Organizing For Fishing

[chromedog]

Last year, even though it broke my heart, I sold my boat to pay for the closing costs on my first home.  It will be a couple of years before I can get another one, so I need some advice on organizing my gear for fishing from shore or someone else's boat.

 

I have the option of going fishing with my dad on his boat and fishing from shore at a couple locations that aren't too bad.  I accumulated a lot of tackle and I cut down a lot of it as without the boat, no way I could justify it all.  Well, I have my normal box of stick baits, separate box for square bills, separate box for crankbaits, separate jig box, separate top water, separate drop shot binder etc.....

 

I hate the idea of getting to the spot or on the water and not having what "would of worked that day", if I had only remembered it.  But there is no way I can take it all with me.  Would you try to make the best guess on what to take based on knowledge of time of year and water fishing?  Or would you maybe organize the boxes to have a little of each in them?  Maybe a shallow water box containing different baits for that type of water?  Maybe a plastic binder with a few drop shot baits, few flukes, little of this and that?

 

What do you think I should do to downsize what I have to pack and lug around?  Maybe even going to a smaller tackle bag and carry less baits?

 

Looking for opinions. 

 

Thanks in advance.

[frantzracing0]

I carry nearly everything with me stored in a large frame pack in my jeep. Then I choose 4 boxes for my tacklebag. That way, if I want something thats not in my tacklebag, I can at least hike back to my jeep and get that box from my pack

[jbsoonerfan]

I just use the little bit of everything approach. I went with baits and colors that I have had success with in the past and I try to take 2 of each. I carry about 60 bags of soft plastics and a box of terminal tackle.

[Missourifishin]

I have a big tackle bag that holds 5 3700 boxes, plus has pockets with plenty of room for a bunch of soft plastics and other odds and ends. Honestly though, I think it's too big for a lot of the places I fish. It's a burden to lug it back and forth as you walk to different spots along the lake. And I sometimes feel like it is holding me back because I don't want to leave it sitting somewhere and wander too far away when I'm fishing a public lake.

I'm thinking of downsizing to a very small tackle box or bag. It may not have every single thing I could ever need. But it could have quite a few different options, and make me much more mobile which I think is important for bank fishing.

[roadwarrior]

I pack everything I plan to fish on a given day in a worm binder: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=worm+binder&id=217C0BF0A640F1119F0FEA02DEA3F1C0A1CADB82&FORM=IQFRBA

 

On either side, inside, I have Plano plastics boxes. One for jigs, the other for all hard baits.

In the binders I carry soft plastics and terminal tackle in their original packaging. This system

forces you to be selective, but it works for me!

 

 

[NWBasslover]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/bank-fishing-tips-shore.html

Good couple tips from Gene in this video on how to organize for shore fishing.

[NWBasslover]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/bank-fishing-tips.html

This one also.

[doyle8218]

I pack 2 day boxes in a backpack along with line extra terminal and hooks, the sack also has line cutters, hook removers, assorted tools, gloves, hand cleaner, assorted plastics, etc.

[Blues19]

I normally have a back pack with me. I can fit 2 Big Planos in it and try to have a few crank/topwaters/jigs/spinnerbaits in them.  I will also have a smaller plano with my terminal.  I can fit soft plastics in it too.  If I need more soft plastics, I can clip a binder to the arm straps of the backpack.  For a boat, I will typcially bring a bit more in a decent sized tackle bag. I store that under the passenger side console.  When Picking colors I will take 2-3 of my most productive colors, typically Green Pumpkin and Watermelon Red

[nascar2428]

I use a back pack. I can get four 3600 size plano's for terminal tackle, cranks, jiggs, and spinnerbaits. I use a soft side cooler for plastics. All of that fits nicely in the backpack.

[chromedog]

Thanks guys.  All great suggestions.  Now to just figure out what way to go and then choose a couple of each type to bring with me, lol.  Easier said than done.

[WIGuide]

I've got my gear organized similar to the way you do. When I'm fishing in someone else's boat, I have a decent sized tackle bag that will hold 5 3700 size boxes with pockets on the sides. Based on the time of year and who I'm fishing with, I can narrow down my selection of baits pretty quick. I keep it to about 3 different trays, and then I have two extra boxes that I use as day boxes. I'll pick and choose baits from my other boxes that I'm not taking that would be beneficial to have. This way I can still tailor my selection for that given day and not feel like I left anything out.  

[bigbill]

I fish from shore with up to five tackle boxes and five rods if I'm close to the car. If I have to walk I carry three tackle boxes and 3 or 5 rod setups.

Topwater 9606 tackle box split roof the largest box made full of every topwater lure made.

Crankbait 9606 tackle box with most cranks in assorted colors.

Weedless tackle box barn split roof next smaller than the 9606 with every weedless lure known to man.

Plastics tackle box every type of plastics.

Small lure box with ultra lite lures.

My magnum soft sided boat bag has 12 3600 & 3700 boxes in it with most of the lures above.

My quick fish on the fly tackle box has all my hottest lures for those last minute trips.

I have around 17 tackle boxes full of lures. I rotate lures every few seasons. And replace them with different ones to try. I store the used one's in tackle boxes.

Yes I hate the bait monkey but his gorilla dad keeps an eye on me. I'm a tackle hoarder, and yes I have a problem. Do you think I have a problem?

[chromedog]

Ya, I was doing that a couple of years ago before I got the boat.  Never again.  Too much to worry about for me. 

 

So I bought a boat and put it all in there, lol.

[David D.]

I carry a Plano tackle bag with five 3700 size boxes, with a worm binder and the other odds and ends in side pockets. All that is joined by 2 or 3 rods.

[Bamacapsfan]

I picked up a SOC backpack that I use in my boat, when I go fishing at local ponds and when I go out on friends' boats. It can easily store 4 Plato tackle boxes, tools, and has plenty of compartments to handle a lot of stuff. You can organize it any way you want and it is very durable. Link below has a pic. I take it with me every time I fish.

http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=16059&tabid=1&utm_expid=16629476-3.YzmYeoOKRfGKtzNx74GoXQ.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F