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Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: ctwiggs1 on November 11, 2021, 07:39:26 AM


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Title: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: ctwiggs1 on November 11, 2021, 07:39:26 AM
My fishing gear organization has evolved so much over the last 20 years, it's ridiculous.

First, as a teenager I bought a huge tackle box because I realized I couldn't get all my gear into one little box my dad bought me.

Then, I stuffed most of my gear into plano organizers and went with a tiny little cordura bag that could be backpacked into areas for trout, as that was my main focus.

Eventually, I wanted it all to look organized and bought one of these things:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DDM18M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
FYI the concept is great but the actual rod holders are garbage.

Since then, I've started fishing more for other species (bass, perch, walleye, carp, salty fish, etc) upgraded some poles and now have three kids, all of whom love to go fishing with dad.  I think I could easily justify 20-30 poles right now, and of course all the odds and ends when it comes to tackle. 

None of this includes my fly gear that rarely makes an appearance anymore because lets face it - who has time for fly fishing? :chuckle:

My goal is to get everything organized in a manner that
A) Doesn't take up too much space
B) Is easy to reference and get the gear I need for a specific trip
C) Keeps rods safe (because dang those are expensive)

Just curious to see if anyone else on here is borderline OCD and has a super organized fishing gear section?

Thanks in advance

Curtis
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: Southpole on November 11, 2021, 07:48:20 AM
I too am curious. I have all my lures more or less segregated in types and styles but they’re all piled up on each other, tangled and chipping paint off of some. It’s a terrible mess.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: CP on November 11, 2021, 08:04:43 AM
I like this ceiling rod rack:

https://www.amazon.com/RackEm-7009-Overhead-12-Rod-Fishing/dp/B00A16NQTU/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Rack%27em+Overhead+Fishing+Rod+Rack&qid=1636646559&sr=8-2

Keeps the rods safe and out of the way.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: ctwiggs1 on November 11, 2021, 08:06:01 AM
I like this ceiling rod rack:

https://www.amazon.com/RackEm-7009-Overhead-12-Rod-Fishing/dp/B00A16NQTU/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Rack%27em+Overhead+Fishing+Rod+Rack&qid=1636646559&sr=8-2

Keeps the rods safe and out of the way.

I like that  :tup: :tup:

Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: JJB11B on November 11, 2021, 08:10:40 AM
Most of my gear is organized by species then by tackle type, like all my walleye stuff is in snap top organizers or on leader spools to keep the tangles out, when I go with someone else in there boat I just grab one of those fabric grocery bags and slip the cases in there. Rods are organized by length and stored on 3 gun racks plus 8 or so in the boat. My bass gear is organized similarly then steelhead and salmon as well. I also have a couple bags specifically set up for fishing from the bank for salmon/steelhead or bass/catfish
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: 7mmfan on November 11, 2021, 08:26:01 AM
I like this ceiling rod rack:

https://www.amazon.com/RackEm-7009-Overhead-12-Rod-Fishing/dp/B00A16NQTU/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Rack%27em+Overhead+Fishing+Rod+Rack&qid=1636646559&sr=8-2

Keeps the rods safe and out of the way.

I like that  :tup: :tup:

I have that exact rod rack on my garage ceiling. In fact I have 5 of them  :chuckle:. They work well. I think storing them on the ceiling is the best option, followed by the wall if you have the ceiling height.

As far as the tackle (lures, flies, terminal tackle, etc...) thats a tough one and depends on you and how you fish, how much time you like to take preparing for a trip. I used to have all the specific types of lures paired together, and would sort out what I needed for that particular trip. I don't have time for that anymore. Now I have separate setups for all my target species with their own boxes of terminal tackle and lures, even if some of those lures overlap with other species (I.E. same jigs, plugs, spinners for steelhead or salmon, they each have their own boxes with identical lures). Man that has saved me so much time. I can just grab my steelhead bag and hit the road, or my silver bag and hit the road, or my Yakima fly fishing bag and hit the road. There is a lot of duplication, it was expensive for a while creating that duplication, but it took a lot of room for error out for me. You have to have a space to store all those combos though and I;'m finding that I'm running out of space  :chuckle: I see the natural progression as I do less fishing and get into other kid activities reverting back to a bulk storage of some form and pulling out what I need for that day.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: Blacklab on November 11, 2021, 09:17:49 AM
Made these ceiling rack
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: Blacklab on November 11, 2021, 09:19:16 AM
Pvc rod rack
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: ctwiggs1 on November 11, 2021, 02:37:30 PM
I like this ceiling rod rack:

https://www.amazon.com/RackEm-7009-Overhead-12-Rod-Fishing/dp/B00A16NQTU/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Rack%27em+Overhead+Fishing+Rod+Rack&qid=1636646559&sr=8-2

Keeps the rods safe and out of the way.

I like that  :tup: :tup:

I have that exact rod rack on my garage ceiling. In fact I have 5 of them  :chuckle:. They work well. I think storing them on the ceiling is the best option, followed by the wall if you have the ceiling height.

As far as the tackle (lures, flies, terminal tackle, etc...) thats a tough one and depends on you and how you fish, how much time you like to take preparing for a trip. I used to have all the specific types of lures paired together, and would sort out what I needed for that particular trip. I don't have time for that anymore. Now I have separate setups for all my target species with their own boxes of terminal tackle and lures, even if some of those lures overlap with other species (I.E. same jigs, plugs, spinners for steelhead or salmon, they each have their own boxes with identical lures). Man that has saved me so much time. I can just grab my steelhead bag and hit the road, or my silver bag and hit the road, or my Yakima fly fishing bag and hit the road. There is a lot of duplication, it was expensive for a while creating that duplication, but it took a lot of room for error out for me. You have to have a space to store all those combos though and I;'m finding that I'm running out of space  :chuckle: I see the natural progression as I do less fishing and get into other kid activities reverting back to a bulk storage of some form and pulling out what I need for that day.

I love and hate that idea all at the same time man ;-)

What kind of tackle boxes are you sporting for these?  Oh wait sorry... "What tackle system are you running for this?"
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: Alchase on November 11, 2021, 07:39:22 PM
I have separate tackle boxes for Kokanee, Trout, Steelhead, and Salmon. I use pool noodles cut in 6" to 8" lengths to wrap my pre-made leaders, lures, and flasher strings on. This is so I can switch out to something different in seconds.
My salmon and steelhead poles and gear are in storage in the attic. I store my Trout and Kokanee poles on the wall on those cheap foam pole holders. I think I paid a couple $$ at most for them, as you can see we work well.

Forgot the pic
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: jackelope on November 11, 2021, 10:18:51 PM
Back when I was a kid, an old guy told me that anything over $20 was a fishing rod. Under $20, a fishing pole. It’s always stuck.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: Angry Perch on November 12, 2021, 08:14:34 AM
I use Plano boxes and a Cabela's bag that holds 5 of them. I mix and match, depending on what I'm after. For crank baits, the B & B boxes are awesome.

This is a stock photo, not mine. Mine's full. Thanks Skillet! :chuckle:


 
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: ctwiggs1 on November 12, 2021, 08:32:01 AM
Holy crap, that's sweet!  There is no way I'm going to copy it due to space constraints but it's a sweet setup  :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: JJB11B on November 12, 2021, 09:36:36 AM
Let’s just say that I have a 12’X12’ room in my barn dedicated to mainly fishing gear  As an ex tournament bass fisherman I’ve been a gear hoarder for 45+ years. 🤣. Rod racks on the ceiling (rods stored on the floor tend to get knocked around and broken) metal shelves for tackle, electronics, plastic and lead pouring equipment. I started out with those giant Plano tri fold tackle boxes but have switched to the smaller boxes that fit in a carrying bag. Much easier to organize and down size for specific species and techniques. They also stack nicely on a shelf.
and most modern boats have storage built to hold them.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: Stein on November 12, 2021, 09:52:22 AM
Organizing my fishing gear got much easier when I got rid of the 90% that never gets used.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: ctwiggs1 on November 12, 2021, 10:01:59 AM
Organizing my fishing gear got much easier when I got rid of the 90% that never gets used.

I just don't have that... Except my fly gear.   I just don't have time for it anymore. 

Some day I will, so I'm keeping it  :chuckle:
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: JimmyHoffa on November 12, 2021, 10:04:35 AM
With the direction WDFW seems to be headed for upcoming steelhead seasons, might just be organizing gear onto ebay....
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: metlhead on November 12, 2021, 10:14:03 AM
I gave up trying, it is the first step towards failure. I've an entire shop dedicated to my gear. Add a new big water boat, and that is a whole new pile of rods and boxes. Told my wife to let my buddies take care of it upon my death. Hey, it's my chaos.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: cavemann on November 12, 2021, 11:24:26 AM
I've tried the tackle boxes and "systems" but do what 7mm said.  I have separate bags/back packs for each.  Most are kids old school packs.  I have a couple small boxes but most all my lures, plugs I put in snack size zip lock bags.  Cheap, clear and keeps them from tangling.  As mentioned, the pool noodle lure keeper for pre-tied leaders/rigs works really well also.  I put a 2" long chunk around the handle of my rod when I break them down and wrap the leader around it instead of handle.  Keeps leaders clean and not nearly as many wraps.

and as for rod rack, I use old closet rods hung from the ceiling.  4' long rod house a lot of fishing rods.  with them being sanded and round the line and hooks don't snag up.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: jackelope on November 12, 2021, 06:36:49 PM
I thought really hard about buying a boat for the sound but have decided while I could afford the boat, I’m not sure how I’d fare equipping the boat. So much more and new gear.
I’ve got way too much flyfishing stuff, a lot of which goes unused.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: Buzz2401 on November 12, 2021, 07:19:20 PM
Labeled totes. Halibut, Salmon, Tuna, Trout, Bottom fish and crap I should have never bought and will never use.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: Jake Dogfish on November 12, 2021, 09:19:55 PM
Not owning a real boat, I have a hard time with it.  Every time I fish I need specific gear that doesn’t fit in a small tackle box.  I usually put my gear in a grocery bag and regroup when I get back.
Title: Re: How do you organize your fishing gear?
Post by: Jingles on November 13, 2021, 05:59:19 AM
Simple here 2 categories Summer, and Ice  goes on the sled, summer goes in the yard sale.
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