My fellow writers asked me why is a lure called a plug? What's a plugbag? I couldn't give them a definitive answer. I saw some educated guesses online.
Does anyone know for sure where the term "plug" came from?

I always thought it was because they were made out of "plugs" of wood, scraps, cutoffs.
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That sounds about as reasonable of an exclamation and as I could think of.
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I know a guy who should know.... I will text him a pic of the OP. Vineyardblues and Capesams are my first two to ask.

Ran into this... was curious from the question.

https://fishinghistory.blogspot.com/2008/01/from-whence-word-plug.html

Ran into this... was curious from the question.

https://fishinghistory.blogspot.com/2008/01/from-whence-word-plug.html

Good stuff. Like the article mentions I'm pretty sure the term began in freshwater fishing. I have an old copy of Tackle Craft by C. Bord Pfeiffer and it has a very expansive chapter about plugs, even carving your own with a pocket knife.

Once had a sharpie fresh water guy tell me in no uncertain terms "rods" are used to fish in fresh water and "poles" are used to fish in salt water. I was thinking plugs v lures might have been the same sort of thing.

I think it might be safe to say that it is an universally accepted and used term, but none of us 'really" know!

I had someone ask me that years ago, and the best I could come up with was " usually a large lure made of wood, from big scraps of wood or broom handles"