Tackle Storage & Organization

[JignPig2006]

Any one have ideals on Keeping an organized tackle system in your boat, or what to keep in the boat to do away with alot of stuff that ends up never being used. All the baits seem to be good, and just hard to not have just incase I want to use it I'll have it. I've sorted and organized and still seems to be overwhelmed with lures and soft plastics. What works for you guys?

God Bless...

[stratos185]

I know what you are dealing with as I myself carry more baits than I can use and do not want to leave any home because I may need them.I fish with my son so this allows me to have a wide selection of baits with me without cluttering the boat with tackle storage bags and also do not have to load/unload the boat after fishing.First I have a Stratos boat with storage in front for 6 plano #3700 boxes. In between these boxes there is room for 5 plano #3600. Also in one storage compartment beside the livewell I purchased from bass pro a utility box caddy that holds 6 additional plano #3700 boxes. In the #3700 boxes I have some cranks along with a wide variety of soft plastics that I like to use. In the #3600 boxes I keep odd plastic baits. On my rod box and front storage cover I use a tackle storage system that reminds me of a potato chip rack to keep my lizards and tubes on because these are the things I use the most and can get to easily. Hope this helps.

[JignPig2006]

At this time I am working on down sizing. I've went from having my soft plastics sorted by type and color in reinforced "hefty" on-zip bags with a three hole punch. I stored them in large 3 ring binders, but this lasted a whole 2 weeks before it became very awkard. I'm working on getting everything in bait boxes. I have a triton and have the tackle storage system also. I Have 3 compartments designed to hold tackle trays, but we (My Dad and I) dont like having to get under the person feet in the back to get to the trys there. I'm slowying working to see if this everything in tackle trys idea I had is really going to work. Thanks for the idea, I may be looking into it. Thanks again

God Bless

[stratos185]

After recounting my trays that I have taken out of my boat for the winter, I realize that I have 8 large (#3700) trays in front and 6 in the back. I put the most used baits in the front and least used in the back. These baits may get moved to front or back depending on which lake we are going to, as I prepare the tackle before going on a fishing trip.

[fishing4kids]

Where did you get the storage system pieces that are the clips(potato chip rack) I have been looking for those?

[Col Forbin]

I did a google search and found some at easyviewtackle.com. I may give them a try as well.

[jdw174]

My boat is equipped with slots for 8 3700's in front and 6 more in the rear....ALL of which are full of lures that I don't use and probably never will;-) However, if you don't have the built-in system, my favorite is the tacklebag that holds the 3700/3600 type boxes.

[Danny]

A lot has been mentioned about having baits that you never use, and either getting rid of them, or should you get rid of them.

Well, I was fishing Rough River with Darrell, and we just weren't getting bit. I too have a lot of tackle I never use. I pulled a crankbait out and thought, hey why not try this.... not catching anything on my other baits... and WAM!! I started catching them with regularity.

This taught me that perhaps the baits I don't use often should be used or at least tried, especially on tough fishing days.

Good luck everyone.

Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

[Rowdy]

I put all plastics in ziplocks,combine 2 or 3 bags of the same stuff and put them it a soft side cooler.Then in a drywell.

Rowdy

[Moose1am]

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

[MJ]

http://www.cookstacklesystems.com/Photo_Gallery.cfm

I had some of these replicated were I work out of aluminum. They rock!!

[fishing4kids]

MJ

Do you have some kind of hand drawings or sketches on how to make them. I work in a fab shop with laser cutting and I am sure I could make some with some guidance from you.