On a serious note, more guys have dropped DD's than landed them, me included. Aside from their obvious ability to throw a big piece of lead with their over-sized mouths and crazy headshakes, you've seen them swim backwards on the surface and go ballistic when they see the boat. Their tactics, as you mentioned, change in that last 5-10 foot of water column. Have you ever watched the John Skinner videos? He catches more than his fare share of large fluke and you'll notice his retrieve is always very smooth and deliberate. Seems like he accelerates a bit when he gets near the surface but he only uses the reel and not the rod. Rod stays motionless. It agitates big fluke and usually results in head shakes, the fish turning and peeling drag and lost fish. Slow and smooth retrieve and when you get near the surface try reeling a bit faster before the doormat has a chance to turn and dive. Doesn't hurt to have your rod tip high as well so when she runs you have a buffer before the drag kicks in but hopefully you have the big girl in the net before that happens.