I never slow when a fish hits, the drag from forward movement keeps the fish pinned on the hook as long as the person removing the board doesn't let the line snap back after the board is off. EX: person reeling in gets board 3 or 4 ft from rod tip and bring line close enough for someone to grab the board, person removing board grabs line and pulls a little more in to take pressure off rod side of line but leave the lure side taught to the fish, removes board, slowly lets line back to put pressure on rod again and then reeler can continue bringing fish to boat.