Building The Ultimate Tackle Box

[Fishes in trees]

What kind of question is this?  To start with, for the ultimate tackle box, you are going to need more than one.  Just for comparison purposes if nothing else, for how can it be "ultimate" if there isn't anything to compare it to?

 

For the record, I consider my boat an 18' tackle box.  MY 98 Explorer Sport has I don't know how much usable cubic feet of storage, including the passenger seat.  If I have a passenger in the Explorer or the boat storage & deck space are diminished somewhat.  While the boat & fishing truck are "adequate" for my current fishing needs, they are in no way "ultimate".

[Paul Roberts]

Well... you can see right quick that the definition of "the ultimate tacklebox" (UTB) depends on some things. Like... where you fish (water type, prey base, cover types), when you fish (seasons, conditions, day, night), how you like to fish (aggressive, sedentary, horizontal, vertical), outfits you own or will need (UL, L, M, MH, H), ...

 

My suggestion is always, start where you are and don't try to look too far ahead. Get stuff when you see the need, or when you are ready to try something new. It's easy to spend a bunch of money on wishful thinking, only to find you actually needed something else.

 

The true UTB is focused, and develops over time. I know this doesn't sound like as much fun as filling the gaps in your new bag. I always used to joke that empty slots in a tackle box beg to be filled. But after you fill them you have to buy a new box. And then there are gaps! ....

 

I recently reorganized my 35yr old UTB ,an UMCO "possum belly" (which had spilled over long ago), into tackle bags for an impending long distance move. I've honed it down to two extra-large bags (nine 3700's in each). My old possum belly has a lot of gaps now. Sad, sad, state it's in.

 

Trust me, if you stay into fishing you'll amass plenty of GoTo's. No rush. Get what you need. And you won't really know what all that is by asking such a general question.