I had a similar senario. Hot, 95 plus, spring fed lake in Mid ME for largemouth. Rowing a 12 ft dingy, decided to troll back from being wind driven about a mile from camp, threw a broken back back rapala, 6lb test, pole at my feet. Suddenly pole snapped against the back seat and I just grabbed it, was in 10 feet of water, maybe 15. Fought for 25 mins, finally got about a 12 lb brown to the side, no net, lost him when i tried to lift em over the gunnel. Great fun!