Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

[summitlt]

I need a tackle box. Anyone know of anything that doesnt have to use those USELESS clear plastic tote things. I hate them, just end up with 4 of em open on the floor of the boat and they just dont work for me. I like the "tray" type tackle boxes, but cant seem to find anything I like other than the walmart one I have now thats too small. (3 trays per side, thinking of maybe getting another for topwater/under)

Any idea? Looked at beans, cabelas, walmart... everywhere

 

[seaman campbell]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I really don't like those plastic things either but all the boxes I looked at had them so I found the Plano 737. Has 3 of those things but 3 drawers, top storage and spinner storage. Nice box I really like it. Wal-Mart

TC

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I like the tackle bags.

 

[JB]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

My Plano Guide Series has no boxes. They made it in several versions a few years ago, one is all boxes, but mine is no boxes.

Check out the Plano site.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

My vote is Plano to. Check out wal- Marts or a good Fishing Tackle store.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I am not sure what your aversion to the "clear plastic tote things" is, except that when I think about a lot of the junk they sell in the tackle isles I can see why you might not want them if you have ever fallen victim to some of the cheap crap like I have.

I have a friend who is a bass tournament guy- I have learned a lot about tackle storage by observing him.

What I have and really like is the Plano 7271: compact and portable, and holds a bunch of stuff, and it does have 3 clear plastic boxes, the 3650. The 3650's slide out like drawers, one at a time, and they don't stack- they are on their own slides so they are not always re-ordering themselves.

I don't use the spinner bait hangers since I don't have many anyway, and I always get stuff tangled up when just hanging, but I use that storage area for spools of leader material, worm blower etc. The 7271 is a perfect companion to the 1364, which holds four 3650s, and takes up little space.

You might check those models out- they make easy and quick accessibility for stickbaits, cranks and spinners. You might find you like them. I do agree with you though: most of the clear plastic storage box tackle systems I really don't like, but the bass guys seem to like them a lot.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I really don't like those plastic things either but all the boxes I looked at had them so I found the Plano 737. Has 3 of those things but 3 drawers, top storage and spinner storage. Nice box I really like it. Wal-Mart

Has three of the little ones. That is probably a good alternative to the 7271 if you don't want the totes. Mine is blue but looks like this otherwise: http://www.great-lakes.org/graphics-2/Plano-7271_00.jpg

 

[ebry710]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I need a tackle box. Anyone know of anything that doesnt have to use those USELESS clear plastic tote things. I hate them, just end up with 4 of em open on the floor of the boat and they just dont work for me. I like the "tray" type tackle boxes, but cant seem to find anything I like other than the walmart one I have now thats too small. (3 trays per side, thinking of maybe getting another for topwater/under)

Any idea? Looked at beans, cabelas, walmart... everywhere

If you look at the high end stores you will only find trays because they make more money on those. Ebay, Big 5, Sportmart, Bass Pro Shop and others have the old accordion, top loading boxes and the flip boxes.

I like the 4 trays on the deck because it give me more storage and view of my tackle. My old plano top loader only gives me the equivalent of one tray and the bottom of the box always filled up with spilled tackle and junk.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I had 4 of the tray type tackle boxes full of stuff. Never had the right box at the right time. Got tired of putting the box back together after if got dumped to ended up upside down for some reason.

Bought a Guide Series tackle bag. 6-3730 boxes. All 4 boxes fit into a single bag. No more plastic stuck to stuff. I can see everything at a glance and if the bag goes upside down for some reason, no big deal. Everything stays in it?s place. Heavy, but manageable

 

[ebry710]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I had 4 of the tray type tackle boxes full of stuff. Never had the right box at the right time. Got tired of putting the box back together after if got dumped to ended up upside down for some reason.

Bought a Guide Series tackle bag. 6-3730 boxes. All 4 boxes fit into a single bag. No more plastic stuck to stuff. I can see everything at a glance and if the bag goes upside down for some reason, no big deal. Everything stays in it?s place. Heavy, but manageable

Is the bag easier to carry? How about crushing?

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

......you will only find trays because they make more money on those. ....... I like the 4 trays on the deck because it give me more storage and view of my tackle........and the bottom of the box always filled up with spilled tackle and junk.

I try to buy them on sale- 3650's are small-ish and run me about $3 each if I wait for sales.

The fold out "accordion" tackle boxes and trays deal: that really appeals to me, but a friend has one of those- pretty big- and it takes up way too much room in my boat when he opens it, and it has a big space in the bottom for me to accumulate ballast. So I nixed that idea - not good at least for me. But I do like seeing everything at the same time.

"spilled tackle and junk" I am very organized generally, but if I don't make a conscious effort, I am NOT neat. That was what convinced me to buy the tackle boxes I did: if I can't spread it out, at least not having something which could allow stuff to accumulate and settle to the bottom let's me "see" stuff easily without it re-ordering itself and becoming disorganized. The trays slide out like drawers and there is nothing under them = good for me! You should see the trunk of my car

I am not into Zen or anything like that, but I just had a thought: the perfect tackle box is somewhat practically driven as far as space, but really 75% of it is probably personality driven. How your mind works is probably the biggest determiner of the perfect tackle system for you. Those of us who compartmentalize life by how things relate to other things probably love the tray boxes like I do, but those who view life a little more as a unified experience probably prefer the cascading-top boxes, Grasshopper.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I use a tackle bag, with the plastic boxes inside. The tackle is organized according to fishing technique, and each box is labeled on the exposed front, so I can pick out the box I want when I need it.

The space available in my little boat is just too small to use any other kind of tackle box.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

That sound great. I am adding a number of different types of tackle this year, so I will be staying with those boxes so I can keep each technique separate. I have a couple of large plastic construction boxes that these small boxes fit into. The open deck design of the whaler really helps.

 

[beerfilter]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I use a tackle bag, with the plastic boxes inside. The tackle is organized according to fishing technique, and each box is labeled on the exposed front, so I can pick out the box I want when I need it.

The space available in my little boat is just too small to use any other kind of tackle box.

I've tried many variations on both tray type tackle boxes , and , tackle bags with boxes .
Currently I prefer the bags and boxes , because of space limitations .
I can customize my tackle for the target species and techniques , with enough flexibility to cover alternate options . All this without bringing a huge single box with everything and the kitchen sink .

Even in a larger boat , I think the smaller boxes work better .
Easier to keep lots of smaller boxes in the storage hatches , than have 1 or 2 big boxes obstructing the deck and making the cooler harder to get to .

JME

 

[Starcraftguy1]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

Plano my friend,I have one for every species,And a very large one for saltwater fishing.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

I have 10 (or so) Plano tackle boxes and prefer the ones that have fixed slide-out trays instead of the removable boxes, just fits my style better. I find it easier to slide out a tray then to completely remove a box, just seems cumbersome to me to be removing boxes and messing around getting it back onto the bag or box.

I've had a Plano 758

for 15 years and decided to picked up a the same sized tackle box for my saltwater gear. But,,, the new one has removable boxes. I hate the new one with a passion since I use it on sport boats with 30 other guys onboard and a cramped tackle rack. if I want to get anything out of the clear boxes;
#1 flip down front cover
#2 open the top of the tackle box
#3 remove the clear box and set it inside the top of the tackle box
#4 open the clear box
#5 close clear box
#6 replace clear box
#7 close front cover
#8 close top cover

The old style with fixed trays...
#1 open front cover
#2 pull out tray
#3 push in tray
#4 close front cover

Heck, when the soft tackle bags came out I bought one, used it for 2 trips, moved all my tackle back over to the old 758 and then filled the soft tackle bag with electronics/electrical stuff.

I guess it all comes down to personal preference though...

I must give a big THANKS to Plano and their excellent customer service. After owning the 758 for 10+ years I dropped it, jammed one of the plastic latches into something and broke it yes a very sad day... I Emailed Plano and asked what I had to do to purchase 2 new latches for my 10 year old tackle box and they sent me the latches for FREE!

 

[John_S]

Re: Really shouldnt have to ask this question but...

While I grew-up on the accordian style metal tackle boxes, and transistion to the lighter, worm-proof Plano, I have been using 3600 size boxes and tackle bags for over 20 years. My first one was a gym bag with a luan bottom, that I filled with boxes. I like to hold the box in my lap while I am searching through it vs hunced over a tackle box. Any open tackle box is just a disaster waiting to happen. Its all if you want a minor or major disaster. ie the larger the open box, the larger the...

Having technique/type specific boxes is much easier to handle. Over the years, some techniques will expand, other shrink. I also have more boxes than bags to carry them in. Able to sellect what mix I want for any given trip. Don't need to carry the top-waters in November. Don't need the downrigger spoons when I'm on the river, etc. I sometimes carry an extra bag with, the ones I don't think I need, but might. These are in the back of the suv, such that it only a trip to the ramp, just in case.

I can not see myself ever converting back.