I was wondering what type(s) of tackle boxes you bring along in your canoe. Making the assumption that I will probably dump at some point, I plan on needing something that will float. Will one of those plain plastic storage box float for a while? Do you bring several boxes in a tackle bag, or just bring a couple of boxes by themselves.

I bring a full-sized tackle box. It's made by Cabela's, is soft, and holds six of the plastic boxes like the one you pictured. I don't know how you guys carry just one of those. On some trips, I lose enough lures to empty just one of those plastic boxes.

I was thinking at least two plastic storage boxes, but wasn't sure if you went ahead and brought the whole big bag thing too. I'm guessing you mean something like this:





only it's pink for you, and Bass Pro.
Thanks

I have one of these from Cabela's, the larger of the two. It's nice and compact, I can throw it into any pack, and I can fit tons of stuff inside it.
Cabelas Tackle Utility Binder

Picked this up at a garage sale years ago. It is a padded camera case, but I converted it into my paddling tackle box. You can get similar camera bags at Wallyworld now.I put the little plastic tackle boxes and all kinds of gear in it. Nice thing is, it floats if you drop it in the water and has clips to attach it to yoke, seat, gunnels, etc.

I'm such a dumb bank fisherman; now I see the need for the full bag. With the clips and ties, it makes it much easier to keep safe and organized inside the canoe than just throwing around a plastic box. The little soft binder in the TUB looks handy. I like the camera bag idea too. I think I have one very similar to that sitting around home unused.

From an old thread in the Fishing Forum: Tackle Boxes

I have found that one of the FASTEST ways to make your pack too heavy is to carry too much fishing tackle. It only comes through experience, but after each trip, review your tackle usage and success rate with the lures you carried, then weed out the bad ones from your canoeing tackle box.

I think by the time you get done paring it down, you'll have a tackle box with jigs, a few crankbaits, a few spoons and a little terminal tackle. That's it. And you'll virtually never wish for more.

Not that mine's perfect for everyone (we fish Quetico - no live bait), but this is my tackle box... and we fish almost all day everyday.

I recently picked up a bike handlebar bag at a thrift store. It holds two little tackle cases, a little hook/leader tube, and my spreader, foreceps, clipper, and tape measure (think construction style, on a keyring). Since it was made to hang on handlebars, I can clip it onto a thwart (or even below me on a web seat).

I'll see if I can take a picture of it--I just picked it up this year.

I'll second the comment about tackle adding to weight. I've done a lot of paring over the years, and keep reviewing things after each trip. For me, I've whittled it down to a small selection of Rapalas, Mepps spinners, a spoon, some snelled hooks, one balsa bobber, wire leaders, two or three split shots, and some snap swivels. If going late in the season, I'll swap out a couple of ShadRaps for the regular Rapalas. If going early, I might take a couple of plastic twister tails and a bass jig or spinnerbait.

I've also started switching to the braided lines--you can spool a lot more of a heavier test while keeping the diameter of a lighter line. That lets me take a smaller reel, too.

ckb, welcome to bwca.com.

My box is about like what you show. Plano 3700. About 14x9x2 in. Has been the ticket for me for many years. Holds PLENTY of baits, especially if I rubber band my Rapalas just right to allow fitting 3-4 of them in each storage area without all hooking together.

There are lots of guys on here who will chime in with how important it is to bring the kitchen sink. All you have to do is a search for threads that begin "If you could bring just one lure..."

Me, I'm heading the other way: seems like I always catch everything on one of only 3-4 different baits anyway so I'm going to bring just those next trip. (But I'll probably wind up tossing in 6-8 different sizes and colors of each...)

I bring fewer baits so I can splurge on the electronics, etc.

Welcome to the site Chris.

I bring one of the boxes that you pictured first and like schweady, I have just learned how to pack it to bring the essentials. You can fit a lot of stuff in one of those boxes. No need to bring the entire tackle shop though. There are many tried and true performers that will do the job.

For my real fishing boat - Over the last 20 years I have used two of the bigger Cabella's soft sided bags as well that hold six of those boxes as well. This summer they found a permenant spot on a garage shelf and everything was put back in a "normal" bigger old school tackle box with the shelves that open and spread apart. I like being able to open one box and see everything. I had those soft sided bags w/boxes and about three more smaller ones for targeting certain species. The "open one box and put it away, get the another box, open another box" thing was getting old. Weights in one box, hooks in another, leaders in that one, spoons over there, bla bla bla. I finally asked myself - Why make it harder to tie your rig?

As far as floating goes, I don't recall ever seeing the clear tray boxes that are sealed. I'm sure they will float long enough for you to grab it. Would probably depend on which side landed up and what kind of wave action there was. You could fit a box with a seal and make it air tight but then it would be a bit harder for moisture to get out and you might end up with a bunch of rusty tackle.

Thanks for the welcome. I have been reading everything for a while now and appreciate all the knowledge that is shared here. It's awesome.

I was actually kicking around the idea of bringing an old school tackle box. When I was in the BW in the mid-80's, I brought the old Plano foldout a couple times without any problems, but I figured the newer trays had pretty well made those obsolete. I hear you about the convenience of having everything right at hand, but I thought that might be the type of box least likely to float for long. I don't plan on dumping the canoe, but my teenage son might have other plans. Or at least it will be his fault if we dump (even if it was actually mine).

I worry less about it not floating than I do having it dump out while unlatched. (Heck, I have enough original Rapalas in there that I don't think it's going down anytime soon...) A lot of weird things can happen while fishing in a canoe, whether it's waves, or while fighting the big one, or your partner suddenly shifting around. Make yourself latch it shut when you're done messing with it and 99.9% of your lost tackle problems are over. (well, other than rocks and fish...) Lace one of those big floater key chains to it if you're still real concerned.

@ ckb

I think what you bring depends a lot upon what you'll catch. For example, I'm planning a trip next summer with someone I met here. We'll be catching trout, pike, bass, walleye, and muskies. Since pike are in all the lakes and since I fish 6 lb. mono and catch a couple dozen pike each day, I lose lures. I lose lures everyday. It's not the 40-plus inch pike that cut my line. I land those big girls. It's the smaller ones with their sharp puppy teeth. I'll also have to take lures for muskies, walleyes, and trout. I could take about five musky lures in one of those small plastic boxes.

If you're targeting fewer species or are going to have fewer pike slashing at your line, take less. However, take extra line and reel lube. Even the freshest line and the finest lube break down after 400 or 500 fish.

quote cowdoc: " "

that's what mine looks like, however it gets smaller every year.....The fishing tackle I mean.

(This was my original one)




This is the one as of lately (light weight)


SunCatcher

I just got this pack for fly fishing. I have about 250 flies for Smallmouth, Pike and Trout. Fishpond Waterdance Pack

This goes into a soft sided bag, which is actually the top (removable) portion of my backpacking pack. I like it because it doubles as a fanny pack.

quote cowdoc: " "

Nice tackle box but, I'm curious. Not being a bobber fisherman, why so many bobbers?

I usually have 3 boys with me and I supply them with those slip bobbers.

I use the same one as missmolly. Loaded with everything I think I may need. It's a luxury I like to take on my trips.

quote troutdude: "

quote cowdoc: " "

Nice tackle box but, I'm curious. Not being a bobber fisherman, why so many bobbers?"

I've caught more fish in the BWCA with a bobber setup and a leech than any other method. After that, would be a bottom bouncing or jig setup - again tipped with a leech. I only use the lures in my box if I'm trolling, topwater fishing or the fish just aren't biting on the leeches.

quote Savage Voyageur: "I just got this pack for fly fishing. I have about 250 flies for Smallmouth, Pike and Trout. Fishpond Waterdance Pack "

Nice!

I have two ginormous boxes for when I don't care about weight, but recently picked up this little waist pack thing from Cabela's for when I want a more compact kit:

quote mc2mens: "

quote troutdude: "

quote cowdoc: " "

Nice tackle box but, I'm curious. Not being a bobber fisherman, why so many bobbers?"

I've caught more fish in the BWCA with a bobber setup and a leech than any other method. After that, would be a bottom bouncing or jig setup - again tipped with a leech. I only use the lures in my box if I'm trolling, topwater fishing or the fish just aren't biting on the leeches."

My favorite way to fish too, obviously couldn't in Quetico though.

@ mc2mens and Howard Sprague

Why bother with a bobber? I just dunk a leech over the side with a split shot and catch a lot of fish that way. Although, I did find an application for a bobber this last summer. I was fishing below a waterfall and I was drifting too fast below it with the canoe. I figured fish were in the current, so I fished from shore with a bobber and hook, casting it into the current, where it slowly made its way downstream. That was fun, watching the bobber go down.

Pardon the dumb question, but you are mostly talking about catching Walleyes off the bottom with bobbers and leeches, right? I could see some smallies going after the leeches too.

At home with the kids, we are more of a bobber & nightcrawler pond type fisherman, but I like the action of crankbaits & spinners for smallies and northerns in the B-dub. Perhaps I have been missing out on something with all this positive leech talk....

quote ckb: "Pardon the dumb question, but you are mostly talking about catching Walleyes off the bottom with bobbers and leeches, right?

Perhaps I have been missing out on something with all this positive leech talk.... "

Sure, fishing a bobber and leech combo right above the bottom works just fine, but it's also very good for fishing over rock humps and points and for fishing in little weedy pockets.

And in my humble opinion, there is NOTHING that attracts walleyes better than a leech.

quote missmolly: "@ mc2mens and Howard Sprague

Why bother with a bobber? I just dunk a leech over the side with a split shot and catch a lot of fish that way. Although, I did find an application for a bobber this last summer. I was fishing below a waterfall and I was drifting too fast below it with the canoe. I figured fish were in the current, so I fished from shore with a bobber and hook, casting it into the current, where it slowly made its way downstream. That was fun, watching the bobber go down."

That's one example MM. Fishing from the shoreline I'll use a bobber. In the boat, can sit in one place and cast the bobber setup to several places from there, without having to move the boat. And, I like to see the bobber go down when I get a hit...it's half the fun for me. Oh yeah, the other thing...my fishing partner is a 10 yo kid and his favorite fishing method is a simple bobber setup.

I like the fact that, with a slip bobber, you can be very precise over where you suspend your bait. You can find out - if you don't have electronics - exactly how deep a spot is. And you can toss it out aways from the boat or shore and have your leech or crawler dangle exactly x feet from the surface or hover exactly x feet above the bottom. It offers great control, provided there's not a lot of current.
I've fished in situations where I might be in 30' of water and 27' down nothing happens...so I try 24' down, nothing..22..20..17 - voila!
..And then there are the pockets within weedbeds, like JF mentioned..it just gives you good control andprecision, and sometimes the fish don't especially feel like going for something that's moving around...instead, you drop it very slowly in front of their noses, it might work.

quote ckb: "Pardon the dumb question, but you are mostly talking about catching Walleyes off the bottom with bobbers and leeches, right? I could see some smallies going after the leeches too.

At home with the kids, we are more of a bobber & nightcrawler pond type fisherman, but I like the action of crankbaits & spinners for smallies and northerns in the B-dub. Perhaps I have been missing out on something with all this positive leech talk.... "

I'm generally using the bobber setup to target smallies. This setup has also caught it's fair share of walleyes, sunfish and northerns in the BWCA too. If I'm fishing for walleyes, I typically use a lindy rig, split shot and a hook(TGO style) or jig - all tipped with a leech. I rarely fish with crankbaits or spinners. Only when trolling, targeting northerns (which I don't do often enough), topwater fishing in the evening for smallies or when the fish don't seem to be biting on the leeches.

But hell, use what works for you and fish in the manner that you like. That's what it's all about, right?

It seems like MissMolly was posting the other day about not being able to catch anything with a jig, and I heartily second that. I guess that's why I've never used them much.

We are planning on primarily going after northerns and smallies, but I need to plan at least some time to specifically target wallies. With all your valuable input, it looks like I need to reserve a spot in my tackle box for some jig heads. And buy plenty of leeches when I get there....

We caught many fish in June and used mainly jigs. Perhaps some people don't realize that a jig needs to do more than lay on the bottom.

quote mc2mens: "

quote missmolly: "@ mc2mens and Howard Sprague

Why bother with a bobber? I just dunk a leech over the side with a split shot and catch a lot of fish that way. Although, I did find an application for a bobber this last summer. I was fishing below a waterfall and I was drifting too fast below it with the canoe. I figured fish were in the current, so I fished from shore with a bobber and hook, casting it into the current, where it slowly made its way downstream. That was fun, watching the bobber go down."

That's one example MM. Fishing from the shoreline I'll use a bobber. In the boat, can sit in one place and cast the bobber setup to several places from there, without having to move the boat. And, I like to see the bobber go down when I get a hit...it's half the fun for me. Oh yeah, the other thing...my fishing partner is a 10 you kid and his favorite fishing method is a simple bobber setup."

Yeah, watching the bobber slowly disappear is a blast. It's a hit in slow motion! Good point about being able to cast those guys instead of just fishing what's under the boat.

quote ckb: "It seems like MissMolly was posting the other day about not being able to catch anything with a jig, and I heartily second that. I guess that's why I've never used them much.

We are planning on primarily going after northerns and smallies, but I need to plan at least some time to specifically target wallies. With all your valuable input, it looks like I need to reserve a spot in my tackle box for some jig heads. And buy plenty of leeches when I get there...."

I figure my fishless jigging is mostly my inepititude. Now, I have caught plenty of walleyes bouncing a jig off the bottom. I just don't catch bass with a jig and plastic.

It sounds like we need to start a new thread on the Fishing Forum and get a vote on who prefers jigging to crankbaits :)

I have been gearing up for my trip based on lots of talk (and outdated memories of my own) about Shad Raps, Husky Jerks and other Rapala Floaters. Not to mention spinners and spoons. Is this just a jig loving bunch chiming in? Surely folks are doing more with crankbaits than just top water action in the wee hours, or trolling them behind a canoe. Right???

Not that I'm opposed to jigs. I just need a whole lot more practice.

quote ckb: "It sounds like we need to start a new thread on the Fishing Forum and get a vote on who prefers jigging to crankbaits :)

I have been gearing up for my trip based on lots of talk (and outdated memories of my own) about Shad Raps, Husky Jerks and other Rapala Floaters. Not to mention spinners and spoons. Is this just a jig loving bunch chiming in? Surely folks are doing more with crankbaits than just top water action in the wee hours, or trolling them behind a canoe. Right???

Not that I'm opposed to jigs. I just need a whole lot more practice."

I actually have much better luck catching walleyes drifting with a lindy rig than jigging.

quote troutdude: "Nice tackle box but, I'm curious. Not being a bobber fisherman, why so many bobbers?"

You're missing out. A leech under a slip bobber is the easily the most effective BWCA method.

The leech doesn't even need to be real. Gulp works almost as well.

quote Mad_Angler: "

quote troutdude: "Nice tackle box but, I'm curious. Not being a bobber fisherman, why so many bobbers?"

You're missing out. A leech under a slip bobber is the easily the most effective BWCA method.

The leech doesn't even need to be real. Gulp works almost as well."

Hey Mad_Angler - good to hear from you! I don't think I've seen a post from you in awhile.

Got one like this holds plenty of gear. The strap can be wrapped around a thwart or a strut so if you do capsize it will stay with the canoe,(mine did) lost a rod and reel though.
I carry about 4 lbs of tackle and I think that is plenty. I used to have the large tackle bag but found I was carrying 15 lbs of tackle, WAY TOO MUCH. BAG

JB

I use a Plano soft sided bag similar to this one

I use a couple waterproof boxes inside it to keep the bag afloat in case it goes overboard like these.

When I fish, I use one similar in size to what jackfish posted (though two sided) and carry it in a small fanny pack that straps to the seat hanger beside me. Very handy and secure. Nothing extra to portage.

quote HikingStick: "I recently picked up a bike handlebar bag at a thrift store. It holds two little tackle cases, a little hook/leader tube, and my spreader, foreceps, clipper, and tape measure (think construction style, on a keyring). Since it was made to hang on handlebars, I can clip it onto a thwart (or even below me on a web seat).


I'll see if I can take a picture of it--I just picked it up this year."

Here are the photos. So far, this little system has worked well for me.

Cabelas thwart bag and plastic boxes