Plugging has saved many a day for me, however I much prefer methods where I'm holding the rod and feel the fish strike. It's definitely lazy for the guys in the front of the boat. Only thing worse is plunking! When learning to flyfish for steelhead a few years ago, it struck me how similar swinging a wet fly, cast again, step down etc is to plugging....same strategy to cover the water but you are working the rod and flyline instead of the oars and you are holding the rod so when they hit the fly, wahoo!