When do you take hard baits out of their package?

[KevDru]

Hi everyone!

    I’ve been pondering this question a while. Unfortunately I can’t seem to find an adequate answer online so I thought I’d ask a general opinion. 

 

   As I’m sure many of you can relate, I have a accumulated quite a bit of tackle over the past few years (largely thanks to the new subscription boxes from various companies). Naturally this has led to a large pile of hard baits piled in their respective packages. Ironically, my tackle bags are pretty barren (probably 20% total space used) because I only store baits that I have used. 

 

I’ve been reluctant to remove any baits I have yet to use (mainly because I either forget about them or haven’t had the chance to yet). This is largely thanks to my grandfather, who has always preached about keeping baits in their package in case you don’t ever use them. (He collects antique fishing tackle now)

 

So my question is, what are your opinions on storing tackle (specifically hard baits) still in their factory packaging? Do you keep them stores separately or do you remove them and place them in your tackle bags?

[FishinBuck07]

I take mine out of the package as soon as I get them home, they go straight into the tackle trays that are labeled for that style bait!

[Scott F]

I never leave them in the original packaging. I take them out and put them in the appropriate Plano utility boxes where all my baits are kept until I load up a tackle box with only the baits I’m going to use for the day.

[Todd2]

X3

[Scott F]

I’ve never subscribed to one of those places that sends me tackle I’ll never use. If I buy it, I’ll tie it on, sooner or later. You can’t use it while it’s still in the package.

[A-Jay]

17 minutes ago, KevDru said:

Hi everyone!

    I’ve been pondering this question a while. Unfortunately I can’t seem to find an adequate answer online so I thought I’d ask a general opinion. 

 

   As I’m sure many of you can relate, I have a accumulated quite a bit of tackle over the past few years (largely thanks to the new subscription boxes from various companies). Naturally this has led to a large pile of hard baits piled in their respective packages. Ironically, my tackle bags are pretty barren (probably 20% total space used) because I only store baits that I have used. 

 

I’ve been reluctant to remove any baits I have yet to use (mainly because I either forget about them or haven’t had the chance to yet). This is largely thanks to my grandfather, who has always preached about keeping baits in their package in case you don’t ever use them. (He collects antique fishing tackle now)

 

So my question is, what are your opinions on storing tackle (specifically hard baits) still in their factory packaging? Do you keep them stores separately or do you remove them and place them in your tackle bags?

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

I tried doing it in the store a few times but apparently that's frowned upon.

So now I wait until I get in the truck ~ 

A-Jay

 

[Mobasser]

I usually just take them out of the package, and put them in my tackleboxes when they're new. The only reason I might not do this would be if I have a duplicate of one bait. Then, I'll save one back for later

[MN Fisher]

X4...or X5...whatever. Soon as it arrives, or I'm home if I've shopped local, it comes out of it's package and into the appropriate box.

[MIbassyaker]

Surely, you will want to take them out of the packages right away at least to inspect them for defects!

 

 

 

 

 

[Dens228]

Out of the original boxes and into the Plano box that I have for that particular style. 
Another thing I do for both crankbaits and jerkbaits is a take a marker and write the depth range on the bill.  It saves a bit of time when on the water and makes it easier to quickly pick the lure I'm looking for while fishing. 

[DitchPanda]

I'm with A-Jay on this at least wait until your out of the store... I put everything into storage boxes mostly Plano specifically..only thing I keep in original packaging are soft plastics

[moguy1973]

Why keep them in packaging?  It's not like any mass made lures are going to be worth anything later if you do keep them in the packaging?  I take mine out as soon as I get them home and on the boat.  If I don't take them out then I have the packaging laying around in the boat when would open them when I'm out fishing.  I don't like trash in the boat.

[Mbirdsley]

I take them right out to swap hooks and   Than into the tackle tray.  If I buy 2 Or more of the same color that I haven't tried before I only open one, swap hooks, place in Plano box.  If I buy more of one that I’ve used before and it’s a known hot lure, swap hooks on both and put both in the Plano box 

 

lately I have been testing all my cranks in the bath tub 

[J Francho]

I have a TON of tackle still in it's packaging.  Much of what I want to try is hung on peg board, ready to be torn open and put in a tray.  A great majority is in four large plastic tubs, waiting to hit the peg board.  I would organize and prioritize what you're going to try and use in the near future, and get it into a box you will take fishing with you.  Otherwise, you forget what you have. 

[Dangerfield]

Steps:

1. Research BR + Interwebs - happiness

2. Brood about hard water / next time on water - sorrow

3. Purchase - lots of excitement

4. Wait - too much excitement

5. Delivery - extreme euphoria

6. "Latest Tackle Purchase Thread" Photo Op - peaking

7. Unpack baits - coming down

8. Organize and Store - ahh has cigarette

9. ????? - withdraw/depression

10. Monitor "Latest Tackle Purchase Thread"... get stupid ideas and go back to Step 1.

[MN Fisher]

59 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

Surely, you will want to take them out of the packages right away at least to inspect them for defects!

 

 

 

 

 

Case in point - got the 5-pack of BPS squarebills. Open it up to find that the front hooks were mis-shaped. Instead of them forming a triangle looking at them from below, they formed a 'T' shape. Of course I replaced them with Owner ST-36s.

[BassNJake]

I have 20-30 hard baits still in the package handing on a peg board in the garage.

A lot of times I will buy a half dozen lures of the same kind.

 

I actually do this with most of my baits.

 

Sometimes the baits stay in the package for years.

I bought a bunch of these to fish the weed mats at Guntersville.

I think I used 2 baits and have had 5 packages hanging for 10 years.

Sometimes a good idea really isnt

 

[J Francho]

Heddon made some kind Zara "something" that was floating soft plastic and weedless like that 25 years ago.  Didn't work then.

[Tizi]

I take mine out and store them in planos, except if I have the same bait already in the plano, it goes into a box (for now, working on peg board).  I have a small boat bag full of unopened plugs.

[swhit140]

My lures go into my boxes, I don't have extra tackle sitting around in my garage or anything like that. Highly recommend getting hook bonnets for your treble hook lures, makes fishing much easier not having to untangle 6 different crankbaits wrapped together. I keep 75% of my tackle in this one tackle bag. The other selection of my baits are soft plastics which are stored vertically in small totes in my boat and easy to go through to find what I want to use. I like everything organized and easy to access so I know where it is. I just restock at the end of the season when they have fall/christmas sales.

[king fisher]

Bait Monkey taught me years ago to open as soon as legally possible,  (even the bait monkey wont encourage  me to open before I pay for it)  try as soon as possible, loose as soon as possible, and replace as soon as possible.  Waiting would be like a kid waiting to open Christmas packages until noon on Christmas day.  Have to admit I have held buzz baits out the window of the car on the way home, and placed crank baits in the bath tub.  My wife thinks I have a problem, she may be right.  

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

Well you cant play with them if they are still packaged, now can you.

[Catt]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

I tried doing it in the store a few times but apparently that's frowned upon.

So now I wait until I get in the truck ~ 

A-Jay

 

 

Somewhere between the cast register & the truck!

[Smells like fish]

Out of approx 5,000 hard baits I have probably a thousand still in the packs 80% has never been wet lol. The color called Smoky Joe in the Bomber Long A has been real good to me over the years and I buy that color whenever I come across it so there is like half a dozen of those unopened and any other lures that have been lucky for me is hoarded. My fishing buddy now in his 70's taught me from his lifetime of fishing is that if you like a particular lure to buy as many you can afford!

[Tizi]

I get one of these every month too.