The rower does indeed catch the fish and is usually the only one paying attention when the rod goes off. I crack up every time watching the circus that happens when a couple of guys who have been doing nothing for quite awhile have to leap into action. Another thing is you constantly have to tell them things like..

Dude, don't sit there with that box of plugs open in your lap... you remember that one time.. I think you still owe me like 20 plugs.

Ever had to wake somebody up? I remember a warm June day years ago when when had fished hard starting at dawn in Sultan on the lower Sky. Fishing was slow and we did more plugging as the day wore on. Around noon just below Ben Howard a 12lb buck hit the right side rod. I hit the oars hard and shouted hey Mike, set the hook.....Huh, what? I don't have a fish...about then the fish turned downstream, buried the rod tip and jumped. Best alarm clock he ever had!

Kyle is right!
Pulling plugs is all skill and it's an art imo.

Try pulling plugs on the Keani out of a DB, after a huge tide. FishnPhysician could probably vouch for me, and I don't know how many of you have witnessed multiple takedowns by 60lb kings or better, but the pucker-factor is unmatched by anything. Additionally, the challenge of trying to hold-the-hole in a drift boat, with a bruiser of that magnitude is far from being lazy. And teamwork is absolutely VITAL to a successful landing.

Pulling plugs kicks ass. I've been exclusively a drift fisherman my whole life, even in my drift boat I'd usually drag bait. However, there's also nothing like a steel double-header. I'd say that I'm pulling plugs about 50% of the time, and if someone called me lazy, I'd probably haul off and punch him in the kisser

There's guys who pull plugs, then there's guys who REALLY PULL PLUGS. The guys who know what they're doing can kick most everybodies arses regularly

That tactless nimrod at the ramp should've just kept his hick-ass mouth shut. Pulling plugs out of a big sled is lazy fishing, but it works so who cares. Still no need for that guy at the ramp to open his big yap and make a comment like that.

"He was just looking to get some fishing reports as we just got off the water." "we were pulling plugs, he said "that's kind of lazy"


I would have asked him if he thought standing at the boat launch to get reports is being lazy?

Good one King

Last year on one trip I think we plugged 18 holes, that was not easy. Although on one of the fish I think my brother was asleep, but lead thrower was quick to the rod. I love to see the take when a steelhead grabs the plug. I also like catching fish casting gear, but at times plugging is a lot more effective.

Ya and we would have had a second fish out of that hole if that freaking sled did not cork us by cutting 30 yards in front of us as we were plugging again. :rolleyes:

Ya we plugged a crud load of holes that day.

Lazy? Not if you're doing it right. Plug fishing is fishing with the boat. I like to do it because i'm usually the one on the oars (or kicker, as the years go on...). It lets me take out a bunch of friends who are often at best indifferent fishermen, and get them into some fish. And, shoot, it's productive.

There's one slot I fish that is anything but lazy. There's a bar with a little short slot behind it that most people pass by. To get the plugs in right, you have to loiter above the top of the bar (which is 8 inches under water, so no one can see it. ), and then slide the boat down a 10 ft slot between the bar and a bunch of fallen trees, then you want to snuggle in just below the bottom tree, and work slowly through the next 43 feet. If you go 44 feet, the plugs will snag.

That's not lazy. Good plugging requires skill in handling the boat, reading the water, and managing the gear.

Nothing like it! CraigO!
It's awesome to see take downs!!
Fish ON! Git'em!

You're not out there to be WORKING, so why NOT fish a lazy method.

Great technique if newbies are on board with you too....they can almost fish as good as the best fishermen on board, even though they have no experience (the captain of the boat kind of does most of the work when pulling plugs.)

Gentlemen, thanks all for the input. I do take a lot of, let's say, fishermen that don't get out a lot. I get a lot more time on the water being productive than teaching someone various ways to catch fish. Good luck all and good fishing.

Doubletake