what is everyone using to store crankbaits in the boat? I have a lot of storage room in boat but when we pull cranks then we have 6-8 boxes if not more of cranks sitting around to choose from and gets messy. I know i have to many but have a few of each color also. there has to be something better than all these plastic boxes laying around. Thanks in advance guys
I have all my crankbaits in 3700 boxes stashed in a couple different places depending on how many I am bringing on a trip.
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There were a few previous threads on this with some different ideas shared. I’ve seen everything from tackle rolls, to original plano boxes with them in, to the new plano edge boxes with the rubber pegs in them, to the crank caddy boxes.
I personally have 6 or 7 of the full crank caddy boxes. They keep the hooks seperate and things are organized, but the quality of the box itself isn’t the highest (mainly the latches). If I were to start all over again, I’d probably go with some of the plano edge boxes that have rubber inside them.
I have gotten better and better at NOT packing everything but the kitchen sink with cranks or any other rods/lures/tackle. I keep it all organized in the garage and back the boat right in next to the rods on the wall and all the tackle trays. When I’m headed out I grab what I need and take out everything else. It’s pretty rare now if I’m using cranks on the river that I take more than 3 boxes. We also have an ongoing agreement between the 4-5 guys that I fish with around home…if you are riding in someone else’s boat for the day you bring nothing more than the food/beer/bait. That way we aren’t constantly shuffling rods and excessive amounts of tackle back and forth twice a week.
I’ve tried the crank caddys and have a few but I didn’t care for them.
I have a few Cabelas/Bass Pro Super Magnum tackle bags that I’ve been using for more than 10 years now. They hold a dozen 3700 size boxes (Plano, Flambeau, Bass Pro, Scheels,Fleet Farm…….they all fit nicely as long as theiy’re size 3700 boxes) and they’ve really worked well for me over the years. I use a black Sharpie to identify the cranks in each box and that way I know what’s in a box before pulling it out.
I switched all mine to Lure Lock boxes, the sticky ones with no dividers. Seems like the most space efficient way to jam the most in with minimal tangling. They aren’t perfect but I spend a lot less time untangling hooks than I used to.
I have seen a few pictures of lures in some kind of a clear plastic or something that looks like you could roll it up and maybe unroll out flat.what are these called and anyone else use these? thoughts please
I use wraptor tackle rolls. As long as you don’t overstuff the pockets they work great. I have rolls for different types and styles. I also have a “go bag” that has a hodge podge in case I jump in someone else’s boat. They store easy and keep me pretty organized.
Here an example.
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I use wraptor tackle rolls. As long as you don’t overstuff the pockets they work great. I have rolls for different types and styles. I also have a “go bag” that has a hodge podge in case I jump in someone else’s boat. They store easy and keep me pretty organized.
I also use wraptor tackle rolls. I like them, like matt said, don’t stuff them to the gills. I have 5 of them and they store away nice.
Are the clear pouches on the roll there meant for one crankbait each I’m assuming?
I wrap the cranks with rubber bands, so I can get more cranks in a box without them tangling. It is a PITA and after a couple of years they will get brittle and break, so I need to swap them out every couple of years. Good thing I don’t ice fish so I can take a few days over the winter to make sure they are all good to go for the next year.
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Are the clear pouches on the roll there meant for one crankbait each I’m assuming?
Depends…they have a bunch of different sizes. Some can easily handle 2 or 3 cranks. Some have smaller pockets that only fit a single.
The only thing I don’t like about them is the plastic gets hard in the cold and it keeps a memory when they stay rolled up. Sometimes I let them sit open in the hot sun and they get their original shape back.
They aren’t a perfect solution but they are so much better than Plano boxes. I also use them for jigs and other tackles, not just cranks.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buckybadger wrote:</div>
Are the clear pouches on the roll there meant for one crankbait each I’m assuming?Depends…they have a bunch of different sizes. Some can easily handle 2 or 3 cranks. Some have smaller pockets that only fit a single.
The only thing I don’t like about them is the plastic gets hard in the cold and it keeps a memory when they stay rolled up. Sometimes I let them sit open in the hot sun and they get their original shape back.
They aren’t a perfect solution but they are so much better than Plano boxes. I also use them for jigs and other tackles, not just cranks.
I hang mine on the walls of the garage when not in the boat. I have 2 cranks in pretty much every pouch.
I hang mine on the walls of the garage when not in the boat. I have 2 cranks in pretty much every pouch.
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Only 2? You can stuff a lot more in. You gotta try harder.
I use similar to what Matt uses except they are called Rustic River. Made in St. Joe MN by a family with a couple brothers Big Werm and I went to school with. I’ve been a fan and as mentioned by Matt, don’t over load them. They take up little space but can fit quite a few lures in them. They different sizes to fit your needs.
https://www.rusticrivergear.com/store/p62/Small-Standard-Lure-Caddy.html
Why don’t you have a box for every type and color. Do you need more crankbaits. Yes the problem is not enough crankbaits. I discovered I don’t have enough silver and gold crankbaits because I could fit them all in one 3700. If you have so many crankbaits that it would be absurd to take them all you’ll only need a couple of 3700s in the boat with you. Problem solved.
I hang mine on the walls of the garage when not in the boat. I have 2 cranks in pretty much every pouch.
Only 2? You can stuff a lot more in. You gotta try harder.
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Doesn’t putting more than one in each spot then just lead to the tangled hook BS? That’s the main reason I went with the crank caddy. I can’t stand tangled hooks. The roll would work for me but I’d need a ton of them to eliminate the tangles
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Matt Moen wrote:</div>
I hang mine on the walls of the garage when not in the boat. I have 2 cranks in pretty much every pouch.Only 2? You can stuff a lot more in. You gotta try harder.
Doesn’t putting more than one in each spot then just lead to the tangled hook BS? That’s the main reason I went with the crank caddy. I can’t stand tangled hooks. The roll would work for me but I’d need a ton of them to eliminate the tangles
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That’s why I do 2
Why don’t you have a box for every type and color. Do you need more crankbaits. Yes the problem is not enough crankbaits.
I’m down to a shallow box and a deep box and still most of them have never been used 
Lakewood box for me. Crank Caddy’s were just as much a pain as my 3700’s, happy with the Lakewood. It’s an unfortunate reality that I seem to need dozens of colors and profiles on any given outing.
I have used the special mate boxes for several years. Last summer I purchased a couple of the flambeau crank bank boxes. I will be buying a few more of them. Each system works well. I just bought the crank bank because they fit in the side storage boxes of my boat, while the special mates are in the bow storage.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Matt Moen wrote:</div>
I hang mine on the walls of the garage when not in the boat. I have 2 cranks in pretty much every pouch.Only 2? You can stuff a lot more in. You gotta try harder.
Doesn’t putting more than one in each spot then just lead to the tangled hook BS? That’s the main reason I went with the crank caddy. I can’t stand tangled hooks. The roll would work for me but I’d need a ton of them to eliminate the tangles
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I was joking…
Why don’t you have a box for every type and color. Do you need more crankbaits. Yes the problem is not enough crankbaits. I discovered I don’t have enough silver and gold crankbaits because I could fit them all in one 3700. If you have so many crankbaits that it would be absurd to take them all you’ll only need a couple of 3700s in the boat with you. Problem solved.
No they all go in the boat poop happens and sometimes they are lost or damaged. we fish Lake Erie in spring and with 3 of us in the boat we can fish 9 rods at a time on planer boards. and some days a certain color is popping and run 4-6 of the same color
I switched all mine to Lure Lock boxes, the sticky ones with no dividers. Seems like the most space efficient way to jam the most in with minimal tangling. They aren’t perfect but I spend a lot less time untangling hooks than I used to.
Bought the whole rack of thin boxes in the hauler ! Like you said not perfect . But heads above anything i have used to date . Bought the open boxes no dividers works awesome !
A milk crate works nice for 3700 boxes. No zippers/latches to deal with like a big bag or box.
Holds quite a few, even more if using “Thin” ones.
Thin boxes increase the number by 33% (4 thins take up the same space as 3 standards).
I also recommend the Special Mate boxes. I use them for spoons, but they make ones with boxed dividers for cranks.
I also have a couple Just-Encase-It clear vertical boxes for short sticks and long sticks. They look cool, but honesty I’d pick a Special Mate over them (I go cross-eyed looking into them and sometimes the baits fall down)
This discussion has gone on for years. I bought a special mate and I’ve done the rubber band trick, but at the end of the day 3700s are the way to go. Untangling takes under 30 seconds. Typically I make a “hot box” before I go of the crankbaits I want to start with or try throughout the day. If those don’t work, it’s into a compartment for others to try.
Fife I do a hot box too 
It’s got some staples in it that always catch fish and whatever pounded on the previous trip earns a spot in there too 
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