I like to set up as early as feasibly possible. A lot of times a you may drive a fish holding at the top of a run down into the tailout before they strike the plug... or you'll get hammered as soon as they drop over the lip. Sometimes if there's wood blocking the top of a slot, we'll deploy in the middle of the river above it and fade into it. If there are boulders sticking up or just under the surface, we always try to run a plug right into them, then down one of the side seams. If you've got structure and depth right next to the shore, don't be afraid to get your inside plug almost right on the bank.

NEVER give up on a slot 'til the last possible moment. I can't count how many times we've had grabs just as we're ready to reel up... most likely from fish that we've pushed down the slot. Plugging is hours of monotony puncuated by moments of pure pandemonium! When that rod tip gets pulled into the water and line is peeling off of the reel... that's good stuff!