How do I fight a smallmouth — bow to the jump?

Expect three signature moves and have an answer for each. Long runs: let the drag work, set it firm but not locked. Repeated full-clearance jumps: yes, give a controlled bow — drop the rod tip toward the fish for the instant it is airborne so the headshake works against slack-ish line instead of a tight fulcrum, then recover tension immediately on re-entry (with thin-wire finesse hooks this is where fish are lost). The boat-side surge: the dive under the hull is nearly guaranteed, so keep the rod tip in the water and be ready to sweep it around the bow or motor. Net the first honest chance; a "tired" smallmouth usually has two more runs in it.

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