Co Angler Organization

[The Challanger]

I'm wanted to keep all my takle, baits, and softbaits in one spot but organized so I can jump from boat to boat that I'm fishing from. I'm wanting to know if anybody has come up with a way to do that yet cause right now I'm lugging around three takle bags because its just getting becoming more of an hassle for me?

[Mike L]

Sounds to me that you either are carrying way too much, or you need a bag that is large enough with the right amount of pockets and clips in all the right places that would help you get better organized.

As a co angler, who is allways fishing with someone else in thier boat, most if not all of these guy's would get down right annoyed and rightfully so, if they had to continullay step over and/or trip on my bag's.

 

In the last 3 yrs I've gone through 3 bag's... a Cabella's, BPS Stalker and now I have a Flambeau AZ8 that is just perfect for me.

Check those out or others that may be more organized to you liking.

 

To have 3 bag's, along with rods, lunch/water bag, rain gear [i live in Fla, gotta have it] all piled up at my feet would make me nut's!

 

 

Mike

[The Challanger]

Thanks, ill look into them. I do live in Georgia so I believe we carry most of the same stuff give or take a few things.

[anonbassman]

Yeah I was going to say, if you have too much stuff to carry, you probably have too much stuff. I always think its good to have like a "emergency" box with some of your favorite terminal tackle, favorite lures and a bag with my favorite plastics. Basically something that you know you can catch a fish with one thing out of that box. Then if you have more room, put everything else you think you might use based on the conditions.

[Marty]

I agree with some of the others who are suggesting that you might be carrying too much.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Maybe carry 2 bags or 1 one bag then have a back pack that you where if needed but if you know the lake.your fishing or have an.idea just cover the basics or get some info b4 hand... I've been a co angler.a few times..for me being a bank Fisher man not having a backpack on feels weird so that's where I keep and my plastics... then I got a bag for hard baits and jigs.

[martintheduck]

Definitely re-assess your gear. Before a trip, decide what you NEED-vs-WANT. I always change my bags based on what I'm fishing. On one lake here, bright cranks baits and and bright soft's just don't catch fish, so I leave them at home. Craw-type lures don't do well on another lake, so I leave them at home. etc etc etc.... 

 

 

I've got it down to one bag filled with: one large plano for hard plastics and jig's, one small plano for hooks, one small for c-rigging/drop-shot/weights, and a binder-bag for soft-plastics. Have some tools in other compartments, spare line, emergency rain poncho, and a flashlight. 

 

I carry 3-5 rods too, a cpl water bottles, and some snacks.

[Fishes in trees]

To echo what others have said so far, you might want to re-evaluate how much gear you're toting, based on current seasonal patterns and also on how much room do you have in the other guys boat.

 

As far as storage gear goes, when I was doing the BFL co-angler thing, I found a rod bag very helpful in getting from my truck to the other guys boat with minimum amount of clutter.  Some degree of communication with your boater should determine how much gear is necessary before it becomes in the way.

 

Another co-angler tip I often used was to have a medium/large tackle bag and then securely velcro it to the rear deck chair.  That way it was only in my way, and for the most part I could spin it around and keep it from being directly underfoot.  Also it was secure when we were under way and on plane.

 

Should I decide to get back into co-angling again, I would consider getting one of those rear deck portable rod racks, the back-rack or whatever they call it.  They seem like a pretty slick solution to rod storage issues.

[Bankbeater]

One more vote to take only what you need.  I use to carry a tackle bag full of plastics, and one full of crankbaits.  I sat down one winter and went through each of them.  I picked out the baits that I throw on a regular basis, and put those baits into a third tackle bag.  Now if I am going to be a co-angler, or walking the bank I take bag #3. 

[bassin is addicting]

i fish as a co-angler.

3 tackle bags is wayyyy to much.  i take one that fits 4 plano 3700's.  there is plenty of room in those for any crank i may need.  there is also room for 10-12 bags of plastics of various types.  i can fit 8-10 spinnerbaits in the plastic pouches that are made for them from BPS as well as 6-8 jigs.  i don't take full bags of anything.  i'll have 6-8 of each plastic.  and various sizes of hooks. as well as a few different weights (not a whole bad of each weight).

i use snaps or swivels w/snaps so i can change quick depending on howmy boater is fishing.

i only take 4-5 rods.

i adjust what i take depending on what lake we are fishing.  yes, i drive myself nuts deciding on what to take...but you just gotta narrow it down.  i usually end up only throwing 4-6 different baits anyways.  lol!!

good luck..

[dam0007]

My tackle bag has 4 3700 size storage units. 1 for spinner baits, 1 for medium and shallow cranks, 1 for deep diving cranks and 1 for swimbaits and jigs. Then 2 small ones for terminal tackle. I then use the little Bass bag bass masters sends you for your membership for all my soft plastics. Also my main bag has compartments for my scale pliers etc. Pretty easy and simple set up for me. Also for advice as I am new to tournament fishing myself, some of the boaters get ticked off when the non boater brings too much stuff on board.

[Felix77]

I have one tacklebag which holds 4 3600's and a separate bag for soft plastics.  So far that had done very well for me.  I am considering upgrading to a bag which holds 4 3700's just to consolidate my soft baits and plano 3600's.