Thanks, JTD,
That explains everything. All this time I thought moving from Maple Valley to Kingston would make me a bonafide OP fisherman instead of the dreaded Puget Sound angler (any relation to PSA is purely coincidental) I was always accused of being. But now I find that it was the way I hold my rod that ultimately made the difference.

Mr. Fling,
That rod in the crook of the arm thing was precisely what I was referring to as part of the "feel" thing those better (?) drifters I know would do in tandem with the aforementioned technique. But be warned this requires a much higher level of instruction and dedication to master. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!