The Power's In the Butt: Big Fish Lessons

Ray Sasser watches Dan Blanton and Rick Pope demonstrate the proper rod angle for pulling on big fish and finds that even a 90-pound kid can learn the angles. “‘The rod’s power lies in the rod butt, not the rod tip,’ coached Pope. ‘As the rod angle goes toward 90 degrees, the amount of pressure you’re exerting declines. You’re working just as hard when the rod is vertical, but the rod is not working for you and you’re bringing very little pressure to bear on the fish.’” On LJWorld.com.