Organizing tournament tackle

[GoneFishingLTN]

I currently organize all my baits in hard boxes like everyone else and my soft plastics in the original bags then combine them into larger ziplock bags in the category they belong. I was wondering is it better to make boxes for each thing so drop shot box to have the plastics out of the bags, hooks, sinkers in the box also. Repeat this with ledge fishing baits swimbait hooks etc. Any thoughts/suggestions

[TOXIC]

Yes and no....  As a general rule, you never put terminal tackle in the same storage as plastics.  So, for dropshot for example, I have a small terminal tackle box with weights and hooks and a larger 3700 size box with plastics.  I combine my dropshot and shakeyhead plastics in the same box to conserve space.  I never store anything in the original packing because after a while, the bag in a bag method really reduces space IMHO.  

[J Francho]

Not much about storing metal with salty baits sounds very good.  I have a hook box, a jig box, and a weighted hook box.  All are Plano Hydroflow deep boxes.

[Troy85]

I keep my soft plastics separate from hooks and weights as well.  Currently I store original bag, inside ziplock bag.  I'm thinking about transferring to plano boxes for my plastics though.

[Angry John]

I store all of my terminal tackle in a coffin 3700.  I have a second for jigs.  Plastics are in bins with latch tops sorted by creature.  Worms have the largest bin and I keep ds in it's own bin.

[NorthE97]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

Not much about storing metal with salty baits sounds very good.  I have a hook box, a jig box, and a weighted hook box.  All are Plano Hydroflow deep boxes.

 

49 minutes ago, Angry John said:

I store all of my terminal tackle in a coffin 3700.  I have a second for jigs.  Plastics are in bins with latch tops sorted by creature.  Worms have the largest bin and I keep ds in it's own bin.

Not to hijack the thread but... from your personal experiences does keeping hooks/jigs in a waterproof tackle tray, like bass mafia or plano waterproof series, contribute to any rust by trapping moisture in the box? I know the hydroflow aren't waterproof and have holes in bottom and was wondering if you have any problems with rust in that?

[fishwizzard]

I keep hooks and plastics mixed in the same planos for a few years and have never found any rusting so long as I never put wet plastics or hooks back in.  I also use z-rust tabs, cutting them in half and putting them on the compartments that the hooks are in.  

 

Come to think of it, I think the only hook rusting I have ever experienced has been with a worm hook I left stuck in a foam fly-holder in the pocket of my pack where I dump wet lures while on the water.  I think it was there for most of the spring before I went to use it and found that the point had a light frosting of rust on it.  

[BassNJake]

I keep my plastics stored in their original bags and same types are stored in a ziplock.

 

Tournament prep for me includes making a "day" bag, where I'll keep plastics most likely to be used based on what "pattern" or type of fishing we will be doing for the day.

This goes right on top of the center compartment for easy access.

Ideally when I have prepped correctly my rods will be rigged with the correct tackle, it'll just be the plastics I'm switching out.

 

This works pretty good for me until those days when the entire "plan" changes mid day.

 

 

[Sam]

Since I know what baits I want to throw during the day, I put them in a separate tackle box, along with their terminal tackle, so I will have them ready to go.

 

Of course, I take other baits just in case nothing hits the ones I selected for the day.

[WRB]

I keep my tackle organized so I can find it when needed. My boat is garaged so no need to remove tackle or put it back between trips. 

Tournament fishing I know what to expect before leaving to fish so my tackle is organized to use specific presentations, the choices are reduced and quantity needed for the event are increased, everything needed placed where it can be accessed quickly.

I keep my finesse hooks and weights in 2 Plano 4600 boxes, weights, beads, etc in 1 box and hooks in the other box. Spare hooks hept in original bags in 1 gallon zip lock bags. Worms and soft plastics are stored in 3700 boxes by finesse by color or larger size worms by color and creatures by color. Spare soft plastic kept in 1 gallon zip lock bagels. Since I have a good idea of what is working I organize the soft plastics by putting the boxes intended for use in 1 location. 

If tournament fishing in another boat, the choices get reduced further and placed into a tackle bag designed for the boxes. If I know the exact soft plastic to use I take a 50 or 100 bag of that specific soft plastic. It takes skill to reduce tackle to what is needed.

Tom

[Catt]

Organizing tournament tackle?

 

My tackle is organized one way, y'all may call it "tournament" organized. My organization process is at that level regardless of tournament day or going to bayou across the street with my grandson.

 

Close to 50 yrs of night fishing taught me this ?

[J Francho]

On 9/7/2018 at 11:48 AM, NorthE97 said:

 

Not to hijack the thread but... from your personal experiences does keeping hooks/jigs in a waterproof tackle tray, like bass mafia or plano waterproof series, contribute to any rust by trapping moisture in the box? I know the hydroflow aren't waterproof and have holes in bottom and was wondering if you have any problems with rust in that?

Hydro flow boxes have completely eliminated any rust issues. I won’t anything else anymore. 

[TOXIC]

I forgot to add that I spray a little WD 40 on my hooks in the Plano boxes.  I also put a chunk of sidewalk chalk in them as well.