I go with the mental aspect, if i hook up large i just tell myself that i got this fish beat. Usually works. When i need to move it around a rock or something i usually just thumb the spool on my Abu. Also when using topwaters some times i will thumb the spool real quick on the set just to get a good set then let the drag do the trick. One thing ive noticed that throws off the fight on a large fish. If its gut hooked the fish seems to fight like dead weight, not too lively of a fight. It happened a few weeks ago in the canal, a 38" fish felt like a schoolie, i was sure it was under 24 inches and when i finally saw her i was shocked. Good knots, hooks and undamaged line is the biggest key.
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