Product Review: Special Mate bait boxes (crank & jerk bait storage)

[Micro]

I few months ago I decided I was tired of carrying a Bass Pro bag loaded with seven 3700 Plano boxes to transport my jerk baits. And I was really tired of diddling around with hook bonnets each time I used a bait. Then I saw a nifty little box in my local tackle store. Looked like the perfect box for carrying all my jerk baits all at once. I checked it out on the internet. It was called the Special Mate bait box and it apparently is well known among musky fishermen. It got really good reviews. So I decided to buy one. For $45 I figured I couldn't go too wrong.

The box is all plastic. It has a hinged lid with metal latches. It has 15 dividers in it with slots for 8 baits on each divider (120 baits). The dividers rock back and forth for easy access. The bait simply lays in the slot with its hook in a notch on the top edge of the divider. When the lid is closed, the foam on the underside of the lid holds the dividers in place so that they don't rock. It also locks the hooks in the slots so the lures can't fall out, even if the box tips over. The dividers keep the hook of the lures from tangling with each other. So hook bonnets are not needed. I am able to carry all my jerk baits and all my hard stick baits in the model that accommodates 7" lures.

So impressed was I that I bought another for my crank baits. It accommodates 5" lures. Again, 120 baits total.

The lid and bottom of the boxes are ribbed for rigidity. And boxes are designed to be stacked without out sliding off.

There are models that hold baits up to 12 inches, and there are boxes with spacers without any ribs that will accommodate spinner baits and other wide baits.

I plan on getting a few more. I need another for the rest of my cranks. And I want one for my swim baits, wake baits and topwaters. The two I bought allowed me to retire two BPS bags, sixteen 3700 Plano boxes, and many handfuls of hook bonnets.

These are neat boxes. They seem well made and really work well at organizing your baits.   Highly recommends.

[J Francho]

Looks good, if you are a boater.  Do they come in smaller sizes?

[Micro]

There are shallow, medium and deep boxes.  But the width and length is the same among models.

[MikeinFresno]

now that is some good use of space.

[Quillback]

They look nice, $45 seems a little pricey IMO.  I wonder if the shallow ones would work for jigs?

[Micro]

I don't think they would work well for jigs.  They are made for treble hooked baits.