OK folks, here's an admittedly newbie question.

There are times on my local river, The Bear, and also up on the Yuba when I've had strikes that are lightening fast. The fly is just floating there when BAM! it vanishes in a splash.

I think I'm missing them by not setting the hook fast enough. But I've also heard that you need to wait a split second and then set the hook. I've even heard that you should say "thank you" and then set.

First of all, do you think it's better to hit immediately or to set after a split second of pause?

Secondly, How the heck do you have the patience to wait for that split second? When that BAM happens I jump. It's going to take real practice not to hit it so quickly.