Gear Ideas

It is funny how all of us do little things with our equipment that seem "normal" to us, yet someone else sees it and they are so blown away by it. I'm sure that every one of us has something we thought up or made ourselves that we have in our boats that make our lives easier.

I figured that while we are waiting for the ice to melt and are getting our boats ready, now would be a good time for everyone to share something we have found for storage or fishing that makes our lives easier.

Last year in Coldwater, I was snooping through Don's boat for some free fishing gear.... Just kidding, I was actually looking at his boat setup like all of us do. I was intrigued by the storage setup he had up front to store his jigs and soft plastics in. I have no idea what kind of boxes they were, but I liked them.

Fast forward to last week. I was going through my tackle bag to sort through my walleye jigs. I have three boxes all for different size jigs. There are hundreds. Problem is that the boxes that fit in my bag simply do not hold that amount of weight very well. Turned on end, the weight of the jigs pushes down on the removable side pieces and bends them. I took a trip to Meijer and while in their automotive section I came across a great storage idea from Stanley. The boxes all have handles and locking top hasps. The size I chose had ten seperate removable containers. I bought two. Now I have all of my jigs (1/2 to 1 oz) in these boxes. I can pull and individual container out for each color. I can turn it upside down and they do not fall out or bend the trays. I will go back and buy the smaller one with more containers for storing tubes.

I love them because I can now seperate my "walleye" specific equipment and remove it from the boat when not targeting them. Oh, they are stackable too.

Tell us your ideas..... we may just find one or two to put to use in our boats this spring

Another favorite of mine deals with Crawler harnesses. Yes they make those tiny little round objects that are "supposed" to hold them when not in use. Problem is that the plastic eyes don't hold up well and the baits are too close together.

Take a swim noodle (you can buy them in the swimming section at most stores). Cut a piece at any length (I like 10 inches). I utilize Stainless nails and push them through so that the head is on one side and the tip goes completely through the other. I then hook my swivle on one end of the nail and wrap it around the noodle using the other side of the nail to sepate the baits. These are larger in diameter and don't seem to "coil" your fishing line like the smaller diameter ones do. Oh, and they float! I also use a Zip tie at one end. I push it through the foam and then connect it to form a loop. I have spot on my helm that I hang them from!

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

It is funny how all of us do little things with our equipment that seem "normal" to us, yet someone else sees it and they are so blown away by it. I'm sure that every one of us has something we thought up or made ourselves that we have in our boats that make our lives easier.

I figured that while we are waiting for the ice to melt and are getting our boats ready, now would be a good time for everyone to share something we have found for storage or fishing that makes our lives easier.

Last year in Coldwater, I was snooping through Don's boat for some free fishing gear.... Just kidding, I was actually looking at his boat setup like all of us do. I was intrigued by the storage setup he had up front to store his jigs and soft plastics in. I have no idea what kind of boxes they were, but I liked them.

Fast forward to last week. I was going through my tackle bag to sort through my walleye jigs. I have three boxes all for different size jigs. There are hundreds. Problem is that the boxes that fit in my bag simply do not hold that amount of weight very well. Turned on end, the weight of the jigs pushes down on the removable side pieces and bends them. I took a trip to Meijer and while in their automotive section I came across a great storage idea from Stanley. The boxes all have handles and locking top hasps. The size I chose had ten seperate removable containers. I bought two. Now I have all of my jigs (1/2 to 1 oz) in these boxes. I can pull and individual container out for each color. I can turn it upside down and they do not fall out or bend the trays. I will go back and buy the smaller one with more containers for storing tubes.

I love them because I can now seperate my "walleye" specific equipment and remove it from the boat when not targeting them. Oh, they are stackable too.

Tell us your ideas..... we may just find one or two to put to use in our boats this spring

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Rich can you post a picture of the boxes? Thanks..

We have some small plastic boxes that have separate compartments in. We put a lot of favorite jigs in one and tails in another. We usually have 2-4 of these on the boat. They at least keep the jigs all in their own place.Attachment 119346This is one of the small ones for ice fishing baits,

I just bought this from Bass Pro;

• Plano 360 Tackle bag
  

A Bass Pro Exclusive!

• Three zippered pockets
• Carry handle and shoulder strap
• Includes four 3650 StowAway® utility boxes

The Plano 360 Tackle Bag features three generous zippered pockets in addition to a main compartment which holds four 3650 StowAway utility boxes (included). You can carry this Plano Tackle Bag by its convenient handle or by using the bag’s shoulder strap.

Manufacturer model #: 4460-50
http://s7d5.scene7.com/s7viewers/dht...ges/spacer.gif

I can have umpteen utility boxes and then choose four to load into the bag for the day's outing. Crappie or smallies or walleye's, mix or match. My other box is a hard box and it's big. Hurts my shoulder to lift it into the boat.

Rich I just knew I was missing a few things. rotflHere's a link to Harbor Freight for those boxes: Toolbox Organizer with 10 Drawers.

They also have these that look interesting: Toolbox Organizer with 4 Drawers.

Like many I have found that I have WAAAAY more jigs/bodies than I typically will use. I was digging through the boat in preparation for next months trip down south and found two more sectional boxes of "stuff" that I had forgotten I had. When is enough enough?

My 9 year old has three tackle boxes, a soft bag like mine and two plano clear boxes for muskie/pike lures. It's an affliction, most likely we're born with it and can't help it.:ThumbsUp

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Originally Posted by yankee doodler

Rich I just knew I was missing a few things. rotflHere's a link to Harbor Freight for those boxes: Toolbox Organizer with 10 Drawers.

They also have these that look interesting: Toolbox Organizer with 4 Drawers.

Like many I have found that I have WAAAAY more jigs/bodies than I typically will use. I was digging through the boat in preparation for next months trip down south and found two more sectional boxes of "stuff" that I had forgotten I had. When is enough enough?

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that 4 drawer works great. Several guys down here bought them for tackle storage.

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Originally Posted by yankee doodler

Rich I just knew I was missing a few things. rotflHere's a link to Harbor Freight for those boxes: Toolbox Organizer with 10 Drawers.

They also have these that look interesting: Toolbox Organizer with 4 Drawers.

Like many I have found that I have WAAAAY more jigs/bodies than I typically will use. I was digging through the boat in preparation for next months trip down south and found two more sectional boxes of "stuff" that I had forgotten I had. When is enough enough?

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Hey don I almost bought that box today from harbor freight, those are nice little storage boxes, I just might go back and getem.

My wife buys a lot of stuff from QVC on the internet. She has the kitchen cabinets and her "craft" room loaded with various sized containers called "lock & lock." They are heavy plastic with a lids that are lined with a band of silicone that seals them from just about anything. I have the usual tackle boxes with lures that were tangled/rusty/disorganized and bottles of scented baits that leaked and the thought that I could put organize those things in the smaller "lock & lock" containers made sense. The advantages are that 1) they are clear and I can see what's inside without opening them. 2) they some in many sizes and shapes. 3) they are very tough and durable. 4) they seal TIGHT with at least 4 locking tabs on all sides so they seal so tight that they float. 5) they can be stacked or packed just about anywhere. I even used a medium sized one last summer to keep nightcrawlers in ice water and even that worked great. As far as I know QVC is the only place "lock & lock" is for sale, and I yet to see any copies of it elsewhere.

Don, I knew I saw them someplace. Harbor freight. Oh, and don't worry about the stuff you were "missing".... I'll be returning them in Cadillac.... They didn't work!

Larry, I'll take a picture of those Stanley containers tonight. I am sure they work great for construction projects, but they work way better for holding 1/2 and 3/4 oz jigs.

I picked one of these up to store different screws in, but I'm thinking of getting another for tackle storage.

DWST14825 Deep Pro Organizer | DEWALT Tools

That looks like a good one. The Harbor Freight ones look good too. I don't have any of their stores around here.

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

Don, I knew I saw them someplace. Harbor freight. Oh, and don't worry about the stuff you were "missing".... I'll be returning them in Cadillac.... They didn't work!

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Dude, that's because they were in the wrong boat! :Rofl

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Originally Posted by Crappie 1

That looks like a good one. The Harbor Freight ones look good too. I don't have any of their stores around here.

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Order them online, or if ya want I will pick up a few next time in G.R. Come to think of it, those would make dandy prizes!

Don,
Great Idea on the prizes. I might have to pickup a few of the smaller "Stanley" ones I discribed. Below are the pictures Larry requested. These are for sale at Meijer and Wal-mart. The ones shown below were $16 and some change each. They do have a new one that is a touch larger and has metal hasps for over 20 dollars. I like these because they have handles, the lids close, and the compartments are removable. Each case comes with 8 smaller containers and 2 larger ones. As you can see in the pictures, one box I removed all the larger containers and replaced them with smaller ones (giving me 12). The other box, I put the larger containers in (4) and 4 smaller ones. Obviously, the more you have, the more you can mix and match.

Attachment 119536Attachment 119537Attachment 119538

Hey Rich, thanks for the pictures. That looks like a really good set up. All you guys will be "styli'n" by the time we get to Cadillac...

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Originally Posted by Crappie 1

Hey Rich, thanks for the pictures. That looks like a really good set up. All you guys will be "styli'n" by the time we get to Cadillac...

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Not me, at this rate I will be carrying my gear around in a plastic bag and fishing out of inner tube behind someones boat...

Hermin don't feel bad, we always have 2-3 Walmart bags on the boat with bobbers, line, hooks etc.

Hey Rich - a question from an old butcher. Is that a SS meat grinder and stuffer on the floor next to your workbench?

Mike,

I just knew someone would see that stuff in the background. You are correct, that is a stainless steel meat grinder. That model does about 16lbs per minute. If you look to the left you will see an SS vertical 15lb sausage stuffer. In the back you will see a ton of meat lugs, totes and vacuum sealers. This is my room in the basement I store all of my hunting gear, meat processing gear, and equipment to build fishing rods.

Eric.... Inner tube would be "Stylin" in my book, and I too have plastic bags in my boat. I stop at the store, buy some crap I think I need, realize that I have 10 of them in my tackle bag and throw the plastic bag in the storage compartment. At the end of the year, I open it up and find 10 bags (all with the same crap in it). So now I have 208 bobbers (all the same color), 1000 bobber stops (no slip bobbers), two empty worm containers (were they empty when they were put in there?) three dried up minnows, 97 packages of "the same" hooks, two boxes of 25lb test line (why the hell do I have 25lb test line?) and 18 lures that I have no idea what to use them for!

Rich - i thought that's what it was. I'm putting a couple of sheep in the freezer tomorrow and it just caught my eye I guess I'm just back in the butcher mode for a couple of days.

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

I stop at the store, buy some crap I think I need, realize that I have 10 of them in my tackle bag and throw the plastic bag in the storage compartment. At the end of the year, I open it up and find 10 bags (all with the same crap in it). So now I have 208 bobbers (all the same color), 1000 bobber stops (no slip bobbers), two empty worm containers (were they empty when they were put in there?) three dried up minnows, 97 packages of "the same" hooks, two boxes of 25lb test line (why the hell do I have 25lb test line?) and 18 lures that I have no idea what to use them for!

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I think you need to "elect" your daughter as your "tackle accountant". :biggrin

Funny this is I was just at Cabelas looking at plastic boxes and now i read this

Too busy for me to buy so ill make another long trip back at 3.4 miles from my house :biggrin