Lightening the load (boat storage)

[rboat]

Recently, I have been going through all of the lures stored in the boat and removing stuff I never use. I hate to do this with that nagging voice in my head saying, what if you need that in a certain situation, but I like most, use the same few lures most of the time. I figure I have reduced weight, good for towing and gas mileage. It also makes things easier to find and more organized. Anyone else do this? or do you keep everything in your boat?

[Cbump]

The only thing in my boat right now is required safety equipment including two life jackets, some quickleen and quickare, a rope, weigh bag and cull tags in Live well, dip net, measure stick, cull beam, light pole. That’s It. 
 

 

I have two large tubs of plastics, a terminal tackle box, and 3700 boxes for jigs (all types including bladed and spinner), crankbaits/lipless, swimbaits, jerkbaits, dropshot/Ned box. About 10 boxes total. I can catch fish year round with that. My gear and my 15 rods stay inside. 
I grab what I need depending on time of year and go. 

[TOXIC]

My rule of thumb has always been…since I’m not out here to race anybody and my 21 foot boat is more floating tackle box than sports car, I’m packing it to the gunnels with baits.  MPG on my old 2 stroke sucks bad anyway so no real benefit to eliminating weight or gear.  The one caveat I do have is that it has to be organized.  If you really want to eliminate some serious weight switch from AGM or wet cell batteries to lithium.  

[GaryH]

6 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

My rule of thumb has always been…since I’m not out here to race anybody and my 21 foot boat is more floating tackle box than sports car, I’m packing it to the gunnels with baits.  MPG on my old 2 stroke sucks bad anyway so no real benefit to eliminating weight or gear.  The one caveat I do have is that it has to be organized.  If you really want to eliminate some serious weight switch from AGM or wet cell batteries to lithium.  

Exactly. I did switch a year ago to Lithiums and the weight I saved is more than all the tackle weight combined. 

[Bird]

I've not weighed everything in the boat but fairly sure I'm close to GVWR with alloted passengers.

I do not store any baits in the compartments.

Everything is in a rather large tackle bag and placed on front deck while fishing.

[king fisher]

I only have the essentials, no possible way to get any lighter.  Maybe I could leave the blue bag, it has my lunch and water.  Bait Monkey is not in the picture because he is on my back at all times.

 

[Munkin]

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

My rule of thumb has always been…since I’m not out here to race anybody and my 21 foot boat is more floating tackle box than sports car, I’m packing it to the gunnels with baits.  MPG on my old 2 stroke sucks bad anyway so no real benefit to eliminating weight or gear.  The one caveat I do have is that it has to be organized.  If you really want to eliminate some serious weight switch from AGM or wet cell batteries to lithium.  

 

Switched from a 24v to 36v TM, replaced 2x27 series AGM batteries with a single 36v 60A lithium. Between the batteries and chargers I removed 96lbs from the rear of my boat. Moved up from 82lb to 112lb TM.

 

Allen 

[gim]

I don’t have unlimited space in my boat being that it’s only an 18 foot mod v aluminum bass boat. I remove lures and plastics I don’t use, or only use sparingly. I hate clutter and I hate having stuff out on the deck.

 

#lightentheload

 

When I fish in someone else’s boat, I use a Plano weekender tackle bag and grab what I might need.

 

 

[Junk Fisherman]

This is something I have been thinking about.  I use the same dozen or so baits and 75% of the stuff I carry is in the what if or I don't really use this techniques but others do category.  I could probably limit all my tackle to one compartment and do just fine.  

[Susky River Rat]

I carry way too much terminal tackle. I never want to run out if i get into a snag fest. I’d rather run heavier and have what I need then not.
 

Personally, I’d rather lose another 20lbs off my body then take out fishing gear.  I don’t see that happening though either. 

[Alex from GA]

In my kayak I carry one rod, 2 packs of worms and a pill bottle with hooks and weights in my PFD.  A small ice chest with lunch and beer and 1/2 gallon of water.  

[BigAngus752]

I don't do it for weight, I do it for efficiency.  Keep it organized and I have more time to fish instead of digging through stuff.  No way all of my stuff fits in my Ranger anyway.  I have extra hooks, lures and plastics in their original packaging hanging on pegboard in my garage and my extra rods mounted on the wall and overhead.  If I'm not running short on something and/or it's not the correct season for it then it stays in the garage. My brother-in-law was telling people I have a tackle shop in my garage. 

[Columbia Craw]

I don’t “store” anything in my boat except for two terminal boxes. I treat my tackle and combos like a pantry. When I decide where I’m going to fish I stock the boat with the appropriate combos and organized boxes and or bags.  I have “day boxes” where I may place over lapping baits. This system minimizes weight and possible loss from theft.

[TOXIC]

Ok, let me clarify, I don’t have 100 green pumpkin Senkos in the boat.  I’ll bring 50 and leave 50 on the garage wall.  ? 

[Columbia Craw]

4 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

I don’t “store” anything in my boat except for two terminal boxes. I treat my tackle and combos like a pantry. When I decide where I’m going to fish I stock the boat with the appropriate combos and organized boxes and or bags.  I have “day boxes” where I may place over lapping baits. This system minimizes weight and possible loss from theft.

That big talk ain’t worth doodally squat!

[Functional]

I go through at the "end of the season" and cull anything I used that didn't produce or anything I bought that seemed good and I never used. Other than that everything stays in the boat but I keep it very organized in planos or bins from Walmart with labels. 

 

Culled bait is given away to kids and/ or my nephew. 

[GRiver]

All my rigs and tackle stay in my shop, I load morning of.
I have limited myself to what I’m going to use that day. My boat is small, 15ft mod-v, so storage is limited anyway. 
 

[Woody B]

My boat isn't big, but it's a floating tackle box.  I do reel maintenance, re spools, pre trip tie ons ect sitting in my boat.   

[FishTank]

If I'm fishing in my buddy's boat, I take too much.  I bring two large size BPS bags with maybe 12 3700 boxes and 6 3600s, 5 rods, and a cooler for the both of us.

 

If I am in my kayak,  it depends on where I'm going and how long I have to fish.  I might take as little as 2 rods and a small backpack of stuff for short trip to my local lake. If it's an all day excursion or longer,  I've taken up to 10 setups, 8 3700 boxes, 6 3600s, a Dewalt nail and fastener box that fits under my seat with all my favorites, a cooler and my overnight emergency kit (clothes, tent, emergency gear, etc).  I am always surprised how much stuff I can get on my kayak but it does get cumbersome. In reality, my box of favorites, five rods, and some snacks takes care of most of my trips.