TACKLE STORAGE QUESTION

OK guys… Question for you… I’ve outgrown tackle boxes… just too much stuff I like to keep on the boat… You know, I’m ready for anything !!! I have sealed off my livewell and found that it holds about 12 Plano style boxes very nicely when stored “on end”… Here’s my problem / question…I normally carry 150-250 hard bodied baits, 75 or so spoons, assorted hooks / weights / spinner harnesses and parts, etc… I keep Muskie baits and plastics in seperate tackle boxes… Regarding the “hard baits” (lures), would you sort them by color or by style… For example, would you sort the boxes into orange. green. fire tiger, black, etc, OR would you sort it into pencil plugs, jointed lures, crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, surface baits, etc… Currently I have everything sorted by color, but I’m wondering if sorting it by style might be better…

Any thoughts would be appreciated…

Unless you change lures every cast leave 2/3 the stuff at home. Pretend you are going with a buddy and are limited to 3 rods and 4 Plano boxes. Remember, with all those options you are tending to overthink things. The keep it simple stupid principal applies to fishing.

For what it’s worth I carry way to much tackle also, it’s a sickness.

I sort by style. That way if I plan on running deeper water or shallow I can grab what style of baits I am most likely to run. That way I don’t need to bring every single crank bait box with.

Muskie tackle takes up an enormous amount of space because of how large the lures are. If I were you, I’d keep that stuff out of the boat until you specifically target them. I do. Same with the muskie net. Leave it at home unless you’re chasing skis.

My lures are sorted by style, not color. Crank baits, jerk baits, spinner baits, topwater, etc. Muskie lures are stored in a large hanging-style box and it won’t fit in a storage compartment, even if I wanted to.

My cranks are sorted by lure type. For flicker shads and shad raps that I have too many to fit in one container I have two with natural colors, and two for bright and UV colors.

Dutchboy wrote:

Unless you change lures every cast leave 2/3 the stuff at home. Pretend you are going with a buddy and are limited to 3 rods and 4 Plano boxes. Remember, with all those options you are tending to overthink things. The keep it simple stupid principal applies to fishing.

For what it’s worth I carry way to much tackle also, it’s a sickness.

I started doing this more. Like most of the guys on here, I have hundreds of crank baits. I started using a single Plano box and just grabbing the few I think I need. Then I usually have a small box for terminal tackle, a small for jig heads and a few bags of plastics. Started doing this while fishing with buddies and not wanting a whole tackle store in their boats.

I did buy a couple of wraptor tackle wraps I’m gonna try for crank baits. Plano boxes can be too cumbersome and the cranks are all hooked together.

I sort usually by style and size for most of my baits.

I did buy a couple of wraptor tackle wraps I’m gonna try for crank baits. Plano boxes can be too cumbersome and the cranks are all hooked together.

I sort usually by style and size for most of my baits.
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I have 4 wraptor rolls and really like them. I jam 2 cranks in each pouch and can bring way more then ever needed but taking little space in the boat. They aren’t the best thing ever but I like them enough to keep using them over boxes

I have been accused of having too much tackle in my boat. I have a couple suggestions. First, buy a bigger boat that has more storage . If that doesn’t work for you, I’d Organize based off style and depth range. Then bring only the boxes you will likely need for the area you plan on fishing.

What’s worse: not having the right bait at all or having the bait but leaving it at home? If you are buying baits, bring them.

Glad to see I am not alone with way more tackle then needed, the way I handle this Is Plano boxes that I know I am going to use then leave my might need in the truck. This way IF I happen to need something not in the boat I can at least run back to the landing and get what I need.

I lost the tackle box. I have 4 of the large Plano ones for Jerkbaits, Crankbaits, Jigs/jig heads, weights and hooks in storage underneath my passenger glove box area. On the side behind me I have Large Jerkbaits/spoons, topwaters, JIG HEADS for Canada. Right next to my sesat is a little storage space where my Spinners box is.
I have two shoebox size plastic bins for worms, creatures, tubes etc that go into the truck after every outing. Otherwise, everything stays in the boat.
I don’t go crazy on colors or switching up all the time. I have a range of colors iin those boxes and if I lose a lure, gotta wait til I get home or to the store to buy another of the same. Got tired of lugging all that SHITE around.

I have a smaller boat and have more rods and tackle than anyone can fit in their boat. (unless you have a 30’ tuna boat. There will still be no walking room.) I arrange my tackle by species, then style of bait, then running depth, then size, then brand, then color, ect… I keep breaking it down until I can fit what I have in a 3700 size box. Style would be something like stick bait, crank bait, jerk bait, lipless bait, top water, jigs, ect… I have bags that will hold about 8 3700 boxes. I try to pick between all the bags to make only2 bags to go out. I will have some 3700 boxes stuff in the boat. I leave all my muskie stuff at home if I am not chasing them. My muskie stuff alone fills my boat and I don’t even have room for all of it. I need a bigger boat. My wife calls it my sickness but feeds it every holiday will more tackle.

Generally I arrange my lures all by type of lure. I leave tackle home that I have no intention of using like others have said. I will even leave rods home that I wont be using on a particular day. My boat has tons of storage, but I just see no need of bringing everything if I have no intention of using it.

i have one of the plano 4 drawer and top that opens up. its full an i dont got no room for more….and i like it that way. it goes with me wherever i fish.

if the fish dont like what i got to offer…….ta heck with them.