Acosta did dead stick with two rods and was good at it. What I really learned was the correct speed of a lure for that given day is the key. Dead sticking, strolling, and ripping it are just adjustments in presentation.
Fish are coldblooded therefore they are the same temperature as the water around them. There metabolism, thinking, and basically everything is slower when the water is cold.
First time I ever witnessed thumping was an old man on Lake Whitney slapping the side of his boat while slabbing.