For me, the most important thing about hooking bass on the Osprey is getting them under control and dictating the battle. If you set up on the fish, but then hesitate, the bass can surge to the surface and do a fatal head shake. I usually crankset the Osprey like a crankbait, and let the rod load up to the fish. Then I wind like crazy while keeping the rod tip low to the water. You can literally water ski a big bass to the boat like this.(20lb. test at least) If you don't give the fish slack, and just keep reeling, you will land a high percentage of your strikes.