That is a great story. Every scene and detail is being played out in my mind.
I can see the line moving and the fish jumping

Im normally catching mine while im texting or running my mouth and not paying attention.

Happened to me Friday morning...Buddy got hung up on a dock and while i was running the trolling motor and keeping the boat from slamming into the dock my line was in the water. Once he got free and I pushed the boat off of the dock I lifted my rod and it bowed over with a 4 lber.

I used to find a fish on my line when I put down the pole to light up a smoke. I don't smoke anymore so I don't catch them that way anymore.

Even tho i m Fishing a completely Different lake. the Fish seem more interested in my Jig the less i move, i Throw it out there and let it sink. i Don't Hop it, or drag it, i just Give it just little a shake. let it sit, then another shake, then normally they will smack it!

To heck with that. Keep the slow, I will stick to burning my reels up.

I learned to do slow with a Rogue like this early in my fishing career trying to throw it on a rod that was way to stiff for a lure that light. End result was regular bird nest which allowed the lure to just sit for minutes at a time. I'd hear a splash and look up and it would be gone or I'd start to reel up the slack and there would be a fish at the other end.........