Casting...
	Landing large fish...
	Tackle...
	Tension...

Your choice of casting method is important, especially if you want to fish a given depth or maintain a stealthy approach. Your tackle is important; the heavy ones have a tendency to sink quickly to the bottom of shallow waterways.

When you have a large fish hooked and you cannot reel it in, chase the fish with your trolling motor.

When joining a multiplayer game, the default tackle may not be correct for the circumstance and environment. There is a very good chance your opponents are handing out the wrong tackle and then will make a quick switch to the correct type once the game starts.

Even small fish can break free if you are using too much tension. Let the fish fight for awhile and keep your rod down. Then, slowly start bringing it in while keeping the rod low and allowing it to reel it back out when he makes another run.