Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2017 - 21
properly. My line and lure lobbed back into a bush as he
splashed away.
Lesson 4-Keep hooked bass
on the surface and away from
obstacles or obstructions.
Only after having the bass take my lure to the bottom
and wrap the line around brush on the fourth night was
the next lesson fully understood. After a few casts and
the initial thrill of hooking the bass solidly, I didn't give
attention to the impending doom of branches and logs
beneath the water. The bass tangled the line around a
log, unhooked itself and vanished. The wise fish had
previously performed this sort of Houdini act. This lure
wasn't coming back as it was snagged down deep.
When casting, it's better to be in the water than in the branches.
Lesson 3-Check your line for kinks
or frays before casting, and set your
drag to appropriate levels.
On the third evening, I thought it was the night to
finally land this fish. Once again, the strength of this bass
proved otherwise. After chomping on a floating stickbait,
it stripped the line out of the guides like a marlin on a
run. I fumbled for my drag setting, but it was too swift. I
didn't set the drag right, resulting in the hook not setting
Lesson 5-Make the perfect cast at
the right time and right spot.
On the fifth night, I had my rod ready, drag set and
knots tight. Tonight, if I had another opportunity, I
wasn't going to miss. Everything was set for the big
catch. After scanning for the bass with a few errant casts,
I spotted its silhouette as it slowly tailed off into the
depths. The casts forewarned it, and I kicked myself as I
experienced the last lesson.
Fortunately, the story doesn't end here. Later that
evening, the magnificent fish was still willing. Using all
that I observed and ascertained during the week, I finally
landed the massive
23-inch Largemouth
Bass fishing a lure on
the surface.
The excitement of
the catch included
a quick picture.
Observing its massive
jaw and remarkable
camouflage, I held the
formidable lunker in
the water to regain
its strength. Would
it teach these fishing
lessons to others?
Keep hooked bass on the
surface and away from
obstacles or obstructions.
www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2017
21
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