Sounds like your dad and I have a similar problem. I periodically like to toss my rod over the side as well.
A few years back I was sturgeon fishing with a buddy of mine on the columbia below bonneville when I started getting bit. I slowly got the rod out of the rod holder and fed the fish, just about to set when it gave up. I leaned back in my seat and started to relax a little when "WHAM", strong bite with my steelhead reflex in full gear and my grip nearly nonexistant.
Out and down go the rod and I'm looking at that murky river thinking about the $300 I just tossed over the side.
My buddy starts chuckling and I grab his fishing rod and bounce it slowly back to the boat and catch my line and get my rod back.
Life is good again.

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