Mike,
Could not agree with you more about the deep hooking. One of the little guys I belly hooked the other night was the result of such a run. I was talking to the army core lady as she drove by in the truck while the damned fish was running from left to right. I was afraid to pull it in because I new it was small and with all the complaints about little fish figured it might be better to wait until she drove off. When I did bring it in, it was hooked deep.
As far as the sand spikes, I caught my two biggest fish this year, 39-40" on the spare rod wedged between rocks. I kept the drag tight figuring if the fish was big enough it would not matter so long as the rod was secure. Both fish set themselves and aside of a few little ones this year, I missed very few on the extra rod. In fact proportionately, I did much better on the rod NOT in my hands.
I agree with you about the sand spikes. The guys that sit in the chairs at the top of the canal should be fishing on the beach! This excludes the guys on bikes who give an occassional cast here and there and are just hunting for fish.
The canal is a rough, rugged place to fish, I don't believe in the sand spike approach there.