snip Before I could turn back, a
fish almost jerked the rod out of my hand. Of course I missed it.

Isn't that always the case? I have too many times been fishing fast and got
a backlash only to pick it out in time to reel in a fish, or take a drink of
water and have a fish hit. I fished a lake here and was having no luck. I
cast out a rubber worm and laid the rod down for a sec, well it shot off
into the water like a rocket, I was able to grab it but there was nobody
home. Who says fish are dumb????????????????????