Storing Plastics In Planos

[TxHawgs]

I currently just leave them in the factory bags. But I want to start putting some of them in Planos. I have a few questions, will all plastics warp the Plano boxes? Some plastics come with a lot of oil scent or whatever they pack them with, do you wipe off the plastics before putting in a box or if you pull them out one by one and not pour them in there is no worry of it running out of the box onto everything? And last and just the opposite do you have to worry about the plastics drying up in boxes and if so what can you add to keep them from dry rotting?

[Basseditor]

Mostly I leave them in original bags. Then put the bags sorted by type in small laundry bags (Walmart for about a buck). These laundry bags are put in flexible duffel bags so I ca move them around.

 

Others I put in the waterproof sealed plastic boxes (such as Powerworms). These are the boxes with the red or blue clips to clip the lid shut. The main reason I put in boxes is the bags wore out and wouldn't seal properly.

[TxHawgs]

Thanks, but I want to store some in planos. Like my straight tail Robos and ect. It will also help me from taking way too much plastic as a co-angler. So I'm looking for answers to my questions from guys currently doing it. But thanks for your response.

[Scott F]

I've been keeping my plastics in Plano utility boxes for almost 30 years. I've never had any rot or dry out. They don't warp the boxes or have any other issues except for stuff like power baits, Gulp or baits of that type which I leave in the bags they come in. I rinse the salt off baits that come with heavy salt before I put them in the Planos. I don't use scents which stink up everything they get near so I can't comment about how those work with boxes. 

["hamma"]

I have done both, in plano's and not. Some plastics "may" warp the planos in a year or two. So what I ended up doing is, ones that "need" the original packaging? I put in tackle wraps, The zippered tackle logics, or now plano has some too,,.... and the plastics that come dry? I put in the plastic plano boxes. 

 Seeing as a co-angler situation is a consideration, prefishing will be paramount to be proficient anyways,... So just get a tackle bag that can handle both wraps and hardboxes, and stock them with what you found successful while prefishing. If you cant prefish, stock them with what you feel you will need, 

 Co-anglers usually bring one bag and several rods to be reasonable towards room in any boat they may end up on

[Cgolf]

I too have had some plastics in planos for at least 10 years without issue. The bonus of the boxes versus the bags is that you can make sure the plastics don't get a semi permanent bend like they sometimes do in the bags. Yes it takes time to set them nicely in the box, but it is worth the little bit of extra time in the long run. 

[Raul]

Oil and dissolved salt oozing out from them tackle boxes in a warm day messing everything ..... it gives me the hibbie jibbies just to think about it.

[Darren.]

I'm with @Scott F on this. No problems in Plano boxes.

 

My main kit is an older Plano Guide box with a large top
where I keep all my go-go plastics, some jigs, swimbaits,
and so on.

 

Inside I keep other plastics (not go-to) in their bags, also
keep my Boga Grips, line, hooks, and a bunch of other
stuff, too.

[ethan-333]

all my plastics have warped boxes. seems like tubes are the worst. and my netbaits seem to warp boxes the least. my favorite way is a plano 3731 and line the bags up

[fishwizzard]

I have about a dozen 3000 sized boxes that I build up into little "kits" based around a certain type or lure or technique, which are overwhelmingly soft plastic based.  So say I have a box for senkos with 5-6 long compartments for worms sorted by color and a few smaller compartments with hooks and other terminal tackle.  I have had some of them loaded up for around two years now and other then some light staining from redbug plastics, nether the boxes or lures seem affected at all by it.  

[WI_Angler1989]

Seems like the opinions are pretty 50/50. I've always wanted to store plastics in planos, but it'd be a shame to end up with ruined boxes and dried plastics. I'm way to poor and frugal to risk it!

[mixel]

I keep the plastics in their original packaging, and put them in one gallon zip lock bags. Not quite as easy as reaching for one in the plano box, but I'm never in that much of a hurry that I can't take the time to open a zip lock.

[MIbassyaker]

4 hours ago, ethan-333 said:

all my plastics have warped boxes. seems like tubes are the worst. and my netbaits seem to warp boxes the least. my favorite way is a plano 3731 and line the bags up

 

That's what I do too:

 

 

[roadwarrior]

10 hours ago, Scott F said:

I've been keeping my plastics in Plano utility boxes for almost 30 years. I've never had any rot or dry out. They don't warp the boxes or have any other issues except for stuff like power baits, Gulp or baits of that type which I leave in the bags they come in. I rinse the salt off baits that come with heavy salt before I put them in the Planos. I don't use scents which stink up everything they get near so I can't comment about how those work with boxes. 

 

No worries.  All of my "reserves" are in original packaging on a pegboard in my man cave. The baits "in play" are in the Plano boxes without packaging.  I have NEVER had an issue.

 

[Cgolf]

4 hours ago, WI_Angler1989 said:

Seems like the opinions are pretty 50/50. I've always wanted to store plastics in planos, but it'd be a shame to end up with ruined boxes and dried plastics. I'm way to poor and frugal to risk it!

 

I have never seen a plastic other than gulp dry out. I actually will rinse off the stock scent and salt on some baits that have way too much out of the bag. The reason I do this is so that the and oil don't trash the box and most importantly, the gel scent I use then sticks to the bait better. 

 

I have also had Zoom baits come out of the package totally dry and dripping in oil, there doesn't seem to be a pattern with them. Seen similar issues with Yum baits too, especially with salt in the bag. 

16 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

No worries.  All of my "reserves" are in original packaging on a pegboard in my man cave. The baits "in play" are in the Plano boxes without packaging.  I have NEVER had an issue.

 

 

I do the same, because bulk storage in planos can tackle up a lot of space, but for on the water they work out awesome for carrying lots of styles and colors. I store the reserves in gallon bags like others and put them in a drawer. Next house will have a tackle room:)

[ethan-333]

27 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

That's what I do too:

 

 

yep. best way ive found. can get more in 1 box than i could probably get in 3 3700s if i take them out of the package

[RyneB]

I store my main plastics in planos. Everything from Roboworms, zoom trick worms, rage menaces, RI bwavers, Gambler otters. Pretty much any bait you can think, and have never had a single issue. Just don't EVER put an elaztec type bait with a different brand of plastic or a plano box. it'll be devastating. I found out the hard way.

[TxHawgs]

@RyneB Nice boat brotha! You guys r awesome, my main goal was to keep baits in the Plano to keep them straight and not be carrying my tackle bag and gallon ziploc containers as a co-angler. So after reading the comments I'm going to put the ones I'm going to use in the tourney in a Plano. The ones I can't like Rage in clam shells ect. I will leave in original container. I went to Wallyworld last night and bought 6 of the Flambeau 4007 for only $4.66 a pc so not worried if they warp. And the baits in a lot of oil or scent I'm just gonna rinse off like mentioned above as I usually use JJs magic on my baits, and the clear if I don't want to dye it. Thanks a lot guys!

[NHBull]

I keep my popular plastics in Plano's, the rest in bags in a tupperware.  The longer I fish the more I realize I don't need every size in every color....and it I run low, replacements are only 2 days away 

[blckshirt98]

If you're going to put them in Plano's put them in a small Ziploc bag or something first.  Some baits are more oliy than others, and some baits have color bleed that will leech into and stain the Plano plastic.  I have some GYCB double tail grubs stored in a Plano straight, and the pumpkin color stained the compartment.

[Fishes in trees]

For me, putting a smallish assortment of soft plastics in Plano box is more trouble than it is worth.  Keep the small assortment of soft plastics in a zip lock bag.   I prefer original packages in a gallon zip lock bag.  (Be sure and use the freezer weight as it is more durable )   For a more permanent solution, go to Harbor Freight and they sell 12" or 15" canvas tool bags that work great for soft plastic storage.   Me - I have about 10 of those and they work for keeping different styles of plastics separate, yet organized. Fishing as a co-angler these bags have the advantage of you can throw them into the bottom of the boat, forget about them, step on them, whatever and they are still there when you need them and soft plastics are more or less protected.

[Scarborough817]

i'm half in half out i have most of my plastics live out of the package in planos other than the ones i know need to be in their own packaging like z-man, anything that may dry out like pork chunks or anything that comes in a clam shell like the rage tail series or keitechs

[gripnrip]

On January 2, 2017 at 4:48 PM, MIbassyaker said:

 

That's what I do too:

 

 

I like this idea a little better than the one I've came up with. I use small shoe totes to store mine in while on the boat.  I'll give this a shot and see if it's any better.

[ethan-333]

3 hours ago, gripnrip said:

I like this idea a little better than the one I've came up with. I use small shoe totes to store mine in while on the boat.  I'll give this a shot and see if it's any better.

walmart has the best price ive found. vs twh. bass pro etc. can get the plano 3731 for 6.11 on walmart.com