Soft tackle or hard case

[Bassin Bruce]

Hey all new here and I'm going to consider myself new to bass fishing as well, I've been away from bass fishing for 20 years or so( got wrapped up in fly fishing for trout in that time)

Anyway I still have all my bass gear and I was using it last season when I decided to get back into this. Presently I'm using a 35 Year old Plano open tray type tackle box, I fish a lot of soft plastics which are all jumbled up in their bags in the bottom of the box and also a lot of crank baits. It's all just an unorganized mess and there is not enough room, I am a gear junkie and like to have a lot on hand.

 

This will most likely be my last tackle box of my lifetime given that the last one hasn't been replaced for 35 years. I was looking at the Plano hard case tackle boxes then started to look at the soft cases the hold all sorts of 3750 boxes.

Question to you guys that have migrated to the soft cases that hold these boxes, are there any unforeseen downfalls to these type cases vs the old style hard cases.

I see the hard cases of today also hold the same 3750 boxes but not nearly as many, but they also have the top tray to hold extra reels/line/pliers what have you. Is that a missing piece in the soft cases.

I'm specifically looking at BassPro soft case https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-advanced-anglers-ii-magnum-tackle-system

and this Plano hard case. https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/plano-787-guide-series-angled-storage-system

 

I think I already know the  Plano isn't going to be enough to hold my assortment and am leaning towards the soft case but wanted to hear any downfalls to this before I commit to it.

I am certainly open to any and all other suggestions, and thanks in advance.

 

[Fishin Dad]

Bassin Bruce,

 

Welcome back to the bass world!!  I really like a semi soft bag that allows me to store my 3700 boxes horizontal, not vertical.  It keeps the tackle in those boxes from getting all tangled up.  I have settled on the Wild River Tackle bag 

This allows me to store 5 3700 and 2 3600 boxes.  It also has a large top section that opens up and lets me store of ton of small items, lines, etc.  It has lasted me 5 years so far and it gets a lot of use.   

I like the fact that I can keep the 15 or so boxes I have loaded with tackle in my fishing room and just decide which boxes I want to load in the bag depending on the type of fishing, lake, conditions, or whose boat I am fishing out of.   I do end up slinging it in my boat when I use mine, or I can bring it with me when fishing in a buddies boat.  

There are other variations from other manufacturers as well.  This is a well made bag and has served me well.

Enjoy the bass world again!!

 

FIshin Dad

[Finessegenics]

I feel like hard tackle boxes have become obsolete for bank anglers. It is so much easier to carry around a soft tackle bag which you can sling around your shoulder, leaving one of yours hands free. I actually prefer a backpack style for bank angling but that soft bag looks great. 

[scbassin]

What fishing dad said.

[Fishin Dad]

3 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

I feel like hard tackle boxes have become obsolete for bank anglers. It is so much easier to carry around a soft tackle bag which you can sling around your shoulder, leaving one of yours hands free. I actually prefer a backpack style for bank angling but that soft bag looks great. 

Finesse, 

I agree with the backpack as well.  They make a backpack version from the same company as well as many others that allow that horizontal carry I like.  

 

[MN Fisher]

I went from hard-case to soft-side a couple years ago - I'm up to 4 bags now in the canoe, but that's beside the point.

 

The side pockets are roomy enough to hold spools of line for leaders or field re-spooling. There's also room for tools, sunscreen, bug repellent, and other items.

[Bankbeater]

For me the biggest advantage for a soft bag is that you can't spill them if the latch isn't closed.

[Dens228]

I fish most of the time out of a kayak using 3700's in a crate.  Plastics are kept in two 3600 boxes, I bring as many plastics as I think I'd need then some, but I also don't believe you need a lot of color choices so that keeps the volume down.  

That being said I use a tackle bag for when I'm not in the kayak and all I have to do is move the 3700's from crate to bag.  I use a BassPro bag.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Dens228 said:

I use a BassPro bag.

Ya, my main bag is a BPS Extreme Qualifier 370 - holds 3-3700s and 3-3701s in the main compartment.

[Bassin Bruce]

Thanks for the replies so far, they are helpful for sure.

I should have included that I will be fishing from a 1980's Scanoe (possibly upgrading that this year as well, we'll see) On lakes and sometimes the Upper Delaware.

One other issue I see is crank bait storage(I like crank baits as well), how do you guys overcome that. Right now they hang off the side of my folding trays, not a good place for sure.

[DitchPanda]

I keep everything in large tackle trays at home organized by lure type. When I'm ready to go out I grab a couple 3600 size trays load them up with my lures and terminal tackle of choice for the day. Also grab my pliers,scissors and whatever bags of soft plastics I need throw them all in a  cinch style backpack and off I go.

[rtwvumtneer6]

Kind of a combination of answers that have already been said - soft backpack style storage will save you a lot of headaches and free up your hands.  Think about the the boxes, tools, drinks, rain gear, etc that you may need and find one that you can compartmentalize.  The key is that it's efficient for you.  

 

I keep all my hard baits that are in rotation in boxes, by type, at home.  Jerkbaits, lipless, topwater, square bill, med diver, deep diver, etc.  Most of my plastics (especially elaztech by zman) stay in their original package.  When I'm going fishing I pick and choose what I might need for that day and it goes into a day box/bag.  My extras, or unopened baits hang on a pegboard.  It's efficient and easy to see when I'm running low on a particular bait.

 

I like these guys for treble bait safety/storage.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Treble_Hook_Safety_Caps/descpage-OHC.html?from=gshop&gclid=CjwKCAiAlNf-BRB_EiwA2osbxUEA-Pv0CjZ0EkotBzkxi62o28CmawaC2HGmcUa0nxC-UlrsFAtkqhoCDGQQAvD_BwE

[Bassin Bruce]

Fishing Dad that is a really nice bag you have there and I just might be a good solution. 

One thing you do mention and it could be a problem with the PB bag I listed is that it holds the cases vertically in the bag instead of horizontally like your wild river bag, I'm wondering how much of an issue it is for tackle migrating from compartments when stored vertically or just getting all in a ball, I dunno.

[MN Fisher]

@Bassin Bruce- this is a shot of my BPS Extreme Qualifier - it also holds the boxes on the long-edge.

 

The BPS 370 boxes are ideal for terminal tackle as they have more compartments than a Plano 3700.

[Fishin Dad]

32 minutes ago, Bassin Bruce said:

Fishing Dad that is a really nice bag you have there and I just might be a good solution. 

One thing you do mention and it could be a problem with the PB bag I listed is that it holds the cases vertically in the bag instead of horizontally like your wild river bag, I'm wondering how much of an issue it is for tackle migrating from compartments when stored vertically or just getting all in a ball, I dunno.

I have had them both ways, and I much prefer to hold them horizontally.    It is certainly not critical, I just find it keeps my tackle in better condition (not as much chipped paint, hook points don’t get bounced around and damaged as much).    It also doesn’t get things as knotted up or migrating to other places with smaller stuff.   It is just my personal preference and I will not buy another bag that isn’t horizontal in storage.  The way my bag stacks them having a visual of each box makes it very easy to locate what I want and take that box out and put it back easily.  
Good luck with your search. 

[Bassin Bruce]

Thank you Ken, very helpful 

[schplurg]

9 hours ago, Bassin Bruce said:

Fishing Dad that is a really nice bag you have there and I just might be a good solution. 

One thing you do mention and it could be a problem with the PB bag I listed is that it holds the cases vertically in the bag instead of horizontally like your wild river bag, I'm wondering how much of an issue it is for tackle migrating from compartments when stored vertically or just getting all in a ball, I dunno.

 

I have a few Planos in my backpack and it gets set upsidedown, tossed on the ground randomly and knocked around, and my tackle stays put. Oh a few small hooks may slip around, but not very often.

 

My Planos are the cheap ones from Walmart - 3600 and 3700. $2-3 each.

 

I like my boxes organized vertically because it's easier to see which box I'm grabbing, and it's easier to pull them out of the pack.

[Bassin Bruce]

That's great info for me , Thank you. 

Based on all the discussion and input from you guys I'm pretty assured that going with the 3700 series bag will be the way to go. 

I appreciate you all sharing your experiences.

[Big Hands]

I think it might be a good idea to consider investing in a 'system' rather than thinking that you're going to get by with a single bag. I don't feel like I need to have every lure, weight, hook, etc. with me on all fishing excursions, and that is why I have adopted a modular solution.

 

I have three different pieces that all hold a number of 3700 size boxes.

 

One is a soft side tackle bag that I take with me in my 14' aluminum boat that holds five 3700 boxes and has three additional pockets to hold additional items.

 

Next is a soft sided tackle backpack for when I ride my bike, or walk into an area to fish. It holds four 3700 boxes and has additional storage pouches and can have two rods strapped to the outside of it as well.

 

Third is a storage bag made to hold eight 3700 boxes that I don't take anywhere. It stays home to hold whatever boxes I don't take with me.

 

By doing this, I don't have to take everything with me, nor do I want to. I can take a pretty good assortment of what I'll need for a day of fishing, but not have to carry ten tons of stuff that I don't need . It seems to be a good working system for me so far. If I get to where I need to store more 3700 size boxes, then I could get more of the storage bags.

[Bassin Bruce]

That’s actually what I really intended to do but as part of that system will be a sort of home base bag that will hold all of my lures and I would do as you say and use a smaller carry bag for my day trips. 
I am retiring within the next 9 months and from that point we’re blowing the water lines out on the house and packing the RV for maybe up to a year away. 
this first bag would need to be able to pack away in that RV and serve all my fishing needs. 

[plawren53202]

When I first got back into fishing, I last remembered the days of my dad having one big hard Plano box with every bit of tackle he owned. 

 

Soft bag with Plano boxes in it is such a better system for so many reasons already stated. Also, you can organize your tackle into the boxes based on bait type, time of year, or other similar systems. I organize soft plastics similarly, by type, except they stay in their original packages and get put into gallon Ziploc bags by type. That way, for instance, when I'm heading to my local pond, I can grab a couple of plano boxes of hard baits, a few bags of soft plastics, all the baits I think I might use that day, and throw them in a backpack. No need to be taking topwater box with me if it's winter and I'm not going to be throwing a topwater.

[LCG]

I started with a hard box, and once I dumped all the contents on the ground I was done with those :).

 

Used a backpack for a bit but found I was carrying way too much and when I downsized it was a lot of empty space wasted.

 

Then moved to a Plano weekender 3600 with slim trays, still have it.

 

I also have a sling back for ultralight walking or wading. Holds one double sided 3500 and one spool of line, and a multi tool. 

 

But my go to bag is a Plano weekender 3500 with two double sided 3500 boxes. One for soft plastics and terminal tackle, the other for hard baits/lures. Bag also holds a multi tool, two full size spools of leader line, plastic fish grippers, a scale, and usually a cliff bar in one of the rubber mesh pockets. Wear it on the bank and clip it to my kayak. Best so far for me, keeps it lightweight with more than enough lure selection and tools. Also keep my wallet, keys, and phone in a water proof bag in the front pocket.