Walleye Tackle Box

[JimJim]

Just wondering what everyone uses to carry all there walleye gear. I can't stand the vertical tackle boxes because the small stuff slides from one compartment to another. I used to have a horizontal carrying case for 5 large plano boxes. I can't seem to find them anymore and mine broke. With the boxes being held horizontally I never worried about the small things being jarred out of their places.

[jigginjim]

I have a vertical box, with 9x13 plano boxes as drawers. I can change boxes, to fit what I'm fishing for the day. Only problem I have had is sometimes it may tip over going the road. A little top heavy even with a 15# plano tray of jigs in the bottom.

[TrophyEyes]

I use a soft sided plano box with plastic containers. I actually keep a smaller box of hooks and beads in a smaller box to prevent them from getting all mixed up.

[NCLaker]

JImJIm - I agree with you. I like the horizontal softsided system over the vertical. Flambeau sells a couple different softsided models with the horizontal storage trays.

[Sandmannd]

I just carry plano boxes and put them in my boat. Gives me more floor space.

[WaveWacker]

Horizontal soft side for me. Some assorted weight slip sinkers, assorted hooks (sizes and colors), different beads, swivels, spoon of line, assorted jigs/plastic tails. That's about it. Then I'll bring in my other box of plugs etc. if trolling or casting them warrants.

[hanso612]

I use soft sided bags, but never buy them at outdoor stores. You can get the same or better bag for 1/3 the price in the gym department of most superstores. I use the Eddy Bauer Northland bags from Target and fill them with plano boxes I buy in bulk on sale.

I have a trolling bag that has a map under the main flap.

Leader material and scent juice go in one side pocket and pliers and clippers in the other. Jaw spreader and nippers go in the front pocket along with flashlight and stringer.

My hard boxes each have swivels, snaps, glow beads and a fingernail clipper in each one along with the baits. The boxes are arranged in groups. I have a box filled with shallow stick baits on the top. Deep diving cranks in the next. I have bass style and rattletraps in the third. I then have a box of bigger plugs-Stretch 25's and big Yozuris, and magnum Rapalas

I carry snap weights, tools, leaders and some "just in case" lures that are not specifically trolling,like a few jigs and a topwater lure or two, in the last box. My spoons reside in the bottom box also.

I also have a hard box for my rigging and jigging stuff. That spends most trolling days in the truck with the soft bait bag.

I keep the cell phone, camera, batteries, bottom bouncers and planer boards along with flashers, dipseys, and squids and skirts in a dry box. Sunscreen, bug dope, fillet knife, and my petzel headlamps go in there too.

I always load a canvas boatbag with a hand towel, spotlight, snacks, and pop. If its cold-hats and gloves and a rainjacket go in there too.

When I get to the boat I lay out the stuff I am going to use and stow the rest in order to keep a clutter free boat. I often fish with dogs and you learn quikly to keep a tidy deck. I keep all boxes closed with my kids now too. It's just a good habit to get into.

My system is based on having species and style of fishing specific bags for each outing. I don't try to pack a little of everything in each tacklebox.

I find this helps put more fish in the boat at the end of the day,because I spend less time switching from technique to tecnique and more time locating active fish. The less time I spend rerigging and traveling from spot to spot to try a new technique the more time my bait is in the water and hopefully in front of fish. If I'm going trolling, I'm going trolling. If I'm jigging, I'm jigging

Hope that helps, Hans

[MinnesotaMongo]

Thanks Hans - that really is helpful to me, since I have a devil of a time settling in on a technique and tend to start second guessing myself - switching presentations/locations.

Thanks - this will help me a lot...

[JimJim]

Thanks for the replies. I have all my stuff organized and ready to go I just want the boxes to lay flat and not have to put them in on their sides. I'll get a pic of my box that is broken and post it.

I keep a box with all jigs. One with all weights. Another with slip bobbers and all my leaders,lindy rigs, hooks,swivels, and other stuff. One box with cranks and one with deep divers.

When I'm bass or northern fishing I just put different boxes in my carrying case which is broken now.

[broken_line]

i have a soft sided tacke box with 10x14 containers that have deviders.. nothing slides aruond no even the sunny hooks..

[RussC]

I'm a fan of Flambeau soft sided myself. If I ever get a boat I'll definitely switch to a plastic one but soft sided is the way to go when I have to jump between other peoples boats.

[JimJim]

I couldn't seem to find what I was wanting so I just made one. It will need to be stained and polyed but all done. I used a router to put channels in the uprights to hold the boxes in place.

[jeffreyd]

Pretty cool Jim, great detail. does the center piece flip down or come out so you can pull the boxes out? will look fantastic when stained. nice work

[Esox_Magnum]

Shimano softsided horizontal bag holds 4 plano boxes with jigheads, boobers, hooks, sinkers ect. Top hold all my bags of plastics. Spinner rigs are on holders in the boat, think theres 5-6 of them in there. Bouncers in a bouncer bag sorted to weight. Snap weights hang on a hook under the dash. Cranks are in a B&B baitbox sorthed to size/style. Rest is in pockets of several jackets LOL

[JimJim]

Pretty cool Jim, great detail. does the center piece flip down or come out so you can pull the boxes out? will look fantastic when stained. nice work

Yes the center piece hinges down.

[Northlander]

I use one waterproof 3 tray and big storage topped hard side that stays in the boat all the time that has stuff I use all the time. Everything else comes out in soft sides or my hard baits are in Special Mate Boxes.

[jigginjim]

Looks really nice JimJim. I may need to start looking for a new box myself. My current box, got wrecked by a 27lb flying anchor. I have my anchor rope wrapped on an eletric cord reel. Last week, I was fishing Green Lake(Spicer) in the super blow of wind. I was using my anchor to hold me on my spots, trolling motor had died, as I was driving across the lake. The wind sweep the reel out of the boat, the 50ft of rope soon had my 27lb. river anchor flying through my boat. Will the plano sliding box how has one side broken out. Lucky for me, I stepped in front of it, only the box got hit and not the locators.

[NCLaker]

I also like the horizontal softsided config - not a lot of good options. Flambeau tackle stations aren' real sturdy and can't find the Shimano's Esox_Magnum mentioned.

Bass Pro sseems to have a very nicke softsided bag with horizonal storage (3600 & 3700 Plano versions), 2 side pockets for plano's, and topside bulk storage area. Anyone try these bags from Bass Pro?

[Fish Head]

Nice job on the tackle box. I have a hard sided box with 4 horizontal removable Plano boxes. I purchased 4 additional removable boxes, so I switch them around depending on what I am fishing for. The other boxes are put away in dry storage. However my box is getting pretty beat up, so I may have to replace it soon.

[Joe's Kid]

I've been using a Plano backpack for a few years now. It's split into upper and lower compartments that will each hold 3 or 4 boxes depending on the depth of the boxes. 4 pockets on the sides and a compartment for maps and I'm pretty well set.

I rarely carry more than 3 or 4 boxes, so I have room for rain gear, snacks and beverages, sunscreen, bug dope...

I also like the fact that it gives me a free hand to carry other things, and is nice if I'm wading.