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Fishing in Folsom Lake and my line passed ...

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Largemouth Bass

The largemouth is an exciting fish to catch. Its habits, however, are quite different from those of the smallmouth. These differences must be taken into consideration when fishing for largemouths.

Look for largemouths, not where you would expect to find smallmouths, but in shallow coves, in and around weed beds, under lily pads, etc. Largemouths can tolerate relatively high temperatures and probably prefer them. They are seldom found in freely flowing streams, nor are they likely to abound in lakes well suited for smallmouths. There are exceptions, however, and certain lakes do afford significant fishing for both species.

Largemouths are so named for good reason, and their appetite reflects the size of their jaws. Maximum Panther Martin^® appeal begins with No. 9 and continues through No. 15. The Panther Martin^® Minnow, in 1-oz. and 3/8 oz. weight, is an excellent largemouth lure. Most largemouth fishing is done in relatively shallow water, but it is wise to let lures sink as deeply as practical when fishing over sunken weeds, underwater brush piles, etc. Retrieve slowly, but twitch the rod to make the lure set up a maximum amount of disturbance. Largemouths will often "study" a lure throughout several retrieves, then finally come on to hit it with the rush of an enraged bull. Honor this trait by fishing especially thoroughly, putting as much "tease" into each retrieve as you can contrive.

Largemouths are capable of giving a good account of themselves, but their fighting qualities are invariably augmented by the weedy cover in which they are found. It is therefore wise to use extra rugged line (12-lb. test minimum ) wherever lunker largemouths are the goal. This will prevent breakage when a big bull of a bass dives into heavy weeds and no choice remains but to snake him out against the grain of the growth. Because of the dense cover you can also use Weedless Vivifs, Weedwings and Superior Frogs.