Bank fishing tackle organization

[Bassdestroyer]

What is the best way to organize tackle and soft plastics for a bank fisherman? I carry a lot of stuff and a lot of soft plastics when I'm fishing, is their a certain bag that does the job perfectly, or what other ways do you carry your tackle when bank fishing?

[Fishes in trees]

There is no "best" way.   There is a "best" way for you and it involves trial and error.   Back when I was a bank fishing meat hog bush hippie, I had a back pack which has stuff I didn't expect to need very often.  (Spare clothes, poncho, thermos, lunch, wallet & ID, etc.).   Then I had a large, bulky women's canvas purse that I got a Salvation Army for around a buck.  It carried all the tackle I needed ( Med sized box of cranks, jigs, jig heads, soft plastics, half dozen jars of pork frogs, box of hooks, stringer & back up stringer, small box with spinner baits/buzz bait and enough trailers, and enough catfish gear/weights & hooks).  On the plus side, the bag was a neon green/tiger stripe print which guaranteed that no one would ever steal it.  None of my self respecting fishing acquaintances would even get near that bag.  It worked for me then.  I'd probably do it different now, but I don't bank fish any more.  I have an 18' floating tackle box now.   It carries gear, beer and most everything I need.   If I don't have it it is because I forgot to put it in.

[Onvacation]

If you use a log of Z Man baits, this is the best way. Of course there are other worm binders out there, but their bags are pre punched for the binder. Nice. 

[MassYak85]

For smaller bags of worms and craws I keep them in a 3700 box. For larger worms I just toss them in a big Ziploc. 

[jr231]

2 hours ago, Onvacation said:

If you use a log of Z Man baits, this is the best way. Of course there are other worm binders out there, but their bags are pre punched for the binder. Nice. 

That is pretty neat... But so many baits out there I couldn't let go of to just bring z man. It is cool though. 

 

I like to bring a small soft pack that holds 3 small planos (jigs , terminal tackle, cranks, blade family etc.) and some plastics , scissors , multi tool, powerbait (crappie nibbles work on most panfish,and channel cat), some bait scent/dye and that can keep me busy for hours on end 

[Iluvsmallies]

I'm still trying to find it myself... I know I'm gonna get some bass mafia boxes... I just need to find a bag???? Hopefully someone else will chime in 

[Team9nine]

2 hours ago, Onvacation said:

If you use a log of Z Man baits, this is the best way. Of course there are other worm binders out there, but their bags are pre punched for the binder. Nice. 

 

Exactly what I do, only mine's green  Best way to go IMO...

 

-T9

[Cgolf]

 

For bank fishing I agree there is really no best way, because we all fish differently. For me I go with a 3500 size bag and carry a small box of 5 cranks, a second box with rigged plastics, and a third box with rigged Zman baits. Also in there is my scent, pliers, hook cutter, extra snaps, a cutter and lip gripper. That is it for me. If you need more gear a backpack should work and you can still be very mobile. 

[Scarborough817]

i carry a backpack with 2 3700's and a few select soft plastics 

[RB 77]

Back pack with a couple trays with a little bit of this and a little bit of that in them. Some water, snacks and you're good to go. You can always carry extra stuff in your vehicle and re-load if you get on a hot bite with a certain bait.

[snake95]

19 hours ago, Bassdestroyer said:

s their a certain bag that does the job perfectly, or what other ways do you carry your tackle when bank fishing?

I am an avid bank fisherman and I used the orange spiderwire over-the-shoulder bag available from Walmart all 2015-2016.  I love it.  I started off with a fancy tackle backpack from Cabela's but took it back.  The advantages of a good over-the-shoulder bag are:

• Wide top to pack plano boxes or the worm binders shown above.  Super easy access and efficient use of space.  I think it is way easier to have a single open compartment than to have boxes stacked deep.
• Can cast with it slung around your side without putting it down.

This particular bag has the following:

• Appropriate amount of small pockets to organize hooks, sinkers, o-ring tools etc neatly in the front compartment - without also being so over-the-top that you squirrel stuff away and can't access it.
• Little cylinder things on the side that you can put a line spool on and spool up your reel without needing someone and a pencil to hold it (even puts a bit of tension on for you).
• Bigger than some of the less expensive over the shoulder bags - big enough for what I feel I need most outings.

I also sometimes use a hard canvas over-the-shoulder bag for carrying lots of plastics if I am out for a longer trip and experimenting with different types.  But a lot of guys would think that's excessive.  Works for me.

[OkobojiEagle]

19 hours ago, Bassdestroyer said:

What is the best way to organize tackle and soft plastics for a bank fisherman? I carry a lot of stuff 

 

The best way is to limit your tackle to a small variety that can be fished with one rod/reel and fit in a couple of pockets or a small bag.  Bass will bite on many different lures so you don't need to bring more than a few that you will be able to present effectively.  Location is more important than tackle, so put your effort into learning where the bass will be.

 

oe

[BrackishBassin]

I use a backpack. Lures in one box, terminal tackle in another, and all my soft plastics in a gallon ziploc bag. Any used plastics can get tossed back in the ziploc bag along with any line I clip off. That's what I've worked out for myself so far. However, I'm looking at a decent walk most times I bank fish (at least a mile one way), so I need to keep everything compact.

[JustinJ]

Plastics in my pocket. terminal tackle and a few hard baits in a small plano box

[Oklahoma Mike]

I normally just carry a backpack that was made for a laptop. In the main compartment I will usually have a bass mafia deep coffin with all my hard lures. It will hold about what I can jam in 3-4 3700 boxes, so it is a space saver. I will also have a standard 3700 with all my terminal tackle. Then I jam all kinds of soft plastics in the secondary pocket (and sometimes more of the same in the main compartment). I use the smaller accessory compartments to hold things like pliers, digital scale, water, gloves, etc. 

 

I also have a fanny pack style pack that is made for shotgun shells (I think that's what it's made for - I use it for that when bird hunting anyway), and on days I want to go light or know that I will only be fishing a certain type of bait, I will load that up.

 

 

[jsh32]

BPS has a backpack that I use and it is perfect. has room for 4 smaller plano boxes, to top pocket I keep all my terminal tackle and some soft plastics or whatever else I need

[Sam]

KISS.

 

You have to keep it simple and compact.

 

I have one small tackle box when I pond fish, other than loading the SUV down with all types of baits and tackle when I go to my double secret pond.

 

Otherwise, it is one bag of three types of trick worms; one bag of two colors of finesse worms; some moving baits; and my hooks, needle nose pliers and fishing license.

[The Bassman]

I know this'll sound dated but a lot of times I just wear my wading vest (no sheepskin hat band with spinners hanging off, though). Other times I carry a small Plano bag that I got at Wal-Mart for under 12 bucks.  It forces me to limit my choices and focus on a few techniques.

[Catt]

[MDbassin]

On 12/23/2016 at 9:26 AM, Scarborough817 said:

i carry a backpack with 2 3700's and a few select soft plastics 

same here, i just use an old  LL bean backpack from when i was in school

 

In the main compartment i can put 3 3700 with all my hard baits and jigs, chatterbaits, frogs, spinnerbaits etc plus a 3600 with all my terminal tackle

 

Then in the other compartments i can fit all my plastics i use one compartment for worms and brush hogs then the other compertment for trailers (craws and paddle tails)

[wisconsin heat]

Most of the spots I bank fish, I'll have a pretty good idea of what I want to throw, so I won't have to bring much. Most of the time, I will just bring assorted plastics in an empty bag in my pocket. If I'm throwing a jig, throw a couple extra in here as well. If i'm fishing hard baits, I will put a few in an empty tic tac box (big one), they are perfect for a few cranks, and can easily fit in a jacket pocket.

 

Otherwise I do have a belt tackle box thingy that I will use if I want to bring a few more things with me.

[CTBassin860]

I have my BPS stalker backpack jammed full of crap.When I bank fish I transfer the plastics and hard boxes I'm going to use,depending on what setups I'm bringing into my BPS man purse fishing satchel.

3 hours ago, wisconsin heat said:

Most of the spots I bank fish, I'll have a pretty good idea of what I want to throw, so I won't have to bring much. Most of the time, I will just bring assorted plastics in an empty bag in my pocket. If I'm throwing a jig, throw a couple extra in here as well. If i'm fishing hard baits, I will put a few in an empty tic tac box (big one), they are perfect for a few cranks, and can easily fit in a jacket pocket.

 

Otherwise I do have a belt tackle box thingy that I will use if I want to bring a few more things with me.

That fishing fanny pack trumps my Fishing man purse lol

I have my BPS stalker backpack jammed full of crap.When I bank fish I transfer the plastics and hard boxes I'm going to use,depending on what setups I'm bringing into my BPS man purse fishing satchel.

[gulfcaptain]

I use a waste pack when bank fishing.  I pack what I THINK I'M GOING TO NEED ONLY.  I don't need every bit of tackle I own to fish a pond or small city park lake.  But knowing the water I'm fishing helps me pack what I think I need.  If I think there is other things I might need, well then I may put it in the trunk and take it with me just incase but only carry it on me if I need it.  Same for rods, I carry 2-3 rods with me but have a few in the car just incase.  Now the best part of the waste pack, that space between the pack and you works great to slip the extra rods between to keep both hands free and yourself mobile where you don't have to keep putting stuff down and picking it up.  If you're fishing familar waters, pack what you use and have the most confidence in unless it's something new you want to try, then if that's the case, pack only that and go fishing.

[j bab]

I've got my BPS backpack quite full... 14 3600 size boxes  plus tools

[Attila]

Nowadays I have a Plano 3700 Tackle Bag but back in the day I would put my essentials into a Plano Waist Pack which held a 3500 which would contain my crankbaits and topwaters. Then I'd put some tubes and grubs into one of the side pockets with pliers and scissors occupying the other side pocket. At that time I would only be carrying one rod with me for targeting smallmouth and didn't worry about different leader types or a wider assortment of lures like I carry now.