Show me your tackle boxes!

Still getting this kayak thing sorted out. What does everyone use for a tackle box/bag/tub?

I'm in a Hobie Revolution so I keep bigger items (flasher, diver, swimbaits, weights) in the circular bucket in front of the seat.  I carry hooks and terminal tackle in the pocket of my PFD and a lip gripper in the yak side pocket. 

I've cut down a lot on gear - tt took a while to figure out what I needed.

Which kayak do you have?

I've been using two-tier plano box 4600 size for 5 years with no problems. I like two-tier as it's more storage for not much overhead, enough to keep almost all my tackle for 3 species (except larger flashers) and reasonably waterproof.

Depends on where you will be storing it on kayak.  This particular box has been perfect for front console on my Ultra, or inside Plano 1612. Still using it even though in my current setup size is less critical.

Ziplock bags.

I keep the backstock stored away and only bring a small bag of what I need for the day.  Anything that get's used stays out until it's been rinsed n dried. 

I'm in a Hobie Revolution so I keep bigger items (flasher, diver, swimbaits, weights) in the circular bucket in front of the seat.  I carry hooks and terminal tackle in the pocket of my PFD and a lip gripper in the yak side pocket. 

I've cut down a lot on gear - tt took a while to figure out what I needed.

Which kayak do you have?

Wish I had a Hobie! I'm in a Perception Tribe - not ideal for fishing, but tons of deck space.  Probably too much, it encourages me to carry everything! I needed a tandem though because I've been getting my kids out on the water with me. Need to get on some internal storage for sure.  Have some deck covers, just need to install.

I've been using two-tier plano box 4600 size for 5 years with no problems. I like two-tier as it's more storage for not much overhead, enough to keep almost all my tackle for 3 species (except larger flashers) and reasonably waterproof.

Depends on where you will be storing it on kayak.  This particular box has been perfect for front console on my Ultra, or inside Plano 1612. Still using it even though in my current setup size is less critical.

I have two single tier boxes like that now. Maybe I'm just too sloppy, but I can't keep them organized for my life, and I always feel like I am one unnoticed boat wake from dumping all my gear into the bottom of my boat.  I normally keep them latched closed, but those crucial moments when I'm fetching something from the box or tying my rig is right when boats tend to buzz by, haha.  Not bad boxes, maybe not just for me on the kayak.

Ziplock bags.

I keep the backstock stored away and only bring a small bag of what I need for the day.  Anything that get's used stays out until it's been rinsed n dried.

I hadn't thought of this, good idea! I always get flustered when changing gear, because I tend to leave a leader attached to the end tackle, and ziplocs would make it easy to reign that in and keep it tidy.

I've got a Plano utility box with up to 3 3600 size plano boxes inside. I usually just have one, my fish grips, bump board flashers couple extra weights.

This is picture heavy, and I designed it off of a Jackson Kracken set up I saw in a shop in San Carlos (I seem to recall it was a Kraken).  Disclaimer, as I am now a  Stealth Owner, this set up is no longer used, as there is no need for it. I think the pictures will explain it all. FYI I did ditch the Cup holder as it made it off balanced. I used some short track sections and mounted them to the hull where I wanted the center of the tackle box to go.  I used a couple of Ram Ball mounts with t-track as the means of securing the box.  The tackle box is a medium Plano Orange box, with a three rod holder screwed in place.  I gouped the nut/screw ends  so I wouldn't get scratched up every time I reached in.   I liked the cup holder idea, but it didn't work as well in practical applications.  To remove/install loosen the ram mounts, and slide it in place then tighten the mounts. If you roll and the Plano is closed, no lost gear.

I’ll show you my tackle box if you’ll show me yours. That sounds like something similar to what I said to a girl when I was about 6 years old. To be serious though, I thought I was the only one with tackle box organization issues.

Welcome to the back of my mind. I’m 65 years old and have suffered with unorganized fishing tackle box issues the entire time. I think it’s called UTB Syndrome (Unorganized Tackle Box). I don’t think it classifies for any kind of disability though.

When I was younger I had a friend by the name of Dilbert. He had kind of a hippy child look to him. Unkept long dark hair, always a heavy jacket that was two sizes too big for him, and always an aire of haughtiness every time he joined us. Come to think of it, he didn’t look very friendly.

He was somewhat a skosh more organized than me though. He drooled on the newest, best, highest tech, lowest tech organizational solutions at every sporting goods store in town. We had two stores. He even purchased a few too many tackle boxes and other fish catching stuff.  Good thing QVC or Amazon or eBay wasn’t around then. He had the resolve of a kid in a candy store.

When we were younger and going on catching trips with our friends he looked like a walking tackle store. We were all free-range kids. He always brought an oversize tackle box (purchased from a 2nd hand store), a fishing vest crammed with every imaginable fishing item, a fishing hat with flies and lures vying for space on the brim, at least 3 poles, and two kinds of smelly bait. He didn’t walk and skip down the dusty road like Opie of The Andy Griffith Show, he rather tripped and trudged down the road like Porky Pig on crack.

When we got to a brushy trail Dilbert was always the last one to get down to the creek or to climb over the barbed-wire fences that had the ‘No Trespassing' signs on them. I learned early that one of the first rules of catching is that the best fishing holes are behind ‘No Trespassing’ signs.

We always knew Dilbert was in trouble and stuck on something when we heard loud cursing and cussing behind us. He was a year older than the rest of us and had a much more ‘developed’ vocabulary than the rest of us. Come to think of it, I probably learned most of my cuss words from hanging around with him. My mom wasn’t impressed when I would accidently drop a new word that I didn’t fully understand the meaning of. She generally reminded me to not repeat that word by first telling me to “Go cut a long willow switch!” I knew she didn’t fish, so I knew what she had in mind. Let’s just say I learned to use a different vocabulary when I was at home than when I was with ‘the boys.’

Now, to get back to the point of fishing box issues; I have one large metal fishing tackle box that stays on the bench in the garage. From that I’ve put together small plastic boxes that I can put in a vest pocket or on the ‘deck’ of my kayak. A box for rockfish, a box for halibut, a box for steelhead, etc. I generally tie up rigs with leaders ahead of time and put them in small sealable plastic bags and put a couple in each plastic box. Yes, I’m working towards being a minimalist. Unsuccessfully so far. Actually, to tell the truth, I have one large metal fishing tackle box on the bench and a cardboard box of important fishing stuff under the bench too.


Wait, I just looked online and just found ‘THEE PERFECT SYSTEM’ for fishing. A true organizational system!

THE BOXES WILL BE HERE TOMORROW!!!!!

Waterproof Plano 3740 (big) or 3640 (small). I also use the Plano edge boxes, but those aren’t nearly as waterproof so those are reserved for freshwater.

I use a YakAttack crate and Sam uses a Hobie crate. The Hobie crate is neat since it has rod holders built in to each corner as well as hobie rails for Hobie accessories. Nice stuff but you sure pay for it. I have 5 rod holders mounted on my crate.

Crates are used when I fish freshwater. If I’m in the salt I’ll pack much lighter and leave the tankwell open for keeping fish. A 3640 tucked under the seat or a 3740 in the tankwell should do it. They stay stored below deck for launching and landing. Larger items like dodgers/flashers go in the center hatch.

As far as tackle boxes I have way too many 

As far as tackle boxes I have way too many 

[/quote]
John... as the reigning Angler of the year,
I think you have the perfect amount of tackle boxes!!!
Organized too!
Scotty

John... as the reigning Angler of the year,
I think you have the perfect amount of tackle boxes!!!
Organized too!
Scotty

Maybe that's why he is the winner!  Good stuff 3$J, I wish I can .... I know I should ....

Dang, that's some tackle box envy there! 

Thanks all for the ideas/stories!  There is some good stuff here. 

Since starting this thread back in October, I have organized most of my fishing gear into single stack Plano boxes, divided by targeted species.  I am finding I favor the ones that are longer and deeper rather than the more square shaped ones.  I still need to find a solution for soft plastics/swimbaits other than just in a grocery bag, haha. 

I've also installed a smallish hatch with a hanging bag, in which I keep a quart size cup for a super easy place to plop stuff during equipment changes in the heat of battle. 

Thanks again for the tackle box organizing ideas!

Soft plastics in one. Swimbaits in another. One is a reusable lunch bag, the other is an actual lure bag by 6th sense. Guess which was way cheaper