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I have a Plano soft bag that holds 4 of the big plastic boxes. I use this bag to store extra line as well in the side or end pockets. I have all my crank baits in the plastic boxes inside the bag and they are sorted according to the diving depth that the baits run.
I numbered each box with a label maker so that I know which box is which. Box #1 has the deepest diving crank baits while Box #4 has the shallow running baits. The Plano bag even has my lure knocker stored in side one of the zippered end compartments.
I take this out when I am planning on trolling.
Here is an idea that I want to use but it will take Discipline.
Discipline is the key here.
Make a plan and then work the plan. IE study the lake, time of year and such and determine what you are going to fish for and how. Then take the equipment that will allow you to work that plan for the day.
You can always do a different plan the second part of the day or the next day out. That way you won't have to carry all your baits with you at the same time. I know it's hard to leave baits at home as you may change your mind and want to change the plan. But this is where the Discipline comes in. Be systematic and that will help you figure out what works and what does not work. Most baits will catch fish at one time or another.
Fish are either in shallow water or deep water or somewhere in between. So knowing where the fish are will help you determine if you are going to drag baits along the bottom or fish top water or somewhere in between for suspended fish. As the day goes from early morning to late evening the lighting changes and the bait fish and prey fish will assume different positions in the water column. Fish accordingly. Top water and shallow running baits work well before the sun really gets up in the sky. Suspending baits may work during the middle of the day. Or bottom bouncing baits may work at 3 pm when the sunlight is really bright.
The point is decide what the weather is going to be like and then plan your day out so you know what baits you are going to use. If you have fish the lake in the past then you should have a good idea what worked for you in the past. Why change if what you are using works?
I use to drag 4 or 5 tackle boxes down to KY lake with me. We took 20 different rods and reels. It took us an hour just to unload the truck and take stuff into the cabin. We would take out two huge tackle boxes and put them in a little 14 to 16 ft deep v bottom rental boat. We had so many rods in that tiny boat that once we knocked one of them over the side of the boat and lost it. We didn't have anyplace to put the rods and I laid one of them on top of the oars. But when I started using that oar I forget that the rod was on top of it and the oar knocked the rod and reel over the side of the boat and down in about 10ft of water near a drop off. I can still see. in my mind's eye, Dad's brand new rod and reel slipping under the water to this day. If we had been more organized and not taken so many different rods and reels out in the boat with us that day we would maybe not have lost that equipment.
These days I use on small tackle box for storage and one small plastic box 3700 size to store all my crappie lures. I don't fish for bass much anymore these days. But if I do I have the Plano soft bag that I can take out and put in the boat with me. My 16ft boat has plenty of room for just me.
I can screw in some battery holder straps to the top of the back deck and then secure two soft tackle bags behind the bench seat on the rear deck.
Having a larger boat helps with storage.
I added a vertical rod rack to my boat and I can store 4 rods along the steering console. And I a have horizontal rod holders on one side of the boat that can store about 6 or 8 rods. I don't ever use more than 3 or 4 rods on any one trip. If I were more disciplined I could get by with 2 or 3 rods and still catch lots of fish.
You can always buy more of the plastic boxes and number them like I did. And then take the ones you need in your soft bag for just that afternoon or morning. Come back to the dock or camp site and exchange a few boxes for a different style of fishing for later that day.
Regards,
Moose1am
