Accessories: Do you make your own or find inexpensive substitutes?

[DanielG]

I was posting on a 'tariffs' thread just now and wondered if anyone makes or finds alternatives to expensive accessory fishing gear. There are already forum topics on things like lure making and such. I'm thinking the other stuff. Like pole sleeves, or tackle box alternatives, pole holders, just to name a few obvious ones.

 

• So, do you make your own accessories?
• Do you find less expensive alternatives to accessories costing a lot because they are labeled "for fishing"?

 

i.e. I use surprisingly well made multiple compartment sewing thread boxes to keep my crankbaits. Side by side they cost half as much as those labeled for fishing and seem remarkably the same.

 

I also make my own rod sleeves out of sharkskin cloth. Really inexpensive, easy, and they are super protective.

 

Rod holders out of PVC pipe.

 

Etc....

[MN Fisher]

I did quite a few mods to my canoe to make it a fishing machine - most of it detailed here.

  One example is the rod-rack I made from PVC pipe screwed into 3/4" MDF which is through-bolted to the canoe side

 

[Ratherbfishing]

PVC is wonderful stuff.  

 

Keep your eye on those sewing thread boxes.  They may or may not be worm proof.

[DanielG]

18 hours ago, Ratherbfishing said:

PVC is wonderful stuff.  

 

Keep your eye on those sewing thread boxes.  They may or may not be worm proof.

Worm proof? What am I missing here that I don't understand?

[PourMyOwn]

1 minute ago, DanielG said:

Worm proof? What am I missing here that I don't understand?

Non worm proof boxes will react poorly with worms. You'll get a melted worm and a hole in the box. 

[DanielG]

30 minutes ago, PourMyOwn said:

Non worm proof boxes will react poorly with worms. You'll get a melted worm and a hole in the box. 

Ah, I see. How do they make a box worm proof? Right now I only have hard baits in mine.

 

31 minutes ago, PourMyOwn said:

Non worm proof boxes will react poorly with worms. You'll get a melted worm and a hole in the box. 

 

[MN Fisher]

It's a special formulation of the Polyethylene (PE). Regular PE reacts to some chemicals in the worms...mainly the scents but also the chemical that keeps them soft and pliable. Worm-Proof PE has an added ingredient that resists those chemicals.

[PourMyOwn]

12 minutes ago, DanielG said:

Ah, I see. How do they make a box worm proof? Right now I only have hard baits in mine.

 

 

If it's a tackle box made after 1990, chances are good it is worm proof.  I hadn't heard that term in ages!

[Ratherbfishing]

On 9/29/2019 at 3:49 PM, PourMyOwn said:

Non worm proof boxes will react poorly with worms. You'll get a melted worm and a hole in the box. 

What he (and others) said.