Northwest Fishing Reports

This is the first year that I have seriously target bass and I am starting to get a large collection of tackle. Reading other threads about restocking gear isn’t helping my illness either (just this morning I have added two new must have items to my shopping list). I currently have a largish tackle box, 5 Plano boxes with plastics, and a backpack with various items. It’s tough to keep organized and I either need to join a support group or devise a better method for storing it all.

The worst part is when I ‘m straightening up the boat after fishing and I discover something that I wanted to try, but forgot I had it. I have had my eye on some soft tackle bag/Plano box combinations at Cabela’s, but I can’t decide which size to get or if I should get the waterproof one or not.

So, I’m curious how you other bass guys who don’t have fancy boats with hatches and compartments keep your gear organized and easily accessible on the water. Show me some pictures and help inspire me.

Since my boat is freak'n tiny I don't have enough room to bring everything I own with me. I maintain two "master" tackleboxes at home and bring my Rapala bag I picked up from Fred Meyer on the water. The night before I head out I go through and decide what tackle I need for that day based on where I'm going and what I want to target.

Since I shore fish, I carry all my tackle with me wherever I go...never know what I am going to fish for. I have my tackle stored in some plano plastic compartmented boxes (large size and small) and carry them in a Camelbak back pack. Anything I want to have immediate access to I have in a waist pack, that's usually planned out the night before. I have some 7.62 ammo pouches that would hold quite a few of the smaller plano boxes...been thinking about attaching those to my camelbak for more storage.


Chad

I have a lap-top backpack that I throw compartment boxes in. I load it according to where I am planning on going. It is nice because since it is meant for laptops it has a fairly wide opening and square shape. Side pockets for stuff too. I got it free at an IBM conference so the price was right too! I like the backpack because I can throw it on and still have both hands free for whatever.

This is really bad on my part. Since I use to fish local tournaments before I got my devorce and lost my Nitro Bass Boat. I use to have 2 full Plano Bags holding 6 plano boxs with everything possible. Plus a Spinner Bait Box, and a crankbait box, Plus a box for Jigs and pork fogs, craws ect. and STILL had bags of worms, spinner baits ect all around the holds of the boat.
Now with just a 12 jon boat I try and bring just one bag out Bass Fishing. Since anymore I just run finesse worms, cranks, and spinnerbaits I leave the rest at home. But I really miss having everything there.
As for trying to keep it staighten up all the time, it never happens. By the time I get home that plano bag is a mess.
I need a bigger boat!!

i have 4 double decker plano boxes with my "go to" plastics, 2 normal plano boxes with cranks, one smaller box of jigs & trailers, a spinnerbait box, and one main tackle box with my "go to" cranks, hooks, jig heads, leaders, swivles, weights, etc. and all the rest of my junk (which is a lot) is sitting on the tool bench in the garage :bigsmurf:

I carry a 4"x6"x3" plano-type box, with hatches opening on both sides. The larger lures (one buzzbait, one popper, 3 plastics) get tied to the small leash on the side of the box. This is all I carry for smallmouth, largemouth, perch, crappie, salmon and trout on long lake.

Less is more.

E

Most of the "tackle" ideas already mentioned are some of the things I do also, I use wine corks to keep all my hooks neat and didy...you can mark size on the bottom of the cork with a sharpie. Cool little trick.

bassackwards wrote:Most of the "tackle" ideas already mentioned are some of the things I do also, I use wine corks to keep all my hooks neat and didy...you can mark size on the bottom of the cork with a sharpie. Cool little trick.

Wine corks. Good idea. I use paint rollers and pipe insulation foam stuff. You can stick toothpicks through if you want to store trout fishing leaders and put the loop through the end of the toothpick.

I have a huge soft tackle bag with 8 plano organizer boxes with all of my cranks, jigs/trailers, topwater, spinnerbaits, (misc)"flippin" plastic baits, and Terminal tackle.

Then I use one of my old soft tackle bags, I took out all of the organizer boxes out, and I throw all of my bags of plastics in it. I group up the separate brands, sizes, and colors of plastics and put them in their own separate ziploc bags so it is easy to find which bait I want to throw.

The rest of my gear that hasn't been productive just sits in my room.

Thanks for all the great ideas!

I think I'm going to get a soft tackle bag (when Cabela's get's it back in stock) with
1 - 3700 size spinnerbait/jig box (holds 32)
7 - 3701 boxes
2 - 3771 boxes
1 - 3770 box

I can always swap out boxes with other gear to match the type of fishing I'm doing.