I am thinking about changing up my tackle box, any recommendations? I am a "bring it all" guy. The last couple of years, I have been stuffing Plano boxes in every open space, then end up digging all over...does anyone use a specific "backpack tackle box"?

Thanks!

We use a waist pack from Cabela's. I like this system because you keep your hands free on the portage and can easily wear while wearing your portage packs. I also love it for river fishing.

For the last six years I used a Plano waist pack. It carried three small 3500 Plano boxes. It finally fell apart and boy am I glad it did. It never worked well as a waist pack but because it was a waist pack it could only handle 3 boxes and some other stuff. Anyway this year I'm going with the Plano 3500 Guide Series, which looks like it will be perfect. They make the same tackle bag in several larger sizes but this one ought to be just right for me. It carries 5 @ 3500 boxes with room for more and it is the same size as my old waist pack. I think Plano's Guide series is really well designed and built.
Plano 3500 Guide Series
If you look around you can find it on sale.

I used to be that guy but now just bring a small soft sided and still only use about half of the tackle in it. I fish mostly live bait and some small cranks and plastics. Maybe throw a couple surface lures in.

Small tackle box and even than only use 10% of items in there.

We gave up on separate "tackle Boxes/Bags". Now we have gone to 3700 waterproof plano boxes and this Cabelas Quick Stow While traveling we stow all the plano boxes in the portage packs. We absolutely hate carrying extra bags/boxes/etc... in our hands on the portages. It slows us down and wears us out so if it won't fit in our portage packs its NOT going. Just another way to do it.

These stack together, can get alot of tackle to cover all scenarios :-)

Geez.....I have an Orvis tackle back pack which is the best I have seen hands down. Very balanced with two plano boxes in front and the main compartment in the rear. I can take a ton of stuff including a collapsible small net and a D-ring holds my boga in the front. I walk the pack and the boat across on the same trip.

Alas, I see that Orvis has discontinued making them. Good thing I bought a spare! (does anyone else do that? Get something you REALLY like and buy a second one to have in reserve?)

I put all my tackle into a small back pack. It holds 1 large plano box with hard baits (cranks, spoons, top-waters, spinners, etc), one small plano box with hooks, jigheads, leaders, weights, etc. One quart-size zip-lock full of plastics.

In the front 2 pouches go my pliers, water, fish gripper, sunscreen, bug spray, my lunch, etc.

This works pretty well although I do re-organize it every evening in camp. I tend to put things away in random places while I'm on the water.

For portaging, I'll either put it in my portage pack if it's a long travel day or I'll wear it on my front with my portage pack on my back. It's small and light so it doesn't get in the way.

Last year I took a bag that goes under the canoe seat and it was for tackle only (I also take the kitchen sink approach). It worked well. I left it on the canoe to portage - no problems. Obviously it isn't as portable as a back pack if you are doing a lot of shore fishing.



all went into

I have a 6"x6"x10" soft side cooler. Red KC Chiefs, that fits 4-6 small Plano boxes. It is small and lightweight so it fits in the pack easily while traveling. I keep similar items in each of these boxes and label them so I can quickly ID the box I need. Jigs/parts in one, flies in another and Raps in another, so on. I also have 2 cylinder tubes that have small pill box size compartments that screw together to make a tube that I keep hooks, line segments, sinkers/swivels and other small stuff in. I can also fit my reel in there when the crank is folded down. When fishing I can put the boxes I am using and the tubes in my fishing vest for easy access. The cooler has a top strap so I can bungy it to the canoe and a shoulder strap for use while portaging or in camp.

My main tackle box is probably 10 lbs with large Plano boxes and such and another cabelas bag for all of my reels. Just like other gear, you don't need it all, just what's important.

quote arcticfern: "I am thinking about changing up my tackle box, any recommendations? I am a "bring it all" guy. The last couple of years, I have been stuffing Plano boxes in every open space, then end up digging all over...does anyone use a specific "backpack tackle box"?

Thanks!"

Tackle box and tackle selection are very personal so everyone comes up with solutions that work for them. You not only have to consider total weight, but total bulk as well. Soft sided tackle bags are the ticket for most people. I use the smallest plano soft sider box. It comes with 3 small boxes but will fit four. I take those out and use one double sided plano box ( that is awesome in its compartment configuration), but it is now discontinued. i also slip in a box of flies and odds and ends. The whole thing fits in my pack. Other guys bring more stuff and need a larger tackle bag. They do tend to get heavier and bulkier as size goes up, a bit more than would be expected, but a guy has gotta take what he has gotta take! My one complaint is that its obvious that none of the major tackle box manufacturers go wilderness fishing from a canoe, because their boxes are not optimized for canoe camping lure selection. Sure you can get a box that fits your lures but a small multi use box, with the right size compartments to not only fit spoons and smaller minnow baits etc but also longer minnow baits like the larger sizes of original floating rapalas, tail dancers etc. are much harder to find.

Another solution, if you use lots of smaller boxes are the canoe seat storage bags. They attach to and fit under your seat. A couple buddies use them, your tackle is handy while underway, but still not kicking around at your feet.

Moonman.

The past several years I've been using these two "caddies" my wife sewed for me. They hold my pliers, forceps, fish gripper, emergency hook cutter, drinking cup, soft plastics, and a couple lure tubes. Everything else goes under my seat in a 3700 Plano box. (Well, almost everything...I do keep a 3100 box of "extras" and some emergency soft plastics back in the tent.) I tie the caddies between my seat and the back thwart, and position them next to the canoe sides so they are out of my way.

The past several years I've been using these two "caddies" my wife sewed for me. They hold my pliers, forceps, fish gripper, emergency hook cutter, drinking cup, soft plastics, and a couple lure tubes. Everything else goes under my seat in a 3700 Plano box. (Well, almost everything...I do keep a 3100 box of "extras" and some emergency soft plastics back in the tent.) I tie the caddies between my seat and the back thwart, and position them next to the canoe sides so they are out of my way.

+1 on the waist pack. I have found it convenient, but it also forces me to restrict what tackle I bring (that's a good thing in my book)
AdamX

quote mastertangler: "Alas, I see that Orvis has discontinued making them. Good thing I bought a spare! (does anyone else do that? Get something you REALLY like and buy a second one to have in reserve?) "

+10
Makes me extremely happy to find someone else who has this same compulsion!! (just don't ask me how far I take this habit...) I do this often when I find something that I really enjoy and use often. It's a huge bummer when something that works great wears out and is no longer available.

quote Hoaf: "

quote mastertangler: "Alas, I see that Orvis has discontinued making them. Good thing I bought a spare! (does anyone else do that? Get something you REALLY like and buy a second one to have in reserve?) "

+10
Makes me extremely happy to find someone else who has this same compulsion!! (just don't ask me how far I take this habit...) I do this often when I find something that I really enjoy and use often. It's a huge bummer when something that works great wears out and is no longer available. "

Ha ha I do that ALL the time too! Been burned too many times over the years. its like manufactureres make something great and say, hmmm, people will love this, lets stop making it this year!

Matter of fact I just bought a second Shimano pack rod on Monday (truly awesome, regularly not available in north america) after having just bought one a few weeks ago....I just know in a couple years I would be kicking myself for not having bought two, so I thought might as well stop kicking myself now!

Moonman.

quote mastertangler: Alas, I see that Orvis has discontinued making them. Good thing I bought a spare! (does anyone else do that? Get something you REALLY like and buy a second one to have in reserve?) "

I buy 4. :-)

quote Hoaf: "

quote mastertangler: "Alas, I see that Orvis has discontinued making them. Good thing I bought a spare! (does anyone else do that? Get something you REALLY like and buy a second one to have in reserve?) "

+10
Makes me extremely happy to find someone else who has this same compulsion!! (just don't ask me how far I take this habit...) I do this often when I find something that I really enjoy and use often. It's a huge bummer when something that works great wears out and is no longer available. "

I do as well, really makes the wife angry. Oh well

Those things hanging from my chest are soft sided tackle boxes. One of them is for tackle. When they are loaded heavy and not anchored at the bottom they swing. Having pendulous things hanging from your chest will make you lose your balance while walking particularly in a muddy area. To prevent the swinging I run the waist belt through the support strap. They are called man boobs.

quote MagicPaddler: "Those things hanging from my chest are soft sided tackle boxes. One of them is for tackle. When they are loaded heavy and not anchored at the bottom they swing. Having pendulous things hanging from your chest will make you lose your balance while walking particularly in a muddy area. To prevent the swinging I run the waist belt through the support strap. They are called man boobs.

"

The picture is priceless and I like your style. However, I think I'll let you own that portage style.

Tube jigs my go to lure!!!!

You guys will need a extra canoe just for your tackle. Your going to have to choose between your wife,girlfriend or all your tackle to take on the trip.