As surfcasters we must be prepared for various water depths, changing current velocities, wind, and fish with unpredictable appetites.  As a result, the number of plugs in our arsenal explode to military proportions.  Hence, the birth of plug management solutions.

Two widely used plug management solutions are milk crates with tubes and large Plano boxes.  These two solutions can store and organize countless plugs.  But, I have been searching for a day-to-day solution that allows me to quickly see and select my plugs for my next fishing trip and to dry my plugs after their fresh water bath removes the corrective sea salt.

This past June I was at the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club with some members from S-B.com talking through the daylight hours and the topic of “plug management” came up.  My friend Bruce May, who builds fine custom furniture at  B & M WoodWorking, suggested setting up wire lines on a wall  to  hang plugs— like wet clothes on a clothes line.  Building on Bruce’s idea, I installed a peg board on the wall of my garage and created “plug lines” using peg hooks and wire:

Setting up a Plug Wall is inexpensive and easy.  All you need is:

1. A 4′ x 8 ‘ sheet of peg board
2. A box of 1 5/8” galvanized course screws
3. 24 double-prong peg hooks
4. Wire (e.g. 12 gauge insulated electrical copper wire)
5. A power drill
6. A pair of wire cutters/pliers (e.g. Lineman Pliers)

When you insert the peg hooks side-ways, be sure to insert them in such a way that when the wire “pulls” on them, they “push” back:

Also, be sure to insert a peg hook mid-line to keep the plug-line straight while under load:

In addition to storing plugs, the Plug Wall can also store jigs, tins, and rigged soft plastics.  My Plug Wall allows me to spend more time fishing and less time “managing” my day-to-day plugs.  Thank you for the insight Bruce!