Being an organized freshwater angler will help you make the most of your time on the water. When you learn how to store fishing tackle for easy access and fast re-rigging, you’ll spend less time rummaging around for lures and more time catching fish.
Use these five simple fishing tackle storage ideas to keep your tackle and gear in the proper places so you know where things are when you need them.
STOCK UP ON PLASTIC UTILITY BOXES
Use plastic utility boxes with O-ring seals to ensure waterproof storage for your hard baits. Hard baits include crankbaits, topwater walk-the-dog lures, and hard-bodied jerkbaits. Utility boxes are inexpensive, come in a variety of sizes, and are easy to stash in the storage compartments on your boat. In fact, if you search online for “fishing tackle storage ideas for boat,” you’ll see that many of today’s boat models include tackle storage systems and tackle box drawer units.
HEAVY DUTY FREEZER BAGS FOR SOFT BAITS
Whether you’re organizing fishing tackle in the garage or on board your boat, gallon size freezer bags work well for keeping your soft plastic baits tidy. Anyone who uses soft plastic worms or creature baits has probably experienced the “great meltdown” that occurs when they have been inadvertently stored together in a plastic utility box. Unlike hard baits, you want to keep soft baits in the original packaging, and then group them together by the type of bait (ribbontail worms, speed worms, lizards, crawfish, etc.) and color. Once they are grouped together, place the baits (while still in the original packaging) into gallon size freezer bags.
USE LABELS FOR FISHING TACKLE STORAGE
Use labels on plastic tackle cases and bags for easy identification. Get a household label maker or buy a package of peel and stick labels so you can quickly identify what’s in them. This may seem unnecessary since you can see through the plastic cases and bags, but when you want to grab the right lures or baits in a hurry, these are the small details that make a difference.
CLEAN LURES BEFORE STORING
Learning how to clean fishing lures is an important part of tackle storage if you want your hard baits to last. Use warm water, gentle dish soap, and a soft bristled toothbrush to clean your lures. When it comes to knowing how to store fishing tackle during the winter months, cleaning and preventing rusty hooks should be a priority.
DIY TACKLE STORAGE FOR SWIVELS, BEADS
For small pieces of terminal tackle, like swivels and beads, one of the most helpful fishing tackle storage ideas is to use empty film canisters or small plastic storage cups with lids that can be found at most hobby stores. The compact size of these containers will allow them to easily fit within the compartments of most utility cases. Be sure to label the tops for quick identification.
Learning how to fish includes learning how to stay organized for your fishing adventures!
To learn more about the Recreational Boatin & Fishing Foundation, visit www.takemefishing.org.
