Bass fishing is an equipment-intensive pursuit. And most anglers chasing the U.S.'s most popular fish embrace that with plenty of gear. Tackle makes up most of those parts and pieces. But sorting and storing all those weights, hooks, hard baits, and soft-plastic lures can be a Herculean task. And that’s even before you get them to the water from home.
Stowing all your tackle is only the start. It needs to be organized, too. Time spent searching for a lure is time not spent catching bass. So, it's crucial to quickly find a particular crankbait, for example, whether that's profile, color, or diving depth in short order, to meet the conditions you’re currently facing off the bow of your boat.
But not all tackle storage is created equal. Some do it better than others, whether that’s organization or protection. The best do both. Here’s what to look for to find those:
- Functional: Tackle storage should be easy to use. Those with too many zippers or latches or weighing too much are cumbersome. And if you don't want to mess with it for any of those reasons, then your fishing efficiency will slow you down as much as being disorganized.
- Customizable: Tackle comes in all shapes and sizes, and tackle storage needs to welcome each. That might mean a box dedicated to a particular type of tackle or one that can be configured to meet multiple needs. It also should be easy to label so you know what's inside.
- Durable: Bass fishing isn’t always peaceful, and your gear must stand up to regular use and occasional abuse. Pounding boat rides, going in and out of vehicles, or hiking through bankside vegetation can take a toll. You need tackle storage that stands up to that and more. You don't want to replace it regularly.
- Packable: It must fit into your fishing life, whether in your car hopping between shore-fishing spots, inside a boat locker, or between your feet riding shotgun in a tournament. If it doesn’t work with you, then you won’t take the time to grab the best lure for where and how you’re fishing.
Understanding what makes the best tackle storage is straightforward. But it takes skill, finesse, and technology to bring it together in a form that functions. Each of these four options solves a tackle storage dilemma. They’ll make you a more efficient bass angler, regardless of what you need to organize and how you fish.
6th Sense Small Bait Bags
Compact yet seemingly cavernous inside, these soft-sided bags are perfect for wrangling your bags of soft-plastic lures. Their boxy shape makes it easy to stack a bunch neatly in a single storage compartment.
The details:
- 8.66-inches long by 5.5-inches wide by 5.5-inches tall
- Room for up to 15 packs of soft-plastic baits
- The clear pouch holds a custom label
- Waterproof construction
Most soft-plastic baits come in handy resealable pouches. But throwing them all into a boat compartment creates an organizational nightmare. Instead, place several with similar characteristics in one of these bags. When you need a bait, grab the correct bag and leaf through the packages until you find the perfect color of soft-plastic lure for your current fishing situation.
These bags are large enough to hold plenty of baits — about a dozen bags of typical sizes of soft-plastic lures — but small enough and shaped well enough to pile into a compartment without wasting space. So, you can get more in a place where other boxes leave dead spaces. And they’re easy to grab, thanks to a pair of strap handles, and open through a secure zipper.
You can even color-coordinate your offerings. For example, put all your worms in black bags while swimbaits go in lime-green ones. Then, narrow down the contents by slipping a custom label into the clear plastic pouch on top of each bag.
Don’t relegate the bags to tackle-only duty. They can organize various fishing-related items, including culling equipment, pairs of sunglasses, or a self-assembled first-aid kit.
Plano EDGE 3700 Spinnerbait Box
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The Plano EDGE 3700 Spinnerbait Box compactly stores a lure that can take up a lot of space. Its corrosion-resistant features keep hooks sharp and blades from tarnishing. Photo courtesy of Pure Fishing Yes, every bass angler has a pile of spinnerbaits. No, they’ve never been easy to stow and protect. That’s until Plano built a better mousetrap, whose high-tech design includes corrosion protection and secure storage.
The details:
- 14 inches long by 9 inches wide by 2.64 inches tall
- Holds up to 36 spinnerbaits
- EZ Label system makes identifying contents easy
- WaterWick and Rustrictor protect contents
This Plano box is part of a series considered the Cadillac of tackle storage. Its polycarbonate lid is strong and clear, allowing you to see the spinnerbait you want before flipping the latch, which is easy to open with one hand. And the longtime plastic molder’s WaterWick and Rustrictor technologies handle moisture, keeping hooks from rusting and polished blades from tarnishing. The lid’s Dri-Loc O-ring seals the box, making it waterproof when closed.
This box is easy to use, too. Clip in your spinnerbait directly behind the head, then fold under the wire arm. You can stuff up to three dozen spinnerbaits into this popular-size utility box. Mixing it in with others of similar size makes finding it a home easier than more cube-shaped spinnerbait boxes.
This tacklebox has one drawback — price. With an MSRP of $34.99, it may not be for everyone. But you probably only need one for your spinnerbaits, so it’s a good place to splurge. You’ll recoup your investment in better days on the water.
Bass Mafia Casket 2.0
Strong, waterproof, and priced well, this utility-style box protects your expensive baits with strength and seal. Moveable dividers allow you to customize the box, creating the perfect spot for each lure.
The details
- Available in three sizes
- Strong latches
- One-piece gasket seal
- Pre-populated with dividers
Utility is the most popular tackle box style among bass anglers, and it’s easy to see why. Dedicate one to a type of lure — square-bill crankbaits, jigging spoons, jigs, whatever you want — then shuffle them in and out of your boat or tackle bag as needs arise and seasons change.
But this Bass Mafia offering takes the utility box design a step further. It’s made from 20% thicker plastic than previous models in the same series, so they stand up to more abuse. Tucked inside the lid’s lip is an O-ring, which creates a watertight seal when closed and secured with durable latches.
The Casket 2.0 is offered in three sizes — 3700, 3600 and 3700DD. While the 3700DD’s extra depth does well with big baits with big bills or treble hooks, it also can make a good jig box, especially for super-organized anglers, who like to put each jig in its own plastic bag. Those will stand upright in the compartments.
AFTCO Tackle Backpack
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Whether hiking to your favorite bank-fishing spot or loading into a different boat each tournament day as a co-angler, AFTCO’s Tackle Backpack ensures you have everything you need. Its combination of utility boxes and compartments keeps it all organized—photo courtesy of AFTCO. Carry your tackle to a different spot easily with this backpack tackle bag. It carries a lot without getting carried away. It's built for customization, ensuring you bring only what you need.
The details
- 15.8-inches wide by 10-inches deep by 17.5-inches tall
- It holds five 3600- and one 3700-size boxes
- Felt-lined sunglasses pocket
- Water-resistant
With ample storage and on-the-go convenience, this AFTCO backpack is perfect for shore anglers hiking into their favorite sport or co-anglers jumping in a different boat each tournament day. You'll appreciate its padded back and comfortable straps, regardless of how far away you park from the fish.
Packed with organizing options, this bag holds four 3600-size boxes in its center compartment and one alongside. The other side has a pouch big enough for a 3700-size box. Pack them with only the lures you need, and leave the others at home. For example, if you're headed out to fish a springtime tournament, you can leave your jigging spoon box at home and bring your soft jerkbait box. You can even dedicate one as a catch-all, ensuring you have at least one of every lure type every time you go fishing.
Bulky items like a spare reel or lunch go in the deep top pocket. There's a pocket designed to protect your expensive sunglasses and one to keep essential items, such as your keys and wallet, dry. An integrated rain fly keeps weather off the entire bag.
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