Tackle Storage Inertia

[Americanzero]

For the past 10-15 years, I have been doing the same thing as far as tackle storage goes. I bought into the thin, multi adjustable Plano 3700s when they came out, so I have used 7 of them to hold all of my soft plastics. Well as I find myself without a boat currently, and doing a lot of kayak fishing, I have decided it’s high time to have a good look at how I do things, and improve. 
 

So what I did was order 150 blank worm bags, and two Plano 3700 deep storage boxes, and I’m going to repackage *all* of my plastics. My plan is to keep 90% of each bag in storage, then bring the last 10% in condensed for in the Plano boxes. Then I can resupply as needed, and actually organize all the soft plastics I don’t bring out daily. I’m even getting fancy waterproof labels so I can label everything. It should all be uniform (looking at you culprit, with your non zoom sized bags) and clean when I’m done. Anyone else gone through something like this process? 

[MN Fisher]

I started with putting the original bags into 3607-10 (normal depth, one compartment) then into 3600 tackle bags that I put under the seat of my canoe.

 

When I built Bass Trek, I tried a couple different things before going to my final solution.

 

Blank worm bags, labeled with a Brother P-Touch Label Maker, and those put into 3707-10 boxes by type. One has my stickworms (Senkos, Ochos, Stik-Os), one has Trick worms, another Craws, etc. With a label at one end, it's easy to grab exactly what I want.

 

[casts_by_fly]

I just did the opposite. I was carrying 25-30 bags of trailers in my main bag and then another 50 bags of plastics in two speed bags, all in the kayak. I grabbed the essentials into a single 3700 and pared down the speed bags.  Far lighter system and a lot less space taken up. I could knock out a speed bag but I like having two different ones for organizational purposes. 

[gim]

@Americanzero I don’t know if you use Zman elaztech but I would highly recommend not mixing them with other plastics. They tend to not play nice with other brands. Keep them in their original packaging.

[Americanzero]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

@Americanzero I don’t know if you use Zman elaztech but I would highly recommend not mixing them with other plastics. They tend to not play nice with other brands. Keep them in their original packaging.

I specifically don’t use any zman plastics for that reason. I understand why folks love them, but about 10 years ago I accidentally dropped one in the wrong spot and melted a bunch of my plastics. Not to mention now my 11 year old has access to my gear; to me they aren’t better enough to be worth risking it. 

[Craig P]

I have stopped using boxes for bait storage.  I thought they would keep me organized but I found they made me loose track of what I needed to stock up on so I moved to just clear zip lock storage bags with the plastics in their original packaging.  I even use a zip lock bag for spinbaits and skirts.  When I open the hatch, I see the bag I am looking for and it prevents me from banging around boxes.

 

This method works well for me when I have new baits I want to try too.  I throw the loose bait packages into the hatch so that I see them when I am on the water.  If I find that they work, they go into the “proven” zip lock bag.  The “proven” bag is top secret ya know but I won’t lie, every man has their price, including me.  Offers can be set to……. LOL

 

Anyways, I throw empty packages into the minnow bucket of my livewell and at the end of the day, it reminds me that I have to re-stock that item into the boat.  I am not senile yet but one day I plan to be and I think this method will work well then.

[RRocket]

I'm a minimalist in weight and footprint but a maximist in useability. Not sure if any of this will be useful, but here's how I do it.

 

First, I use a sling. It's extremely compact, light weight and extremely useable. Feels natural to spin it around and then be looking straight down into the storage area. Forceps and a line cutter can be reached with 1 hand.

 

Within the bag there are 2 mesh pockets. In each pocket, there's a Ryugi wallets. One is primarily hooks, the other weights and misc tackle. Contained within I can rig: Texas, Free, Jika, Drop Shot, Wacky, Weighted Wacky, Swimbait/Flashy Swimmer, Neko. Pretty much everything. It's shockingly efficient.

 

Next, I use Daiwa clear plastic storage bags. I think these are Medium. Within 2 of these, I carry my primary/most versatile bait (OSP Dolive Stick) in my favorite color s/sizes. In the other, it's a bait I love to throw, Deps Cover Scat. Again, my favorite colors/sizes. 

 

Then I'll carry 2 more bags. These are usually technique specific. I favor the Free Rig, so some type of beaver (current favorite the Egu Chunk) for sure and some type of fish profile (current favorite the Hira Tailor). In the other bag (lately) it's been worms as I've been working on the Flick Shake.

 

Sometimes I'll omit a bag or two and bring my compact OSP lure box. Holds multiple rigged Minimax's and a variety of interesting top water baits (Mini Pompadour), frogs, etc Sometimes I bring it along via Velcro on the front of the bag.

 

I also keep a Daiwa knot tying tool (great!), an exacto blade and a couple spinnerbaits in the front pocket.

 

With everything, around 3.25 pounds. With the heavy specific gravity plastic baits (my current load out) it's 3 lbs 10oz.

 

A staggering amount of utility in a small package.

[Susky River Rat]

@Craig P I am part of the ziplock bag crew too. Keeping it simple. 

[GRiver]

I have a small boat, I keep my plastic in the original packaging and use Plano speed bags, they work great for me. I have carry two, one for worm another for tubes and creatures.

12 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

label at one end, it's easy to grab exactly what I want.

@MN Fisher you are a top notch organizer, Just so you know, I’ve copied some of your ideas. Your hook idea is next on my plans.

[Rockhopper]

I also use a sling pack on the yak.  I exclusively sit as my yak is not very stable.  Sling pack stays on my chest, and holds two 3600 boxes which I keep hard baits, jigs, terminal tackle, etc.  There is a front pocket on my sling that perfectly holds about a dozen soft plastics in their original packaging.  I literally never run out of anything I need.  It just means I have to restock at home of the items I have used/lost on my outing.

[Americanzero]

I just got in all the empty bags and labels, so far I have repackaged about 80 bags, a few have to get into the original bags that are floating around, and some are doubled up if I only had a few. Once everything is totally sorted, I’ll sit down and Pull some of each that I plan to bring out daily, and then I’ll start the labeling. I have to go through and figure out what I can as far as color, brand, and name. Most should be easy, lots of zoom stuff, rage tail, culprit. Some stuff will probably just end up with a blank label because who knows what and where it came from lol. Thank god I ordered 100 more bags, because the 50 I had originally wouldn’t have been even close. Those will become the ones that come with me