Tackle Organization / Reorganization

by gunner

This is one I do many times a year, because I'm always trying to find a better, easier, more efficient way of storing my tackle.  As I said in another article, as far as tackle boxes are concerned, to me bigger is better.  I do not want to be out on the water catching good quality fish but then they stop biting…and I want to try something else, and I have it…at the house.  I have been there and I made myself a promise I would never let that happen again.

Almost every fisherman I know has 35mm film cases and/or old medicine pill bottles stuffed with swivels, sinkers, hooks, jig heads, even band-aids.  I was one of those till last night.  At a local Meijer store I found a little two tray Plano Guide box for four dollars.  It is in the Plano grey and it measures 7 ¼ by 11 inches.  The top tray can have 6 to 13 compartments, and the bottom one can have from 5 to 14.  The one on the bottom can be 6 ½ by 4 ½ if you wish.  Makes it nice for some of the bigger necessities of a fishing life!

Now the film cases are gone from my box…in fact, I had three littler Plano cases that are also now gone…because everything fits neatly into this case, plus it opened up some room for more!  (Never too much fishing tackle!)  (Photo 1)  (Photo 2)  (Photo 3)

I have told people for years that a tackle box to a true fisherman is a personal thing, and each will have their own little system.  Look in someone’s tackle box and it will reflect on the person.

The plastic worms and crawdads and such that I use I have in little snack size baggies, all in a row, in order by color, from light to dark.  They take up the space behind the spinnerbait racks.  Now, all of this so far is in the top of the box.  The bottom part, where the crankbaits are stored, is what I need to work on.  In 4 trays I have 160 crankbaits…so as you can guess getting just one out is not that easy.  (Remember, I fish crankbaits most of the time.)  I have tried different ways of putting the baits in…back to back, hooks over the sides, etc…but I just can not get it right.  If anybody reading this has a way that works (other than just not take so many with you), PLEASE write me at gunner@reelfishingwithgunner.com and I will post it for everyone to read and try.  Again…this site is for you, please contribute as you wish.

Thanks…

gunner