because I did not have the patience to wait until the time was right to lip the bass. It is a hard habit to break, but it is worth the effort.
•When you are fishing early in the morning, try to use a Yellow Sally on the weed beds and work it fast. I have found this produces a lot of strikes and usually bigger fish.