Does anyone know the origin of the word "plug" as it is used in describing a hard bodied lure?

this has come up before, and I believe what was said was that the first lures were made out of plugs of wood like the kind that plug the hole in a barrel or something.

Does anyone know the origin of the word "plug" as it is used in describing a hard bodied lure?

I believe it began in the early 1700's on the river Thames. The bait dunkers at the time cam across a man selling wooden fish w/ hooks on them. I am told the response was "Ye can take thy wood and plug it up ye @$$"

Thus a term was born :laugha:

Slip's got it right, some were made out of the wooden "plugs" for barrells.. they are actually called "bungs" for the bung hole in the barrell.. so I guess maybe we should be glad they are not called bungs!