Tackle Organization

Kokanee Fishing Forums

Help Support Kokanee Fishing Forums:

eenakoK

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Messages
628
Location
Tacoma, Wa
I have done a quick search to see how you guys are organizing your tackle. I see that it is a mix between tackle boxes, tackle bags, foam rolls (Tackle Buddies) etc. Has anyones preference changed? I am just starting to build my tackle selection and I want to get it organized the most proficient way. If you were to suggest to someone how to start organizing from the beggining, what would you tell them? Thanks!
 
Last edited:
I've recently figured out that the small tackle buddy (1.5 x 5) will fit inside the flat plastic boxes in my tackle bag. That keeps my baits from being exposed to outside scents, etc.
 
I used to roll my spinners and hoochies onto foam noodles but my collection got too big. I found the folders worked well to keep everything organized and compact.
 
Thank you both, those are great ideas. I am looking forward to finally figuring it out on how I want to do it and then change it like 10 times..
 
Thank you both, those are great ideas. I am looking forward to finally figuring it out on how I want to do it and then change it like 10 times..

Forget that idea. You'll do some of all of the above and use different methods for different applications. For my lures tied to leaders, I'm finding the snack size ziplock baggies working the best.
 
I'm still useing the plano box method, and the leaders get coiled up and secured with wire ties. In some of my box's that measure 11x7 by 1 1/2" deep I can store 36 rigged up apex's or hoochies (2 to each space.) In the box's that measure 14x81/2" by 1 1/2" deep, I can store 48 rigged up apex's (1 to each space.) The box's store well in storage compartments on the boat.
 
I carry hundreds of pretied spinners, hoochies and other lures. I also carry several hundred dodgers with me. For pretied lures the best I've found is to buy bulk 2" x 3" zip lock bags. It keeps your lures and leaders from exposure to the element and you don't have to wrap them with twist ties. They then fit in rows in most plastic cases that come in your tackle bags. Smaller dodgers I generally carry in plastic boxes that I can flip file by color and Mfg. The larger dodgers and flasher set ups I carry in Loomis Tackle Binders. An average day on the lake has me carrying 3 full Loomis bags of tackle. Organization is the key to not only carrying a large amount of tackle but more importantly protecting your investment!
 
I carry hundreds of pretied spinners, hoochies and other lures. I also carry several hundred dodgers with me. For pretied lures the best I've found is to buy bulk 2" x 3" zip lock bags. It keeps your lures and leaders from exposure to the element and you don't have to wrap them with twist ties. They then fit in rows in most plastic cases that come in your tackle bags. Smaller dodgers I generally carry in plastic boxes that I can flip file by color and Mfg. The larger dodgers and flasher set ups I carry in Loomis Tackle Binders. An average day on the lake has me carrying 3 full Loomis bags of tackle. Organization is the key to not only carrying a large amount of tackle but more importantly protecting your investment!

I really like the zip lock idea. I think that I may have to go that route. What plastic cases do you use for your dodgers? Maybe someday I will have that much gear, dang that motto "be prepared"
 
tackle13.jpg


These fit inside a tall Plano box.
 
I've got Plano Tackle boxes but I kept running out of space. So about a year ago, I went to the tackle bag. It got full before I knew it and went to a larger bag from Cabelas. I'm combining tackle from the both boxes(not all of it) into the bags and start using the boxes as either for the heavier artillary or for carrying tools & spare stuff for repair on rods, reels, or making up some tackle.
 
I picked up a Plano tackle bag from Walmart last yr for about $25. Just bought the red one Pro Guide series at Cabelas for $55. I really like the Cabelas bag. It can hold alot of stuff. The larger plastic cases that come in the Plano bag are the same in the Cabelas and those cases are sold seperately on the shelves at Walmart. Some really good options here.
 
I picked up a Plano tackle bag from Walmart last yr for about $25. Just bought the red one Pro Guide series at Cabelas for $55. I really like the Cabelas bag. It can hold alot of stuff. The larger plastic cases that come in the Plano bag are the same in the Cabelas and those cases are sold seperately on the shelves at Walmart. Some really good options here.

Thank you! I agree with all the great ideas. This is a good problem to have, but to figure out which one will work best for my boat. I know that is up to me on that one.

Thank you to everyone who commented. Please keep them coming as this might be a good help to someone else. (as well as me)
 
As far as running out of space with tackle in the plano box's, I just buy more box's. At last count I'm now up to 50. The box's with pre-tied leaders have around 36-48 lures in each box, but the lures like spoons, jigs, small flatfish, etc I can store many more depending on the lures size. I mark the ends of the box's with what type of lures are in each one, then pull out the box's for the type of fish I'm targeting. The only draw back to this method is about 26 of the box's are for kokanee (trolling and jigging lures) so it's hard to leave a few at home...I can only store about 20 on the boat. crymeariver
I also carry 2 regular tackle box's for terminal gear, spare reels, and spare downrigger parts. I keep around 50 of the smaller dodgers (Vance's & wobbler type) in the top compartment of one of these box's and another 50 or so dodger's (Sling Blade & Luhr Jensen type) in a fold up Cabela's dodger bag.

In addition to the storage compartments on the boat I built a custom table for lure set-up with room to store plano box's on a shelf underneth. On one end of this table I mounted a PVC pipe vertically for storing the net. The table is built between a mid storage compartment and the front bench seat and was built to follow the contour of the boat.
 
In addition to the storage compartments on the boat I built a custom table for lure set-up with room to store plano box's on a shelf underneth. On one end of this table I mounted a PVC pipe vertically for storing the net. The table is built between a mid storage compartment and the front bench seat and was built to follow the contour of the boat.

This is what I was trying to come up with. Do you have any pictures of this table? My boat is only 16' and I am trying to make it as efficient as I can. I would love to see how you have this set up. Thanks

DB
 
This is developing into a very interesting read, and more pics would make it even better. Always good to see how others have come up with ways to improve storage and organization. So here's my contribution in terms of my traveling arsenal when I'm in someone else's boat.

The first 5 pics are of a neat 4 compartment Plano box I found at Sportsmans Warehouse and started using a few years ago. I have one set up for steelhead, another for crappie/perch, one for walleye, and the pictured series for kokanee/trout. The box has a sturdy retractable carrying handle with two compartments on each side. The outside compartments have a clear plastic cover that affords a good view of their contents. To get to the two inner compartments you need to unsnap the two black keepers to flip the outter compartment out of the way. As you can hopefully see, there's plenty of storage space for a variety of "stuff".

The last 4 pics are of an old Bass Pro Shop tackle bag that I use to carry my pretied hootchie and spinner rigs, wedding rings, and other assorted items - scents, Gulp goodies, pliers, snips, knife, etc. etc. The 3 plastic boxes are Plano "Stowaway" 1-compartment #2-3731 Utility Boxes. The foam material I use to wrap my rigs on are cut down swimming pool toys called "Little Dipper" or "Noodles" that come in 5 foot lengths and 2-1/2 inch diameter. Cut em down to the length you want. They're available at stores like Fred Meyers, Walmart, Toys-R-Us and the like.


Well I can't see anywhere how to attach my pics to this post, so you'll have to go look at them in the "Members Albums" where I have created an album "BorntoFish01". Sorry for the inconvenience.
 
This is what I was trying to come up with. Do you have any pictures of this table? My boat is only 16' and I am trying to make it as efficient as I can. I would love to see how you have this set up. Thanks

DB

My Smoker Craft Alaskan is about the same size as your boat. If I every get around to figuring out how to post pictures I'll be sure to post one. The table fits into the port side contour of the boat between the mid storage box and the front bench and is around 17" wide by around 40" long. The self underneth is around 14" wide due to the curvature of the boat getting narrower as you go down towards the floor. Both the table and shelf underneth have a edge to keep things from falling, and the edge common to the top table has a measuring tape glued to it for measuring out leaders. Underneath the storage shelf is where the 2 gas tanks sit for the outboards and there is room on one end to store a couple more plano box's. The top of the table is covered with non-slip rubber material...hope that helped.
 
Well I can't see anywhere how to attach my pics to this post, so you'll have to go look at them in the "Members Albums" where I have created an album "BorntoFish01". Sorry for the inconvenience.

Here are the pictures for this post:

Plano Box
PlanoBox.jpg


Side 1 Compartment 1
Side01Compartment01.jpg


Side 1 Compartment 2
Side01Compartment02.jpg


I was only able to attch upto 4 pictures per post. The other pics are in his folder.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top