Show off your trays!

[pauldconyers]

I need to do something for tackle storage and am looking at different tray options. Waterproof or not? Flambeau or Plano? Deep or shallow boxes? Great to have to have a lot of options but it can get confusing too. Went to the Bass Pro sale today and they have their trays that are 14" x 9" all 50% off so price may push me that way even though they are not waterproof and the clamps seen a little bit cheap. Just wanted to see some of your trays showing jigs and cranks and such to get an idea of what size I need and how many.

[MN Fisher]

This is my Crank/Jerk box - Plano Pro-Latch 3620

 

[Scott F]

Waterproof utility boxes are ok, but they not only keep water from getting in, they don’t let water out. The latches also make getting in the boxes more difficult. 

Im not sure if they still do, but Plano used to make the boxes for Flambeau. Deep or shallow, depends on what you are putting in them, the number you can fit in a tackle bag and your personal preference.

[thinkingredneck]

Don't put wet baits up.  Once dry, put them up.  I keep pharmacy Silica packs in my boxes.

[Bluebasser86]

Buy once, cry once. Plano Hydroflo for me. I have the stacks of trays with broken and cracked corners and lids, broken latches, and the worst of all the layer of rust in the bottom to remind me why I don't buy the cheapest boxes anymore. Replacing hundreds of hooks and split rings because of cheap boxes easily justified the slight cost difference to me.

[Logan S]

Used most of the different types over the years...Eventually just settled on regular old Plano 3700's.  I can fit more baits in these than any other type of the same size and that's the biggest selling point for me.  I do use a Bass Mafia Coffin for terminal tackle, but everything else is standard 3700's.  Can find them anywhere, they're cheap, and they fit perfectly in pretty much every type of tackle organizer or bag.  

 

I do take the important boxes out of the boat if it will sit more than a few days and bring em inside.  If it's a really rainy day I'll take them all out and leave them open to dry out (inside the house).  Don't have any rust issues.  

 

[FCPhil]

Just a standard Plano from Walmart. The foam sheet is good for holding swimbaits in place. I drill holes to get some airflow going in certain sections. 

[fishwizzard]

I use 3600 and 3500 trays, I prefer a very small pack when I am on foot so that rules out 3700s.

This is most of them, maybe a half dozen more in my car from the last few days' trips.

 

I pack them two ways, first, around a lure, plastic, or general "theme".  So like this is my "craw-imitators in the 1/2oz and up range" box:

Some 1/2oz jgs, some wobble-heads, some Jikas.  The plastics are mostly Rage Craws at this point with a few random plastics thrown in to use up the ends of bags or to "audition" them for regular use.  

 

The second way I pack them is for a specific combo. These two boxes are for a Loomis mbr783, which is one of my general-purpose walking around rods.  I have worked down to a few presentations that the combo casts and works well that I know will produce in the waters I fish the most.  

So the first box is a few 1/4oz jigs, chatterbaits and plastics for trailers.  I also carry assorted TT to rig the trailer plastics a few different ways.  Then it's a few swimjigs and trailers, plus the same alternate rigging supplies.  Rounded out with some trickworms for when I need to go shallow and subtle.  

Then a box of cranks, spinners, and topwaters that work well for the combo.  

 

This makes grabbing tackle very quick as once I figure out what rod(s) I want to take on a given outing I can just grab a few pre-loaded boxes and hit the road.  It also gives me something to do nights (like this one) where I can't get to sleep.  Tackle-sorting is very soothing work and it really helps some times.  

[Scott F]

I live near the Plano factory and often stop in their outlet store where utility boxes sell for $1-$2 each. Hard not to stock up at those prices. 

[A-Jay]

I use an assortment of mostly Plano boxes.

A-Jay

[pauldconyers]

Because I think I would rather have bigger boxes and less of them (versus smaller boxes but more of them) I think I may just go with the basic 3700. During the current Bass Pro sale today I saw they have their 3700 on sale for half off making them $3.39 and at that price I do not see how I can pass on it. I compared them to the Plano 3700 and other then them having Bass Pro on them they look and feel the exact same.

[Chunk_Chaser]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I use an assortment of mostly Plano boxes.

A-Jay

d**n that’s sexy!

[DogBone_384]

I use Plano 37xx boxes based on the size and quantity lure I'm storing.  Most Plano boxes are still made in USA.

[Joshua van Wyk]

8 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

Because I think I would rather have bigger boxes and less of them (versus smaller boxes but more of them) I think I may just go with the basic 3700. During the current Bass Pro sale today I saw they have their 3700 on sale for half off making them $3.39 and at that price I do not see how I can pass on it. I compared them to the Plano 3700 and other then them having Bass Pro on them they look and feel the exact same.

Go to Walmart,  they have Planos for 3 or 4 bucks.

[Munkin]

 

My hardbaits I took out of the boat to dry after fishing a tournament in the rain.

 

Allen

20 hours ago, Logan S said:

 

I do take the important boxes out of the boat if it will sit more than a few days and bring em inside.   

 

 

By the looks of those two boxes you better hire a security guard if you leave them outside.

 

Allen

[redmeansdistortion]

Here's my pike box.  I also have another with an assortment of bucktails, spinners, Dardevles, and smaller swimbaits.  The next one is a double sided box with steelhead drift tackle.  Last is my brook trout stuff.  You gotta pack light when hiking 50+ miles through the UP of Michigan, and those boxes are small and have my favorite brookie spinners and spoons.

 

 

[OperationEagle]

On 2/15/2019 at 11:49 PM, pauldconyers said:

Because I think I would rather have bigger boxes and less of them (versus smaller boxes but more of them) I think I may just go with the basic 3700. During the current Bass Pro sale today I saw they have their 3700 on sale for half off making them $3.39 and at that price I do not see how I can pass on it. I compared them to the Plano 3700 and other then them having Bass Pro on them they look and feel the exact same.

Those closure clips suck. Are always falling off. I switched all of mine to Plano from Walmart. 

[pauldconyers]

3 minutes ago, OperationEagle said:

Those closure clips suck. Are always falling off. I switched all of mine to Plano from Walmart. 

Yeah that is what I am looking at now. The Plano 3700 is $3.84 at my local Walmart. I am trying to decide if I like the Plano or Flambeau 3700 versions better.

[NorthernBasser]

1 hour ago, OperationEagle said:

Those closure clips suck. Are always falling off. I switched all of mine to Plano from Walmart. 

Yup. For those wondering, these are the latches you want (pro latch). The second pic is the ones that fall off all the time (ribbed).

 

[CrankFate]

21 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

 

 

 

I don’t use these, but after losing about 50 orange beads that spilled out of a bag last year, maybe something like this would help.

[Dvo509]

[pauldconyers]

If I want some boxes for bigger/wider bodied cranks like 6XD's and such would standard 3700 sized boxes do the trick or do I need to look at deep models?

[J Francho]

Plano Hydroflo are the way to go.  SInce I've switched, no more worrying about rusty baits, no wasted time drying out boxes, plain and simple, they just work.

[NorthernBasser]

2 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

If I want some boxes for bigger/wider bodied cranks like 6XD's and such would standard 3700 sized boxes do the trick or do I need to look at deep models?

Those will work.

[HazeRVA]

6 hours ago, J Francho said:

Plano Hydroflo are the way to go.  SInce I've switched, no more worrying about rusty baits, no wasted time drying out boxes, plain and simple, they just work.

I'm starting to change over to these. Do they make a shallow 3700 in the Hydroflo?