I am new to plugging and would like some pointers for larger rivers with nondescript holes. I believe the basic technique is to slowly back down holes working side to side all the way down to the tailout.
I think that classic plug water is 7-10 ft hole with a defined tailout and softer water at the head.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Thumper any hot tips for plugging the Lewis?

Do you change size of plug or bill to work the deeper holes, or do you use a diver or lead?

I find myself at a loss with plugs mainly because I have yet to get a steelie in the river with one.

I defer to Stlhdr1 on this one. he has forgotten more about the NF than I will ever know.

I'd suggest that you reverse your thinking a little bit. Don't think about plugging water as much as steelhead holding or cruising water that is amenable to plugging. That means, it's going to hold steelhead for some reason, as in it's a slot, a run, or a tailout. What makes it amenable to plugging is that it's big (long) enough to make the effort worth while, the current is straight enough (not boiling or eddied) so that the plugs will run reasonably straight below you and not tangle, and you can control your boat. In addition to that, if you're rowing, the water has to be moving slow enough so that you can take your time through the hole. Unless you're built like Arnold, this is pretty key. On small rivers and holes, this can be a pain, because you've got to be rowing the boat in the throat of the pool where the water is cruising, to fish the middle of the hole where the fish hold.

The depths you mention are fine, but 80 percent of my fish come out of shallower water. This is partly due to the rivers I fish, but also due to where fish hold. I'd recommend you think more about water that is 3 to 7 feet deep.

I like to fish edges, and I don't back and forth across the river as much as some guys. I wiggle a little bit over the slot I'm working, but mostly I like to march pretty straight down the hole.

If you go to a busy river, you'll get a sense of what most people think is decent plugging water. Look for the guides, and you'll see what is probably good.

For rods, any steelhead rod will work, but the best rod is something that is pretty fast, ie, has a stiff butt, and a real flexible, light tip. I prefer a 7 1/2 foot rod myself, as it's easier for my guests to use to get fish close to the boat. Most folks use an 8 to 8 1/2 foot stick.

A key tactic is to keep the rod angle low to the water, the rod pointed pretty much downstream, no more than 30 degrees to the side, and the drag fairly stiff, so that when you hit a fish, he gets stuck by the hooks. Some folks will argue, but my hook to landed ratio improved dramatically when I did this.

After all this, it's a matter of putting time in on the water, and finding the micro slots in the macro slots. That takes time, reading the water, experimentation, observation, and a little luck.

Go to it.

G. Loomis HSR 1021C is a great plug pulling rod. I generally think of plug pulling water as being a nice defined slot with straight current, hopefully flowing about as fast as a fast walk. (Kinda hard to find this time of year in some rivers!) Don't overlook the shallower stuff 3-7 ft. I generally run the 3- 7 ft. areas with Hedon Tadpollys. They don't dive real deep and they run true in the fast current. Good luck.

Don't overlook the nodescript spots and slots that most boats below you and above you are NOT plugging. I have been known to pull a rabbit out of my hat and hit fish in little overlooked spots more suited to drift or float fishing than plugging water. I call these spots "stop and shop" spots since you only plug them for 50 feet or so and then you have to peel 'em up and move on. Some great advice has already been given in previous posts about plugging the classic stuff. I will also suggest keeping you plugs out about 60 feet from the boat at the longest, if you need to get them down deeper than they will dive at 60 feet go to a plug with a wider bill. Most of the time I run them out about 50 feet which is 6 passes across the level wind on the Abu 5500's. I fish Allstar 901's which are pretty comparable to the G-Loomis HSR 9000's. I love these light little sticks for steelheading. They are one piece which adds to the sensitivity and gives you some serious backbone when you hook a pig.

Good luck out there in your plugging adventures and FISH ON!

When plugging with 2 rods I like to keep both plugs out the same distance. Before launching we stretch em out the same distance and mark the lines. As far as rod angles and drag I'm with Silver Hilton. I also like to let the drag and the rod do it's work as far as hooksetting. I like to give a little delay or watch the rod pulse a few times before I pull the rod out of it's holder.

My favorite plug is a wiggle wart that has red bill, green back and silver belly.

Stick with it Bait Boy and always have em ready for a little "Stop and Shop" as the Kid says.


FJ...out.

FJ has it right on leaving the rod in the holder. More fish are lost at the hook set than any other time. I have some friends that I want to handcuff to the boat seat so they'll let the fish take the rod down. The only time you want to grab the rod in a hurry is when the fish hits and runs upstream at you. This is especially key when fishing Kwikfish for Kings. Let that fish get halfway to the saltwater before you reach for the rod!

It's also a good idea to practice getting your first hookset as you grab the rod. Assuming that you are using fish-on or similar style rod holders, what you want to do is grab the rod ahead of the reel, and pull the rod back sharply, while it's still in the rod holder. This should rock the rod backward in the holder. This sets the hook before you run the risk of putting any slack in the line. Then pull the rod out of the holder and get to work on mr fish.

I agree with the fellow who said look for little spots. Especially in the larger rivers, these will get overlooked. I have a few that are favorites, cuz I can count on no-one having fished them. I won't fish them if other boats are in sight. These are sometimes best scouted out late in summer, when the water is low.