I use plugs frequently for blackmouth, it seems to keep some of the shakers off. I don't use J plugs though, usually 4 or 5 inch silver hordes, sometimes tomic plugs. Another plus is when fighting a 5 pound fish, you get a much better fight without a flasher. The colors I like are usually some combination of glow green/spatterback with maybe red gills, similar colors you would see recommended for spoons. I usually run them about 20-30 feet off my cables and have never had a problem tangling them, I have however had problems running a plug on one side of the boat and flasher on the other.