Butch, one of my coworkers back when I was working, trolled Monticello for catfish. I went to Lake Erie with him on a Smallmouth Bass trip and we mostly trolled up there. He catches some really big cats here trolling Buck Perry Spoonplugs. I did not know they still made them, but he told me he took a seminar at their HQs on the art of trolling spoonplugs. What made me think of this is your success at knowing what depth your jigs are running. Same thing with him with the plugs and the catfish. He looks for certain patterns and structures and runs his plugs at the depth he thinks he needs.
I have not talked with him in a while, but next time I see him I will ask how he is doing with that technique today.
Congrats on the catch, would like to have seen what was on the other line.
Ray