Article - Packing for Success

**Rojo** · 03-06-2025, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by justinp61

After bass fishing many years ago and needing a barge to tow behind my boat to carry all of my stuff, I've learned I don't need a ton of stuff in the boat. Four casting rods and three rods for single poling. The attached photos are all the tackle I carry with the exception of a small hair jig box. The bag is handy, if I fish with a friend, I just grab the bag and whatever rods I'll need. The pouches on the sides carry extra line, sunscreen, scales, scent, scissors and whatever small incidentals I need.

I don't always catch fish, but it's not because I don't have the stuff I need to fish. LOL

I get it for around the house, we pack about the same. The Black & Green boat is going to Ross Barnett to stay. Interesting thing is the best colors & brands of plastics or whatever is hot seems to always be sold out around Ross Barnett when you need it. My Tin boat has 6 3600 size Plano trays, that's it built in and little room for anything else. It comes home to the shop after every day trip, restocking it is easy. All the rods and extra tackle in this article is stored in the camper on the Rez, I'm usually less than a 10 minute boat ride from the campground if I need something not on board but 3-1/2 hours from the house.

**Les Young** · 03-07-2025, 10:10 PM

**Grainraiser** · 03-08-2025, 10:27 AM

I have a amazing amount of gear but I carry very little with me. I carry two rods and a small backpack. It drives me crazy to have stuff all over the boat. I could never be a bass fisherman because I could never had 10 rods on the deck. I try to only carry what i'm going to use. Organization is very important.

**Rojo** · 03-08-2025, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

I have a amazing amount of gear but I carry very little with me. I carry two rods and a small backpack. It drives me crazy to have stuff all over the boat. I could never be a bass fisherman because I could never had 10 rods on the deck. I try to only carry what i'm going to use. Organization is very important.

I don't know if you noticed the Long Jig Pole holders I made for the Blazer VL100 but they hold 4 14ft jig poles. Now if I fished with 12 foot and under I could cut 2ft off the PVC Pipes extending off the stern. My other Blazer held 6 total 2 12ft, 2 11ft, & 2 more of a shorter length jig poles inside the boat in a very, very, compact space. I'm designing the same external Reel Tray - Rod holders for the Skeeter & Champion like the Black & Green Blazer now. I really appreciate that being outside the boat they keep the rods super protected. I will single pole then back off a structure not connected to the bank but in open water and cast Sliders & Curly Tails across the structure to pick up the active fish that wouldn't take the Vertical presentation. Spinning tackle is needed for that so I usually have 4-6 jig poles for vertical presentations and 2 spinning rigs for casting & dock shooting (Limb Shooting too). The system keeps all the rods off the deck on a 68in wide boat but very handy to switch when needed. If the water is clean I may have a Eclipse on one pole, Red Thunder on another, Threadfin on another, & Blue Thunder on another. When one color quits I switch to another. Between the two methods I increase Crappie in the boat 30-40% over sticking with one method and one color presentation in a trip.

**Central Minn** · 03-09-2025, 01:46 PM

Looks good, organized….but I didn’t see any of all the STUFF my wife brings along.lol.

**Rojo** · 03-09-2025, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by Central Minn

Looks good, organized….but I didn’t see any of all the STUFF my wife brings along.lol.

Good one, my bride hangs in the camper making quilts while I fish and that makes for a very good relationship in my book.

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