Getting your gear to your fishing spot, or onto your boat in an organized fashion makes for a less chaotic trip. It’s nice to have all your gear where you can reach in and grab exactly what you need without having to rummage through lots of gear. It’s good to invest some money into the perfect fishing backpack or fishing bag to make that happen. I really like the fishing backpack style where the weight is evenly distributed across my shoulders. I also like to have lots of different compartments to keep everything organized and just a quick grab away. The tackle backpacks with the utility boxes are excellent for organizing your lures, hooks, swivels, sinkers, and other gear. I buy extra utility boxes, and I label them for each type of fishing that I will do, and have them stocked, organized, and ready to go for each type of fishing. If I decide to troll for trout on a local lake, I have everything ready to swap out into my fishing backpack, and if I decide to troll for stripers, or do some surf fishing for halibut, perch, and lingcod, it’s a quick opening of the backpack, taking out the utility boxes from the previous trip, and slip the utility boxes with the day’s fishing adventure right in and I’m ready to go. I used to have to go through lots and lots of lures and swap things out amongst the different containers I store them in at home, but now it’s all ready to go. EGO makes some really great looking, and very useful fishing tackle bags and backpacks for when you are out on your next adventure. Very useful with the utility box storage to give you quick access to your best fishing lures. Great quality, with popping colors that not only work great, but look amazing as well. It’s also nice to have a bag that has a carabiner or clip for my keys, and it’s also easy enough to buy one separately and add it to your bag if your fishing bag or backpack doesn’t have one. With having five kids, it’s easy to lose my keys in my bag with the little hands that like to look through my fishing bag, looking for their next favorit lure to use. This saves me from having to scramble through my stuff trying to find my keys when we get back to the truck. Some fishing bags have lights and usb charging built right in, which is a nice feature. You never know when you weren’t planning to fish until dark, but when the fish are biting the fish are biting. Sometimes that “One More Cast” can keep me fishing later than expected. I don’t always remember to pack a flashlight just in case. So it’s nice to have the light built right in so you can have some light for those times when the darkness creeps up on you. To be able to charge your phone with a built in charger is nice too. Especially when you are taking some videos or photos with your phone, and use up the battery. Being able to charge it right there with no effort makes it nice so you can continue to capture those great moments on video with your friends and family. The fishing bags are great for boats, and do hold lots of gear. I have always used a large fishing bag, and for a lot of people a fishing bag is the best choice. For me, I have both, and I use both, in different situations. I found that when I fish on the shore, and I will be doing a lot of walking, that the weight being put on one shoulder with the strap was hurting my back. For shorter trips it was just fine, but when I walk a few miles when bass fishing the shoreline it was better to use the backpack to distribute the weight on both shoulders. I didn’t think I would like a fishing backpack, but my amazing wife, after a fishing trip when the extra weight in my fishing bag, hurt my back for a few days, she got one for me as a gift. I really like the backpack so much. There are still situations when I use my fishing bag, but for most of my fishing, I use the fishing backpack, and I haven’t hurt my back while fishing since I switched. One reason I liked the fishing bag option is that I have a large family, and the fishing bag can hold so much more gear, and snacks, and drinks. You can really load them up with everything you could possibly need for your trip. Your a little more limited with the backpack option, but maybe that’s a good thing. It is for me! Click here to view our hard sided tackle box page.
Wild River Tackle Tek Nomad XP Lighted Backpack
with USB Charging System - Black The Tackle Tek™ Nomad XP™ Lighted Backpack from Wild River® has an integrated 5000mAh rechargeable USB power supply so you can charge your portable electronics or smart phone while you are on your fishing trip, enabling you to take more pictures, and more videos, without the worry of running out of battery. It also has a rotating 3 level LED light system, with white and green light options, that lights up your backpack's contents and can also light up the area where you tie up your hooks and lures. This fishing backpack holds up to six 3600 and four 3500 tackle trays. It includes 4 power adapter tips and USB cable (Apple Lightning, Apple 30 pin, USB micro, and USB mini), so it is compatible with most styles of electronics. It has a rain cover, a molded sunglasses holder to help you keep track of your sunglasses and not break them. It has a removable fishing pliers holder, a removable retractable lanyard, and clear internal pocket. The dual function front pocket will hold a mobile device and your power supply. There are pads on the base that will reduce wear on your fishing backpack, and keeps it clean and dry. The shoulder pads are adjustable, and there is a sternum strap to provide additional comfort and a better fit for those long hikes around the lake.
Offshore Angler Boat Bags
No metal parts, corrosion-free Removable shoulder strap Water resistant Deck-Tuff™ molded bottomTwo EVA foam handles with neoprene knuckle guardsEasy to grip zippers with rubber bumpersD-rings for keys, sunglasses, pliers, etc. Two inside pocketsRod tube straps
BEST FISHING TACKLE BOXES
Hard Shell Tackle Boxes
Hard shell tackle boxes have come a long way over the years. The latest styles of tackle boxes take advantage of the utility box systems available today, making it easier to swap out your gear, or stay more organized. There are also fishing tackle bags if you are looking for the soft sides tackle bags and backpacks instead of the hard sided box style tackle boxes.
Plano 787 Guide Series Angled Tackle Storage System
Plano®'s Guide Series™ angled fishing tackle storage system is now available in a hard sided tackle box! This gives you quicker access and the perfect amount of storage space for all your lures and gear. The main compartment holds the utility boxes at 15º for easy access. It also has an integrated, expandable rear pocket, as well as DuraView™covers and doors. It has a non skid impact resistant base with rubber feet to keep your tacklebox from sliding around so easily. Includes seven StowAway® utility boxes: three 2-3701, one 2-3750, two 2-3601, and one 2-3650. This is their flagship top of the top in hard sided tackle boxes. I buy extra utility boxes so that I can easily swap my lures in and out for the tipe of fishing that I will be doing on each fishing trip. Really a great price for such a sturdy and durable tackle box that will last you for the long haul.
Plano 7771 Guide Series Tackle Box
The Plano 7771 Guide Series Tackle Box includes four 2-3701 utility boxes, three top access removable spinnerbait racks, spacious bulk storage, top access, see through Duraview cover, and over molded handle. This tackle box is my top choice because it gives you the space on the top two racks for all your gear, and the four utility boxes to keep your lures organized. I buy an extra set of the utility boxes so that when it’s time for trout fishing, I slip in my trout lures in, and when it’s time for bass fishing I swap out the trout lures with my bass lures. My gear is always organized and ready to go. I have trolling boxes to slip in, bank fishing boxes with my hooks and sinkers. I use a permanent marker to write on the front of the utility box exactly what the box is for, so when I’m ready to go fishing I just grab the four boxes I want to take on this trip, and I’m ready to go.
Flambeau Waterproof Tackle Box
The Flambeau® Waterproof Satchel with Base Cage Tackle Box was designed to help keep your fishing gear dry, and inhibit rust from forming on your hooks, lures, and other tackle. It comes with Flambeau's innovative Zerust® dividers which have been proven to protect metal surfaces from rust and corrosion for 5 years or longer. This tackle box is very durable with it’s thick walls. The smaller model has removable base storage dividers, and fixed dividers in the storage area of the bigger model. It has top mounted glide trays that rotate outward for quick access to the base storage area, and a recessed lid to give you a work space for holding small items for rigging. It comes with 2 waterproof Tuff Tainers utility boxes for extra storage options. When looking for the best tackle box, the first thing I look for is a good brand that I have used over the users from a name that I know and trust, and the top brand for me that is always my go to tackle box is always Plano. The reason why is that in my younger years, I was quite rough with my tackle box, and though I have owned other brands, the Plano tackle boxes have been able to endure all of my abuse and still hold up quite well. Plano is by far the strongest, and longest lasting, tackle boxes that I have ever owned. Hard shell tackle boxes just last almost forever. There have only been two reasons why I have ever had to replace any of my Plano tackle boxes. The first reason is that I outgrew some of the smaller versions that I had during my early years, and each time I would upgrade to the next larger size. The second reason is because I just did not know how to store my tackle correctly, and make use of utility boxes to store my lures and gear that leak, or melt, or rust. Whether it was my rubber worms, or the skirts on my hula poppers, they would melt into the tackle box and it would weld to and warp the box or make it look terrible, so I would replace it. My hooks and swivels would rust, so many different possibilities.
Fishing Tackle Boxes
Fast forward many years into my fishing years, and tackle boxes transformed by adding storage for utility boxes. This was a game changer for me. I was now able to organize my lures and tackle and have them at a quick reach to pull out one of the utility boxes and have everything at my finger tips, instead of rummaging through my old tackle box trays. This also allowed me to separate all of my different types of gear that could turn into a mess, or rust, melt, or stink up my tackle box. Now I can organize all of my gear and lures, and it will still be organized and neat the next time I open my tackle box. For me, since I fish completely different gear for different types of fishing, I have quite a few of the utility boxes that I can feel with different types of gear, and when I am going to go striper fishing, I pull out the striper gear utility boxes and swap out the ones in the tackle box so it only takes me a few minutes to have my gear ready. When I am going to go trolling for trout, I swap out the striper utility boxes, and insert my trout gear boxes. I have about twenty different utility boxes that I have organized, separated, and labeled, so that when I decide to target a certain style of fishing, or a certain fish species, I just grab the utility boxes for that trip, and swap them with the ones that were in the tackle boxes from the last trip. Tackle boxes and tackle storage systems are all about personal preference. Some anglers like small tackle boxes, with their hand picked lures, tackle, and gear for each trip, but others like to have larger tackle boxes with limitless options available when they are out on the water. You never know what fish are biting on specifically, and when you are getting skunked, and the fisherman next to you is getting hooked up, it’s nice to have the gear at your disposal to continue switching up your lures and your technique until you are in the zone! The tackle boxes with the utility boxes built in are a great fit for this scenario, but it also makes the box a little heavier and bulkier, so if you are walking around the shoreline you may opt for the smaller size boxes.
BEST UTILITY BOXES FOR YOUR FISHING LURES
Utility Box Convenience
Fishing utility boxes provides organization, and speed to your fishing gear. Whether you use your utility boxes for lures, or your terminal tackle, or a combination of that and more, when your gear is organized, it is easy to decide what you want to use, easier to grab the right setup, and that means more time fishing instead of rummaging through your gear. There are many fishing backpacks and fishing tackle boxes that work well with utility boxes.
Plano Waterproof Stow Away Fishing Utility Box
The ultimate tackle box to organize, protect and transport every hook and lure. Plano’s StowAway fishing utility boxes simplify and standardize tackle storage to create a streamlined system that saves you time on the water. Four different size tackle boxes (3400, 3500, 3600 and 3700) give you the same fit every time, with fixed and customizable dividers to make sure everything has its place. I fill and separate my Plano utility boxes by the type of fishing that I do. That way when I switch things up from trout fishing to bass fishing, or whatever type of fishing I plan to do, I grab the separated boxes that are already organized and ready to go. It makes my preparation for my fishing trips a quick and simple process. I recommend stocking up on a bunch of these and get your fishing gear organized and simplified.
Bass Mafia 3700 Deep Cranking Coffin Fishing Utility Box
With 48 adjustable lure storage compartments, the Bass Mafia Bait Coffin 3700 Crankbait Utility Box is durable and rugged, and offers anglers three distinct advantages over other typical stowaways. You can't see the lures which looks more organized, sun rays can't penetrate them and damage your lures, and they are super tough to the point of being virtually indestructible. It has a waterproof seal and stainless steel hinges. You spend a lot of money on your top fishing lures, it’s time to protect your investment and invest in a lure storage utility box that will protect and organize your lures so they are ready when you want to use them.
Plano EDGE XL Crankbait Utility Box
The Plano® EDGE XL Crankbait Utility Box is built to help extend the life of your gear and tackle, and to give you quick organized access to all your gear. It comes equipped with a Duraview™ crystal-clear lid with an easy to use one handed latch. This lets you locate your next lure, and open up the lid quickly to make a lure change faster than ever. The lid has a water tight Dri-Loc™ seal that keeps your lures and tackle dry. Has the Water Wick™, a water absorbing, rechargeable, desiccant divider. Also has the Rustrictor™, which is a protective base that keeps metal terminal tackle and your favorite baits from rusting out. Your gear will be in tip top shape, and last fishing season after season. This Plano EDGE XL Crankbait tackle box holds your largest and longest crankbaits tail first and nestled among hundreds of silicone fingers to keep them protected from bumps, drops, and choppy boat rides.
Plano Elite Small Crankbait Organizer Utility Box
Plano® Elite™ lure boxes are customizable, letting you organize your lures exactly the way you want. The design of this lure box maximizes capacity and efficiency with storing your crankbait or small stickbaits so that you can store more lures in one third of the space of a normal box. Has V-Groove technology that keeps your crankbaits from tangling up together. These lure boxes are perfectly sized to the traditional 360 footprint to better fit your tackle bag. About The Author Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase. The Best Fishing Tackle Bags and Boxes Shopping Experience Awaits!