Tackle storage needed

[Jim O]

Basically, I have nothing. I am getting my rods and reels together for a future 10-day trip. Now I'm looking at tackle storage. I'm seeing hard boxes, soft boxes, jig bags and boxes...

What is essential that I should have?

[Brewcrafter]

Good question.  Easy to overdo it.  On your trip you will see hard boxes (SKB is kind of the standard), soft roller bags (my preference, I have a Fishlab.  Turner's Outdoors also has a really nice one), and then homegrown boxes (there is an entire thread here on the forum of a member that makes absolutely stellar wooden boxes out of rare/beautiful woods - his stuff is so pretty it falls into the "I would be afraid to use it" category). For your first trip I would think a single box should be able to carry ALL of your terminal tackle - a handful of irons, one maybe two trolling lures, so getting a separate iron bag or troller bag would be overkill/waste.  Also, while a Long Range boat is pretty roomy, space is NOT unlimited.  Truthfully any sort of bag that can hold a bunch of 3600/3700 boxes will work. - john

[Jim O]

Good question.  Easy to overdo it.  On your trip you will see hard boxes (SKB is kind of the standard), soft roller bags (my preference, I have a Fishlab.  Turner's Outdoors also has a really nice one), and then homegrown boxes (there is an entire thread here on the forum of a member that makes absolutely stellar wooden boxes out of rare/beautiful woods - his stuff is so pretty it falls into the "I would be afraid to use it" category). For your first trip I would think a single box should be able to carry ALL of your terminal tackle - a handful of irons, one maybe two trolling lures, so getting a separate iron bag or troller bag would be overkill/waste.  Also, while a Long Range boat is pretty roomy, space is NOT unlimited.  Truthfully any sort of bag that can hold a bunch of 3600/3700 boxes will work. - john

Thanks.  I'm considering this one for starters.
https://www.calcuttaoutdoors.com/products/explorer-tackle-bags-3

[Brewcrafter]

Nice, compact.  Nice bag.  Remember, you can always build and add later.  Don't overstress it.  Yes I have a padded reel bag.  My first trips my reels were wrapped up in my underwear and in my duffel bag, it works. - john

[Keta]

....my reels were wrapped up in my underwear and in my duffel bag, it works. - john

A good reason to supper clean them when you get home.

[Swami805]

I have th small SKB box that I use every trip. Water proof, bomb proof and has a couple rocket launchers which are handy. Holds enough stuff to keep on deck. I also have the big box which I hardly ever use except really long trips and I keep it on the upper deck
Reel bag go in my room. Separate bag for just irons but I bring way too many

[Maxed Out]

How bout an old school suitcase. aka make-up case. This one I have is 1950's and I've also used it as a step stool. Built like a tank

[Brewcrafter]

I know Jim is just starting out; yeah I have the extra bags for irons and trollers and a really nice reel bag but he probably doesn't need that for his first trip.  Frankly I DO have rod holders on my bag.  Wish I didn't, would rather have extra storage pockets.  Those extra rocket launcher rod holders can be handy BUT they can also cause clutter, depending on where your box is on the boat.  And since Jim has minimal rods; he really doesn't need to worry about rod holders on his box (seriously, what to you have, 6ish on the side of the boat and one in the rocket launcher?) And I would also say - not everything needs (or should) live up on deck (again, space is limited AND I believe this is his first trip, so maybe I am saying stuff that is obvious to many of us).  A lot of tackle/stuff lives in my stateroom (reel bag, troller bag, bag with extra line)  If it's not something you need immediate access to - keep it down below.- john

[Jim O]

So far I'm up to 4 reels, 3 rods.  I just bought a Fathom25NSD from Keta, and I'll be getting an Okuma 801H to go with it next week.  It looks like I still need a #100 rig to get by, I think.

Just bought this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/358429382660  Price was right.  I also have my eye on a new Shimano Calcutta.  I believe I'll get it for $128.  That should do me for awhile.  Funny, I don't own any Shimanos except for my old TLDs.

[MarkT]

So far I'm up to 4 reels, 3 rods.  I just bought a Fathom25NSD from Keta, and I'll be getting an Okuma 801H to go with it next week.  It looks like I still need a #100 rig to get by, I think.

Just bought this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/358429382660  Price was right.  I also have my eye on a new Shimano Calcutta.  I believe I'll get it for $128.  That should do me for awhile.  Funny, I don't own any Shimanos except for my old TLDs.

Calcutta is the brand of bag, it's not Shimano!

[Brewcrafter]

Jim - You're gonna be fine.  Relax.  - john

[Swami805]

10day you'll be using your 40lb rig a lot. 50-60 too, maybe 100. Most of the better boats have loaner gear on board, you just pay for your top shot, if that. Kite, trolling the boat has that stuff too. You're money might be better spent on the mid range gear, the stuff you'll be using daily   Easy to drop $1000+ on a heavy rig that might never leave the rack

[Bill B]

The Calcutta bag will do well for your trip.  As I think about it, and last year someone actually did, a large milk crate stuffed with Plano trays would work well.  🤔 Now my load out is an older Nomad bag (similar to the Calcutta) a plastic ammo can for lead (I'm that guy who takes 30# of lead) a reel bag that lives in the stateroom, and a milk crate that gets strapped down on the sun deck with various oversized trays for trolling lures and miscellaneous junk with 6 rod tubes.  I share the milk crate with another member on the trip.

As Sheridan stated the 40# and 50#-60# rigs will do most of the work.  My 100# on a long range gets used less than a trolling rig but it CAN do double duty depending on what it is.  I wouldn't sweat it.  There are plenty to borrow.  I will have a 100# and 130# (both ready to troll) on the 10 day. 

Realistically, 3 rigs, 10 irons, 4 wahoo bombs (Alan will have them for sale), 50 miscellaneous and cheap hooks, 10# of lead (yeah I'm that guy), some leader material, side cutters, finger tape and sun screen and some cash, you will do pretty well.

Bill

[Jim O]

The Calcutta bag will do well for your trip.  As I think about it, and last year someone actually did, a large milk crate stuffed with Plano trays would work well.  🤔 Now my load out is an older Nomad bag (similar to the Calcutta) a plastic ammo can for lead (I'm that guy who takes 30# of lead) a reel bag that lives in the stateroom, and a milk crate that gets strapped down on the sun deck with various oversized trays for trolling lures and miscellaneous junk with 6 rod tubes.  I share the milk crate with another member on the trip.

As Sheridan stated the 40# and 50#-60# rigs will do most of the work.  My 100# on a long range gets used less than a trolling rig but it CAN do double duty depending on what it is.  I wouldn't sweat it.  There are plenty to borrow.  I will have a 100# and 130# (both ready to troll) on the 10 day. 

Realistically, 3 rigs, 10 irons, 4 wahoo bombs (Alan will have them for sale), 50 miscellaneous and cheap hooks, 10# of lead (yeah I'm that guy), some leader material, side cutters, finger tape and sun screen and some cash, you will do pretty well.

Bill

Bill, I need more details about the various irons and hooks.  Could you possibly elaborate more on brands, sizes, styles?  Thanks.

[Dominick]

My first trips my reels were wrapped up in my underwear and in my duffel bag, it works. - john

Please don't tell me that is the way you transported the Tank when you used it.  Dominick