Downsizing for Bank fishing - first order of retrievability

[bholt91]

https://imgur.com/gallery/QEa3kjd

 

Taking a look at my terminal tackle box for this year. Realized that I was carrying way too much. So this year I decided to do some diy and follow a path of Mr. Adam Savage and his concept of “first order or retrievability” ie. The things I need are put where I can get them without having to open or move other things. Decided to go with Eva foam to hold the hooks firmly so they don’t move and provide neat organization. Also went much smaller as I found I only use a few hooks per trip so carrying a 20 of the same hook was pointless (hehe) and just extra weight. Always keep a bigger box with spares in the car in case. Have you guys used split foam boxes (Gammy split foam box) in the past? What do you think? 

[Mobasser]

I modified an 8x8 zip lunch bag for bank walking. It carries more than what I need for two or three hour trips. I refuse to pack a big tacklebox or tacklebag. These make bank fishing too much work.                                                            Travelling light is the way to go. I've never used split foam boxes, but if it's lightweight, and holds the stuff you need, it's working for you.

[lo n slo]

backpack ?

[bholt91]

I will add that the smaller box will go with a small sling bag with some jigs, cranks, a a selection of soft plastic. Larger one will be for specific trips or kept in the car to refill the smaller one. I slimed the amount of plastics down as well to focus on key strategies, learning something new, and some confidence baits (fluke and finesse worm)

[Biglittle8]

I carry a backpack. I fill one 3700 with hard baits that I pick depending on the weather, water clarity,etc...then I have 1 small box with terminal tackle, a scale and 4 or 5 bags of softbaits. Also, bottle of Edge hot sauce and 1 zip-lock bag full of baits soaked in JJ's. And... A snack of course!

[Biglittle8]

8 hours ago, bholt91 said:

I will add that the smaller box will go with a small sling bag with some jigs, cranks, a a selection of soft plastic. Larger one will be for specific trips or kept in the car to refill the smaller one. I slimed the amount of plastics down as well to focus on key strategies, learning something new, and some confidence baits (fluke and finesse worm)

If you want to keep it real simple, leave your bag at the house by accident... All you have is what's tied on your rods! Been there...Done that!

[Derek1]

Don’t laugh but this and a bag of assorted soft plastic is all I carry to walk the bank. They both fit in my pockets. It ends up being 2 through 4 options for up to four rods. About 8 or so total bait options. I try to only bring three rods but then can’t decide on the third so end up with four. A pair of pliers and scale in my other pocket and it’s of to the races. When I used a backpack I always ended up with to much in it. This has been great. I have a small tackle bag of supplies in the van and I load this up for what I want to do at the time. It was game changing to just have a few things in my pocket. If I can’t catch anything with 8 bait options I’m probably not gonna with 48 bait options. 

[Deephaven]

Bank fishing I wear a fly fishing vest.  Pack in it and go.  Anything else I find superfluous and just extra weight.  

[Deleted account]

When bank fishing, unless you are going to one spot and camping out (which is seldom a good idea) less is more. Depending on where and when, I'll go with one rod and one bait with a few back ups of the same thing, to a knapsack with one or two 3600 boxes and a couple of bags of plastics. Anything more is counter productive. When in transition like now, or when fishing unfamiliar water I'll be on the upper end of it, and when I'm getting a fix for an hour or two local, I may just take one rod and a couple of things in a pocket.

[Fishes in trees]

The classic dilemma of a bank fisherman.   Is it better to have it and not need it or need it and not have it.  Back in the day when I was a bank bound meat fishing bush hippie, I erred on the side of taking too much stuff.   My fishing back pack was relatively heavy and I generally carried all the rods I owned at the time ( 3).    If the bass weren't biting, I had the gear to switch over to panfish or catfish right there with me, so I didn't have to walk back to the car.

[Chonch12]

Debo is that you??? Great sticker, love Debo's videos, awesome dude

 

I bank fish myself andI am always making adjustments as what to bring. Have the TW backpack and it holds quite a bit. Carry the following:

 

 - EDGE 3700 for terminal tackle, random items, extra lures that dont fit elsewhere

 - EDGE Jig Box - Use half for jigs and fit half with some jerkbaits and other hard lures

 - EDGE 3600 with Cranks

 - 8-12 bags plastics give or take. I tend to mix colors in a single bag if they are the same brand and wont bleed. For Example will carry 4 Zako in white, 4 in Chart white and keep then in same bag, 4 in a mini bag for no bleeding, allows me carry multiple colors of the same lure. The Clam Shells work amazing for this as well

  -Pliers, Scale, and Water

 

 

Never used split foam, just let them sit in a compartment in the boxes. You think it make a large difference?

[Biglittle8]

9 hours ago, Derek1 said:

Don’t laugh but this and a bag of assorted soft plastic is all I carry to walk the bank. They both fit in my pockets. It ends up being 2 through 4 options for up to four rods. About 8 or so total bait options. I try to only bring three rods but then can’t decide on the third so end up with four. A pair of pliers and scale in my other pocket and it’s of to the races. When I used a backpack I always ended up with to much in it. This has been great. I have a small tackle bag of supplies in the van and I load this up for what I want to do at the time. It was game changing to just have a few things in my pocket. If I can’t catch anything with 8 bait options I’m probably not gonna with 48 bait options. 

I find it harder to travel with more than 1rod than a backpack with tackle, you have to keep putting down and picking up. I try to take two sometimes, that way I always have a jig handy. ?

[garroyo130]

10 hours ago, Derek1 said:

 

^This setup is ideal. Not those specific baits but using a single box for bait and terminal tackle. 

 

IMO a dedicated terminal tackle box just complicates things when you're packing light

[Peddiesake]

If I’m fishing stick baits I’ll mix several colors in the Stiko BPS plastic box they came in and include three extra Gami EWG hooks. If I’m fishing lues ie: I’ll put three extra in an altoids tin.

same with in lines etc. slide it in your pocket and your good to go bank fishing. Light, non intrusive, and organized. The rest of the tackle stays in the trunk of the car.

 

[DitchPanda]

I use a smallish drawstring backpack...fill a tackle tray or two..throw my tools and scale in the front pocket...throw in a handful of bags of soft baits.

[bholt91]

11 hours ago, Deephaven said:

Bank fishing I wear a fly fishing vest.  Pack in it and go.  Anything else I find superfluous and just extra weight.  

I was gifted a vest this past holiday and looking forward to trying it out. I like the idea of all you have is what is on you and you don’t have to carry anything. Mine has a decent amount of various size pockets for plastics and a few very small boxes. 

10 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

When bank fishing, unless you are going to one spot and camping out (which is seldom a good idea) less is more. Depending on where and when, I'll go with one rod and one bait with a few back ups of the same thing, to a knapsack with one or two 3600 boxes and a couple of bags of plastics. Anything more is counter productive. When in transition like now, or when fishing unfamiliar water I'll be on the upper end of it, and when I'm getting a fix for an hour or two local, I may just take one rod and a couple of things in a pocket.

This was this idea for this year. I currently use the cabelas “catch all bags” fits a few 3600 boxes and has side pockets for various things. I just saw myself packing it full and then not using nearly everything and it got heavier than I would have liked. I am not good with jigs so this year I was going to force myself by not bringing much else than a few jigs and trailers. 

[bholt91]

6 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

Debo is that you??? Great sticker, love Debo's videos, awesome dude

 

I bank fish myself andI am always making adjustments as what to bring. Have the TW backpack and it holds quite a bit. Carry the following:

 

 - EDGE 3700 for terminal tackle, random items, extra lures that dont fit elsewhere

 - EDGE Jig Box - Use half for jigs and fit half with some jerkbaits and other hard lures

 - EDGE 3600 with Cranks

 - 8-12 bags plastics give or take. I tend to mix colors in a single bag if they are the same brand and wont bleed. For Example will carry 4 Zako in white, 4 in Chart white and keep then in same bag, 4 in a mini bag for no bleeding, allows me carry multiple colors of the same lure. The Clam Shells work amazing for this as well

  -Pliers, Scale, and Water

 

 

Never used split foam, just let them sit in a compartment in the boxes. You think it make a large difference?

Nope. Not the man himself but a fan for sure. Debo just seems like a cool real dude. One of my favorite things about his videos is that he is there to fish and enjoys it. It’s not about catching the 10lb monster but any fish is a good fish. Just a cool guy. Would love to go fishing with him or sit down with a cold one and talk about fishing. Seems like you have a good system down. I have been eyeing one of the TW bags but haven’t pulled the trigger. The edge boxes look nice but not getting them until my current boxes wear out. Already overflowing my space in the garage. 
 

As for the foam it seems to work well but haven’t been out to the pond yet to test. I think it is easier to identify the hooks and get them out. Plus I know what I have at a quick glance. I also just like to look of the hooks stacked up and organized. 

5 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

 

IMO a dedicated terminal tackle box just complicates things when you're packing light

This was my thought with the smaller box. It fits in the pocket and only has a few spares for each technique. If I use them all I have another box of extra in the car and the whole collection at home. No need to carry out everything you got on every trip. 

[Chonch12]

12 hours ago, bholt91 said:

Nope. Not the man himself but a fan for sure. Debo just seems like a cool real dude. One of my favorite things about his videos is that he is there to fish and enjoys it. It’s not about catching the 10lb monster but any fish is a good fish. Just a cool guy. Would love to go fishing with him or sit down with a cold one and talk about fishing

100% agree on this one. Sent him several things for his giveaways, always happy help out a guy like that as he deserves to have a lot more subs then he has.

 

Thanks, its still and always will be a WIP haha. I jumped on the EDGE boxes when they have those crazy flash sales on Amazon, can get them really cheap here and there. They are really nice quality. I probably do need to size down my terminal tackle some though overall. Little less weight on my back lol

[jdr99a]

I’m a bank beater too. On a normal 2ish hour outing I usually carry my tackle backpack that has 2 rod holders built in. In the bag I’ll carry a handful of soft plastics, a 3600 box with a mixture of hard baits and wire baits and a terminal tackle box. I usually have one bottom contact setup, a moving bait (paddletail/swim jig/crankbait), and an ‘other’ (top water/fluke/etc.) ready to go. Two of the rods are strapped on the backpack and I keep moving until I feel the need to switch things up.  

If I’m going out for a quick half-hour or so jaunt around one of the ponds I’ll bring one combo and a fanny pack with a couple bags of soft plastics and a few extra hooks weights and maybe a crankbait or two. 
 

I always have pliers, air pods, and bug spray nearby as well. 

[Luke Barnes]

9 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

100% agree on this one. Sent him several things for his giveaways, always happy help out a guy like that as he deserves to have a lot more subs then he has.

 

Debo is the only you tuber I will watch anymore. He doesnt care if he catches a Debo Dink or a hog. He just loves to fish, like me. I was a subscriber shout out about a year ago! 

 

On topic, I'm known to take way too much. Got the biggest backpack Bass Pro offered and it probably weighs close to 40lbs. I'm a pretty big guy so it doesnt bother me, but I did finally decide to make a small easy to take along bag. Its nice to just throw it in the car and leave it and not worrying about all your tackle being stolen out of the car. 

[throttleplate]

this is my bank walking and chest waders pack. When walking the bank i leave it on or toss it beside me. When wading i cinch it up tight and wear it on my waist or across my back.

It will get wet when wading because i go deep  but most everything is in baggies and will dry out all stuff when i get home if needed and will spray some remington rem oil on the metal gear such as my utility knive clippers... I only carry one rod easy peasy.