Co-Angler Tackle

[bushnaq]

Anyone have any creative ideas for transporting your rods(up to 8) more easily and safely to and from tournaments? I wa thinking some velcro from hardware store would work well with the rod sleeves on all the rods .  Also how big of a bag is too big? It is the plano guide series 3700 bag  and carries everything including food, drink, rain gear , cold gear( jackets, gloves, hats and such). If i put the bag in front of me out of the boaters way should i have any trouble?

[Bluebasser86]

That bag is similar sized to what I used to carry. If everything you need fits in there you should be fine. 

 

I use rod sleeves and reel covers with a bungee ball wrapped around the rods to keep them together so they're easier to carry and not flapping around. 

[reelnmn]

I've never felt the need for a bag for my rods.  I have each rod in a glove then have a velcro wrap around the rods.

 

If you're bag can be stowed at your feet there should be no issue.  I couldn't tell from the post if you already have the 3710 or thats the one you are looking at.  I personally have the 3600 that will stay at my feet, then I keep shedded gear in a storage compartment.

[corn-on-the-rob]

One fairly large bag is usually perfect as long as it is your only bag. Just put it between your legs when running and on your seat or back deck when fishing.

 

Now I get taking 8 rods just in case but are you taking all 8 onto the boat?

 

A buddy of mine bought an 8ft long, thick cardboard tube (similar to what rods ship in but much larger diameter) and put 6 rods in it and just throws it in the bed of his truck worry free.

[bushnaq]

That bag is similar sized to what I used to carry. If everything you need fits in there you should be fine. 

 

I use rod sleeves and reel covers with a bungee ball wrapped around the rods to keep them together so they're easier to carry and not flapping around

Thanks i will try the bungee balls out sounds like my best option

[bushnaq]

Yea this is like a two part question didnt really like posting two diffrent topics . the bag is not for carrying rods it is for tackle , soft plastics and the stuff mentioned above. I dont really take 8 rods to a tournament unless it would be a multiple day trip with practice days.

[Felix77]

I use a bag which holds 4-5 3700 Plano's.  I swapped out some of the 3700's for 3701's and smaller to better organize stuff.  That should be more than enough.

 

As for rods ... I have rod wraps and I use rod straps which I bought at BassPro.  FWIW I also bought wraps at West Marine for $2 which work just as good.

[WIGuide]

You might want to check into the TW rod quiver. It's supposed to hold up to 8 combos so you're good to go there, plus it'll give you a little extra storage room too with the added pockets. Your bag should be fine as long as you can keep it out of the way. 

[bushnaq]

actually meant to say 3700 size i fixed it in original post

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I have one of these and love it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fishing-Pole-Rod-Carrying-Case-Tackle-Bag-with-Shoulder-Strap-Inside-Storage-/201152881031 

[bushnaq]

I have one of these and love it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fishing-Pole-Rod-Carrying-Case-Tackle-Bag-with-Shoulder-Strap-Inside-Storage-/201152881031

Looks great for shore fishing maybe but i feel like my boater would kill me if they saw that lol

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Not at all. It lays right in the well next to the seat and you don't get the umbrella effect that can happen when you strap rods into a bundle. I got it  specifically for keeping my co-angler stuff organized. I kept a 4 tray bag under my feet and a small duffle with dry pack, misc extra tackle and dry snacks that always went in a corner of a deck compartment. 

[KC5TTC]

I have a Cabela's Magnum size bag that I carry.  It will hold about 8 - 3700 series boxes.  However, I use the 3600 series boxes instead and it will hold about 15 of those.  I carry just a few colors of different plastics and a small amount of different hard baits.  Works great.

[Fishes in trees]

When I was a co-angler, I found that 2 medium sized bags worked better than 1 large bag.   For whatever I wanted, I didn't have as much stuff to dig around through.  1 bag was full of soft stuff that I didn't care if it got kicked around and it went underneath my feet or shoved under the passenger side console. the other bag was secured with several velcro straps to the post of the rear deck seat.   That was only in my way and totally out of the way of my boater.  I also had a rod bag that worked great for transporting rods from my vehicle down to the boat.  That got folded up and stuck into a bin during the tournament.

 

The bag would hold a variable number of rods & reels.  5 rods & reels comfortably, 8 if you carefully packed them.

 

Really though, every tournament was different and I don't think that I ever used the exact same set-up 2 tournaments in a row.

[t4bama]

If I did one bag for co-angler I wouldn't be able to lift it put it in the boat, I need to stop buying fishing tackle.....but I can't

[primetime]

Just make sure you bring bungy cords to tie stuff down, I once put my rods down, boxes of lures out on the back area to work on rigging up some leaders, and my partner did not warn me that he planned on pinning the throttle and going wide open without warning and before wake area was officially past, although close, and watching 2 plano boxes full of hardbaits fly out of the boat and never to bee seen again actually messed me up for a few hours.

 

I usually do not bring too many choices as a co-angler, I find I change baits way to often since I am not used to fishing how and where I am forced, so basically, I now bring some plastics, topwaters for morning, jigs, finesse box, and lot's of gatorade and food. Being thristy for 10 hours in the sun while leaving your water in your truck is not good. I couldn't ask my boater who only had one large water and issues keeping it cool, but I actually drank water from a nasty lake and it was so good as it is hot and fishing all day is work, especially drifting the same 50 yards over and over without action hoping they "came up to feed for a few minutes....Never happened...But other than 1 bad day I love going as a co-angler since you learn stuff you do that you forget is wrong.

[bass1980]

8 rods is a lot. I always try to minimize it to 6 pre fishing but tourney days I'll drop it to 4 setups. I use rod Sox on all if them and use velco. Just go to Walmart they have simple velco for under $5.

As for the bag I have a Gander one that fits 6 3700 planos. I put plastic in them since keeping in bags takes up too much room not being organized. It is heavy though with all those plastics.

For food n drinks just bring a separate bag and drop it in one of his compartments.

[travis23]

I never bring more than 6 rods with me on the back of the boat. Soometimes, thats too much and really just gets in the way for me. I used to take allllllll kinds of stuff in 2 seperate bags lol however i did just buy a 3700 Guide Series bag that seems to be the ticket (stays between my legs). I dont like strapping my rods together though. I feel like the chances of bending or breaking a guide are too good. One thing i always do is ask my boater how much space will be available for me. A lot of the time the storage box behind the passenger seat is designated for the non boater. I usually put my rain coat or extra clothing in there, maybe some soft plastics, and cell phone, keys etc...Ive found that all my crap gets in MY way more than the boaters.

[webertime]

This is for a guy that is a co-angler in a tournament.

 

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/tournament-choice-deluxe-tackle-bag/pid-856003?color=Green+Dark+01&N=272574546+4294951535

 

I've been fishing out the back of the boat for the last few years and have come to find that using a bag that carries smaller boxes allows for better organization.  The above bag is my current one, it says 6 but you can add 2 3601's in the main compartment as well.  All my tools in the big front compartment, line/scents in one of the side compartments, random plastics for the water I am fishing in the other.  With the smaller bag, you will also be able to fit it in even the smallest boats compartments or if you must it is easier to tuck away at your feet.

 

I fish primarily on Lake Champlain, this lake has the classic Smallmouth rocky deep water of the main lake and up north, while also having the Florida-esque gnarliness of Ticonderoga and Missisquoi Bay.  I am saying it has a huge variety of water for one lake.  That being said I speak to my boater about where we will be going and taylor my tackle to the water we will fish.  The smaller boxes help in this way...  If I am going to Ticonderoga I will be bringing frogs and thick stuff.  Having those in the one 3600 allows me to throw that in without having to paw through my stuff prior to the tournament to make sure I have what I need.  Likewise, down there I will not be throwing jerkkbaits, so I can just pull that box out.  I with the 3700's they carry so much that I would put things together that theoretically will not be thrown in the same water.

 

Rod wise I bring 4-6 rods, maybe it's just mental since I usually only use 1-3.  I found that a Bac Rac is a really helpful item to have, although they have become absurdly expensive for what they are.  It gets the rods/hooks away from the boaters seat and your legs, it also keeps the tangles to a minumum.  If the Bac Rac will not work on the boaters boat, then I keep my rods in socks so they tangles around eyelets is minimized.

 

A trend you are spotting at this point is; keeping things neat, compact and organized.  This makes you more efficient, quicker to pack for a run (boaters appreciate that) and give you more room to move and be comfortable.  This is huge for me, if I am not comfortable I get distracted and make mistakes... IE I waste money...

 

Other things I have found myself doing:

Spare baitcasting spools (backlashes and swaping your Frog rod with braid to flouro spooled carolina rig)

Mend it for your plastics (not having a pile of dead soldiers is nice)

Tools kept on my body (clip cull tags to my hip and pliers in a pocket)

Powerbar type food (no mess, compact and fast)

I never use the back seat so I ask the boater if we can leave it.  I'm 6'5" and have gotten stuck under them far to many times while in the livewell.

DON'T STEP ON THE SEATS

Have the net tucked into the driver seat so you can grab it quick for your boater and it's right near you if you need him to net for you.

[Bigbassman43]

When I fished co-angler I would only take 5 rods and reels. I had a tackle bag that would hold 5 3600 Plano and soft baits would go in the bags pockets. If I thought I needed rain gear I would wear it or take another small bag with me. You should meet your partner the night before and you can get a better idea of the size and storage he has in his boat. Then you can decide if you need to bring more or less.