Crankbait Organization

[Cecil]

Just wanted to hear how others organize their crankbaits. I struggle with deciding if I want to go by depth or color. And if I go by either, one box isnt enough for each one. Like for instance right now I have cranks in the 10-12 foot range in a box, but its too cluttered. So last night I made 2 boxes with 10-12 foot and have one with dirty water colors and one with more natural colors.

Just wanted to hear how others do it...

[Palerider77]

The ones that we troll go in one and the ones that get pitched go in another

[fishinfey8]

For inland lakes and walleye fishing: I keep them in clear, Plano tackle boxes. Different boxes for different action. Since the decision for which crank-bait to use depends on the current water temp, I keep all my "cold water" crank-baits together, and my "warm water" crank-baits together. Then I put all of the exact same baits in the same compartments within my Plano. Keep the label from the box so i know how deep, and what exactly I have for crank baits.

For big water and great lakes fishing: I have a bunch of big water bait boxes (made locally in Duluth) that work quite well, and hold quite a few baits. The only thing about the baitbox is that it needs a door fabricated on the bottom to retrieve fallen baits.

[Chris519]

I organize by depth in plano 3700 boxes. I have 1 box of top water, 1 for shallow, 1 for medium, 1 for deep. That is more than enough for me. Even on a hot crankbait bite, how many do you actually use during the day?

[popriveter]

I organize mine 5 different ways in the winter and they always end up in random bunches in the boat, trunk of the car, etc. by the time I need them. Good luck finding a system you like and sticking to it.

To me, depth/size are the most important factors. If you have them grouped this way, you can pick a color/wobble on the fly.

[Larson15]

All of mine are organized by depth. 1 box for topwater, 1 for lipless cranks, 1 for shallow 1-6ft, 1 for mid 8-12ft, 1 for 14-20ft. I also wrap the trebles on each crank with rubber bands to keep them from tangling. I posted a pic of one on here about a month ago. It looks like a pain but its really not and allows you to fit more cranks in a box.

[bemidjibasser]

I sort them by size, shape, depth and color. I also have a separate box for the ones I make myself.

[fishinfey8]

For inland lakes and walleye fishing: I keep them in clear, Plano tackle boxes. Different boxes for different action. Since the decision for which crank-bait to use depends on the current water temp, I keep all my "cold water" crank-baits together, and my "warm water" crank-baits together. Then I put all of the exact same baits in the same compartments within my Plano. Keep the label from the box so i know how deep, and what exactly I have for crank baits.

For big water and great lakes fishing: I have a bunch of big water bait boxes (made locally in Duluth) that work quite well, and hold quite a few baits. The only thing about the baitbox is that it needs a door fabricated on the bottom to retrieve fallen baits.

WOW, bass forum...my bad!!

[EBass]

I sort them by size and where ever I have the room. I have two boxes. One box I use and the other I don't (walleye cranks)

[Cecil]

I was hoping I wouldnt need to have 7-8 boxes for cranks, but it looks like I might have to...

[EBass]

You could sell em

[scott b]

Size

[mww24]

I just go by type and depth. One box of lipless. One box of jerkbaits and deep jerkbaits. one shallow and medium depth. and one 9 foot plus depth. I only organize by color if i have multiples. then they just go in the same spot.

[slipperybob]

I don't have much lures so they just all get mish mashed together. It's whatever room fits whatever lures.

[RK]

Hiya -

I dramatically thinned out my crankbait herd this winter. I also pulled aside some season-specific cranks (big, loud deep divers I really only use in August and September) and separated my lake and river smallie cranks out. Just getting rid of stuff I knew I wouldn't miss really cut the volume down.

I learned muskie fishing that you can really benefit from limiting your tackle selection and eliminating redundant lures. (Think it's a challenge finding a place to store 100 bass crankbaits, try 100 7-10" jerkbaits...). In the long run I spent more time fishing and less time contemplating my tackle box.

I narrowed things down to the baits I really like, then with those styles filled in a few holes in the color selection. I also cut way down on the number of colors I carry. I basically carry 5 colors now.

By the end of it all, my main lipless/shallow/mid/deep crankbait collection now fits in 5 3600-size FTO boxes. Considering it used to take up something like 7 3700-size boxes, I was pretty proud of myself. Then I have a couple seasonal boxes I can grab when I need them. All in all, I figure I cut the amount of baits I'm carrying almost in half.

We'll see by season's end if it works out.

[mainbutter]

I organize by size alone, but then I only plan on fishing about a dozen or so different cranks.

[delmuts]

I don't have a bunch.I store mine by depth too,(surface,shallow,med.,and deep)that fit in four plano boxes.

[gritsnham]

I organize boxes by size and then split it up between light and dark in the box.

Seriously check out those FTO boxes they are amazing for organization and a simple way to keep baits from tangling while not sacrificing much volume.

[Cecil]

I have the FTO's and they work well. Just not for the 10' and deeper since I have so many. I would need bunch of those boxes...

[RK]

I have the FTO's and they work well. Just not for the 10' and deeper since I have so many. I would need bunch of those boxes...

Actually what works pretty good for big billed baits are the deeper Stowaways like 3730s and 3630s. That's what my big mid-summer deep divers went into.

[Nick Kuhn]

I sort mine by running depth and size. But I also sort by how often they get used. There's just some baits I have that get neglected, so they get thrown into the "when nothing else is working" boxes. Typically I have a box of favorites that's always out. I'll go through things in that until I catch fish, then if I think I'm onto the fish then I'll hone in to things like color/size/rattle type/ etc.

[hawgchaser]

I don't suppose stuffing them all in a covered five-quart ice cream pail; carefully shaking the crankbait wad til one falls free, and using the fallen one counts as organization, huh?

[kg2]

hawgchaser... stay outta my boat.

[goblueM]

i always start out organizing them by depth and then color and action...

but given that i fish for trout, largemouth in lakes, smallies in rivers, walleyes in both, and pike... and sometimes in remote areas or wade fishing or in a canoe/kayak, i always end up reorganizing to take only what I think I need for that day or weekend or whatever and then my stuff ends up in so many different places

[beeflover]

Learned this system from a walleye trolling pro:

The little boxes with all the little compartments are not the answer, when you get to where you have a couple hundred crank baits you'll find all the little compartments tangled with two many cranks in too little space.

I use 4 good size tupper ware containers, top waters, stick baits divers and kind of a extra large generic walleye box.

The way to go is to tie down all the treble hooks with rubber bands. Get a big bag of good sized rubber bands and just wrap up those treble hooks up. Hog tie em good so they won't tangle and you could fill up a 5 gallon bucket full a cranks and every one will come right out when you want it.

Try it you'll like it.