Plano 3700 Thin boxes

[Rodney Smith]

I just got one of these to use as my jerk bait box. It got me thinking that maybe I ought to get some more for other techniques. I’m interested in hearing what anyone else uses them for.

[MN Fisher]

Things I use my 3701 thin boxes for

 

Jerks

Lipless Cranks

Smaller Cranks

Jigs

Frogs/Poppers

 

[A-Jay]

4 hours ago, Rodney Smith said:

I just got one of these to use as my jerk bait box. It got me thinking that maybe I ought to get some more for other techniques. I’m interested in hearing what anyone else uses them for.

 I am a big fan of Plano's Stowaway Slim line of boxes  and use at least two different versions of it.

(3700/3701)

Prefer it for space saving footprint and whenever I want to store baits individually

and /or only in 'one layer' per compartment. 

As you mentioned, seems a solid choice for jerkbaits.

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

[Fishes in trees]

I use them for  "day boxes", whereI just want to carry an assortment of stuff, but not a whole bunch of any one thing.  I carry one for quarter ounce shakey heads ( different. brands ) .  One for 3/8 oz shakey heads ( also different brands ).    I like to try out different brands of jig heads, especially when I get on a shakey head bite.   I'll max out the spaces and just carry 2 or 3 of each type.    When it is time to dry out the used jigs, that is what the carpeted space behind the drivers seat is for.

 

I use them when I want my bait assortment spread out, in individual compartments, like the smaller crank baits that I throw on spinning gear, but mainly for jig heads that I want to keep spread out so that I can easily identify each jig and pick what I want to try.   There are probably 9 or 10  in the boat, probably lots more in the tackle storage shelves in my fishing shed.

[DogBone_384]

I too use 3701's to separate my hard baits/jigs by type.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

I use 3701's to separate my hard baits/jigs by type.

Ya - this is my jig box. Separated by type and weight...yes, I know there's open spots...

[gim]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Prefer it for space saving footprint and whenever I want to store baits individually

and /or only in 'one layer' per compartment. 

What do you mean by one layer? I use a couple of these flat boxes for jerk baits too, but I don’t like keeping more than one per compartment because the trebles always seem to get tangled up.

 

Some lures aren’t flat enough to be kept in these. A wider profile crankbait usually won’t work.

[MN Fisher]

17 minutes ago, gimruis said:

What do you mean by one layer? I use a couple of these flat boxes for jerk baits too, but I don’t like keeping more than one per compartment because the trebles always seem to get tangled up.

I keep cranks/jerks joined by type/size. Owner Treble Safety caps keep them from getting tangled.

My Lipless/Shad Rap box.

 

17 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Some lures aren’t flat enough to be kept in these. A wider profile crankbait usually won’t work.

Ya - standard depth 3700 for my DTs and Squarebills.

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

What do you mean by one layer? I use a couple of these flat boxes for jerk baits too, but I don’t like keeping more than one per compartment because the trebles always seem to get tangled up.

 

Some lures aren’t flat enough to be kept in these. A wider profile crankbait usually won’t work.

Look closely at the jerkbaits in this box and you'll see that I use small rubber bands to bind the trebles together.

Works wonders to keep the baits from turning into that mess of a cluster that happenes when they are not used. 

I do this to EVERY bait and have been for a couple of seasons now.

My Lippless baits really benefit from this.

When I pull out ONE bait - that's all I get.

A-Jay

[rboat]

Hey A-Jay what size rubber bands are those, and where do you get them? That looks very organized and I like that idea.

[NHBull]

Probably got a dozen slims and they maximize space in the boat.

mostly jerks, CB, poppers and other top waters.

 

2 minutes ago, rboat said:

Hey A-Jay what size rubber bands are those, and where do you get them? That looks very organized and I like that idea.

I am sure A-Jay will jump in........I like the rubber bands they use for braces

[scbassin]

I only carry 3701's in the boat now. With crankbaits I don't have the tangle mess anymore, I have plenty of plastic worms, creatures, etc. which I can replenish easily as needed. I use Cooks hangers & double sided tape to hold them under the compartment lids. On them I hang all my single hook style baits ( spinnerbaits, buzzbaits , jigs, etc). Hooks, Weights & all other terminal tackle I use also goes into 2 of these boxes. It lets me carry a better assortment of baits & colors.

[gim]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Look closely at the jerkbaits in this box and you'll see that I use small rubber bands to bind the trebles together.

Good call, didn’t see those bands earlier. Bands or treble covers would both work.

 

Although the bands look like they’re on there really tight. Do you have an issue taking them off when you wanna use one? For this reason I think I would prefer the treble covers instead.

[A-Jay]

49 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Good call, didn’t see those bands earlier. Bands or treble covers would both work.

 

Although the bands look like they’re on there really tight. Do you have an issue taking them off when you wanna use one? For this reason I think I would prefer the treble covers instead.

No way to tell from a pic but they're not tight, no need really.

The 'issue' that this eliminates (tangle mess of baits) IMO is worth the few seconds required.

Considering the sheer number of treble hook covers required,

the bands are the way to go for me. 

YMMV

A-Jay

 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, rboat said:

Hey A-Jay what size rubber bands are those, and where do you get them? That looks very organized and I like that idea.

Thanks ~ This should help 

 

A-Jay

 

[DogBone_384]

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Separated by type and weight

I like the labels.  I'll have to grab wifey's label maker.

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Owner Treble Safety caps

I use Al's Goldfish treble hook covers.  They're cheap and made in USA.  You can get them on Amazon.com. 

[iabass8]

I like the edge thin 3700s for jerkbaits and terminal tackle. 

[rtwvumtneer6]

On 12/25/2020 at 10:05 AM, Fishes in trees said:

I use them for  "day boxes"

This^^^

 

They for perfectly in my slimmer? backpack (old spider wire one from dicks) and takes some of the tension off the seems and zippers.  

[MN Fisher]

On 12/25/2020 at 2:18 PM, DogBone_384 said:

I like the labels.  I'll have to grab wifey's label maker.

I've got a Brother P-Touch I use for all my labeling.

Boxes get labeled

Then the compartments are labeled.

 

For most of my lures, I put the name, weight and running depth on the label so I know exactly what I'm pulling out without having to memorize everything.

[TcRoc]

I transfered to the 3700 Edge Thin for jerkbaits and smaller cranks.

[OnthePotomac]

I use two 3701 boxes, one for swim jigs and one for chatterbaits.

[scbassin]

USA Retired On The Potomac be careful of rust on your hooks. make sure they are dry when you put them up.

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, scbassin said:

USA Retired On The Potomac be careful of rust on your hooks. make sure they are dry when you put them up.

For added insurance - Silica Gel Packs. All my boxes have 4-5 of them in one of the compartments.

https://www.amazon.com/Desiccant-Packets-Moisture-Absorber-Dehumidifiers/dp/B01MT4TVQS/ref=sr_1_30?dchild=1&keywords=silica+gel+packs&qid=1609194309&sr=8-30

[Rodney Smith]

I have the Rustrictor thin box. Would I still need the silica packs? After reading this post and analyzing my boxes, I ordered 4 more Rustrictor thins. Most of my standard size boxes have too much wasted space. The thinner boxes give you more slots and just less depth.

[Dirtyeggroll]

1 hour ago, Rodney Smith said:

I have the Rustrictor thin box. Would I still need the silica packs?

I’d hate to be the one to report that you need them. A pack or two for prevention probably wouldn’t hurt anything.