# Plug guide

> A plug guide: floating, sinking and suspending, how to control diving depth and retrieve for trout and pike.

Source: https://finnfisk.no/en/wobblerguide
Language: en
Alternate: https://finnfisk.no/wobblerguide (nb-NO)

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Field guide · Lures and colour

A plug imitates baitfish with its own action. Here are the types, diving depth and retrieve. All advisory.

Updated 6 October 2026

## Floating, sinking or suspending plug?

A floating plug gives the best depth control, a sinking one reaches down to where the fish are, and a suspending one hangs still on the pause.

### Floating

Floats at rest and dives on the retrieve. Best depth control and good over shallow water.

### Sinking (countdown)

Sinks so you can count down to the depth the fish hold at.

### Suspending

Hangs still in the water on the pause, often triggering hesitant fish.

### Lipless / vibration

No lip, vibrates strongly and covers a lot of water fast.

## How do you fish a plug?

Reel steadily with small pauses, and twitch it now and then to wake active fish and pike.

### Diving depth

The size and angle of the lip set the depth. Thin line and longer casts run deeper.

### Retrieve

A steady retrieve with small pauses. Twitches and jerks wake active fish and pike.

### In a river

Hold the plug in the current seam and let it work on the spot, or ease it downstream.

### Colour

Natural baitfish colours in clear water, bold colours and contrast in coloured water.

## Well-known plugs

The Rapala Original Floating is a classic floating plug for trout and pike, and the Nils Master Invincible is a Finnish plug for big trout and pike.

### Rapala Original Floating

Trout & pike

A floating balsa plug with a natural, soft action. The all-time trout and pike plug.

### Rapala Countdown

Trout

A sinking plug you can count down to the depth you want. Good when the fish are holding deeper.

### Rapala Shad Rap

Trout & perch

A natural shad profile with a calm action on a slow retrieve. Good on shy fish.

### Nils Master Invincible

Big trout & pike

A handmade Finnish plug with a strong wobble. Strong on big trout and pike.

### Salmo Hornet

Perch & trout

A compact, blunt-nosed plug with a tight, high-frequency vibration. Effective on perch and trout.

## Common questions

### How deep does a plug run?

- The lip decides: short and steep runs shallow, long and flat runs deep. A floating plug dives as you retrieve and rises when you stop, a sinking one goes down while you wait, and a suspending one holds the depth it has. Retrieve speed and line thickness shift the depth by centimetres, not metres. [Types, depth and retrieve](https://finnfisk.no/en/wobblerguide)

### When should I use a plug instead of a spoon?

- When you want to hold one depth for a while, or when the fish are hunting baitfish and want something shaped like a fish rather than a flash. A plug is also easier to fish slowly without losing its action, which counts in cold water.

Read next

- [Lure guide The lure types and when to use what](https://finnfisk.no/en/slukguide)
- [Spoon guide Weight, colour and retrieve](https://finnfisk.no/en/skjeguide)
- [Spinner guide Blade, size and colour](https://finnfisk.no/en/spinnerguide)
- [Colour guide Colour by light and water](https://finnfisk.no/en/fargeguide)