A tackle box is a container or box designed for fishing equipment. This box can either be a single tray with several compartments or a self-contained racks system with multiple drawers. Why is a tackle box necessary for an angler? What exactly is contained in a tackle box? In this article, we answer all your questions, recommend the best tackle box for any angler regardless of their prowess and guide you on choosing the best. Read on!
A tackle box is a container or box formulated to store and carry your fishing gear. A well-equipped and organized tackle box is essential to a successful fishing experience.
This box can be anything as large as a suitcase with wheels and extendable handles or a tiny bag that’s easy to carry around. It helps you keep your tools safe from damage or loss, thus guaranteeing that your investment will last longer. A good tackle box is well designed with different partitions for different items. It should be easy to organize and flexible to fit various fishing tools for different scenarios.
What Do You Find In This Box?
Depending on the type of fish you plan to catch, and where you are fishing, your box’s contents will vary. This section looks at the essential items found in a tackle box and their uses. Here’s a summary of the must-have items and their uses:
| Item: | Use: |
| Extra fishing line | Replacing the one in use in case it snaps. |
| Extra hooks | Catching different types of fish |
| Sinkers | To pull your hook down into the water. |
| Bobbers/floaters | These help you know when fish bite |
| Stringer | Holds all the fish while in the water until the angler is done fishing. |
| Lures | They attract fish for an easy catch. |
| Swivels | It helps keep the line untwisted for easy swapping out of lures |
| Needle nose pliers | Help in getting far down into the fish mouth to remove the hooks after the catch without sticking your hand in the fish mouth |
| Sharp knife | Cutting lines when closed and baits when open, gutting the fish. |
| Scale/ruler | It helps in weighing the fish. |
| First aid kit | Complete with bandages, sanitizer, and an antibiotic ointment, you can deal with unexpected injuries related to fishing. |
| Insect repellant | It keeps away insects like mosquitoes from distracting you when fishing. |
Qualities Of A Good Tacklebox:
Tackle boxes come in handy to organize your fishing gear for ease of accessibility. They help you enjoy fishing for longer by saving the time you’d use to sort and search. A good tackle box should have these features:
1. It is made from a good quality material that lasts for a long time.
2. Quality zippers that can withstand salty water without rusting. The zipper should also be strong enough to hold up the pressure.
3. Water-resistant to prevent the fishing equipment from rusting, including the closures.
4. Have ample storage space to fit a variety of different fishing gear
5. Strong handles firmly attached to carry the weight of all the contents in the box.
6. It should be well partitioned to fit different sizes of fishing gear.
What Are Some Good Tackle Boxes?
Now that you know what to look for in a tackle box, finding one that’s best for you should feel like a breeze. However, we have some recommendations if you are starting. The tackle boxes in our list have been tried and tested by some of the best anglers worldwide. You are guaranteed top performance and the best value for your money with either of these.
1. Flambeau Outdoors Classic 2 Tray Tackle Box:
For anglers on a budget, this is the best value tackle box. It boasts smart use of storage space, and it lives up to its hype.
Features:
1. Built with eight tray slots and six detachable dividers.
2. Budget-friendly.
3. Easy access flip-top lid.
4. Drawtite latch.
5. Lightweight: weighs just 1 pound.
2. Piano Angled Tackle System:
Almost every angler’s favorite tackle box. The highest-rated tackle box featuring large storage space
Features:
1. Has additional storage under the lid and on top of the cover.
2. Strong locking latches.
3. Incorporates a storage rack
4. It can hold three large and two medium utility boxes.
5. Angled silhouette with pull-out trays.
Drawbacks:
1. Quite heavy, might not be portable over long distances.
2. It might be susceptible to tilting when packed to the maximum.
3. Piano 7771-01 Guide Series Tackle System:
It is as popular as it features high-quality fishing gear. It is a best seller on Amazon.
Features:
1. Three removable bait tracks.
2. Extra bulk storage.
3. Lifetime warranty.
4. Four pull-out tackle trays.
5. Full access.
6. Made in the USA.
Drawbacks:
1. Not ideal for carrying over long distances.
2. Somewhat expensive.
Tackle Organization:
It can be more challenging than it seems to keep your box well organized most of the time. Regularly swivels, snaps, and split rings never appear to stay put, and you’ll find them spread over the compartments of the box. Organizing it saves time and frustration to avoid lures and trebles hooks from getting jumbled up. It also saves you the expense of repurchasing them from mismanagement.
1. Get a zip lock bag for arranging beads and other small items into respective groups.
2. Store plastic baits according to their colors
3. Organize gear by the fish species they are meant for.
4. Only carry what you’ll need.
5. Label the partition lids and drawers for easy identification.
6. Consider going for more than one tackle box if you’re fishing both salt and fresh water.
7. Clean and sort your gear immediately when you get back from fishing to avoid leaving wet items tangled in your box.
8. Use clear lids to make it easy to see the contents.
You can acquire separate compartments to keep leaders, hooks, and lures from getting tangled together.
To prevent items from falling out in the event of an accidental tip over, close and lock the boxes and trays when not in use.
What Are The Differences Between The Tackle Box And Tackle Bag?
A tackle bag is a tackle box in the form of a bag. The bag is designed with different sections to keep your stuff organized. It is ideal for traveling since it’s more comfortable to carry around and can accommodate more equipment. Below is a summary of the main differences:
| Tackle Box: | Tackle Bag: |
| Weighty to carry around on every fishing trip. | Flexible and ideal for carrying on fishing adventures. |
| It has a large storage capacity, making it ideal for home storage. | Less packing space but ideal for carrying around. |
| They are made from plastic or metal. | They are made from nylon holdall or a soft-sided canvas that is water-resistant. |
| It has durable latches and hinges to facilitate easy opening and closing. | It has straps and handles that need to be comfortable when attaching a fanny pack or over the shoulder. |
Conclusion
Organizing your fishing gear is key to ensuring your fishing outing is successful. Always strive to ensure your tackle box is well organized after every use. Doing this will save you lots of time in the next adventure.
When going to the water, your tackle box’s contents should be defined by the type of fish you intend to catch and the fishing environment. You can choose to omit some items when you know you won’t use them. When buying a tackle box, always consider its durability and maximum capacity. These are the main features that should concern you. Portability shouldn’t be much of an issue since you can always transfer items to your tackle bag. We hope this post has enlightened you on what a tackle box is and why you need one if you are serious about fishing. Have fun!
