Soft plastics in bags or tackle box? 2024

juicebass reply :

I'm sorting threw my tackle before the upcoming season starts this year, and wanna know what's best for keeping my soft plastics organized.

Right now my plastics are in bags, within bags, within bags. But I don't wanna lug around ALL my plastics so I wanna bring a few of each kind. I've noticed keeping different colours in the same bag is a BAD idea, as the lighter colours get stained by the darker colours. So I'm done doing that

I saw that Aaron Martens keeps his plastics in tackle boxes to keep them straight. Which seems true cuz I've already noticed some of my baits are a bit wonky from keeping them in the bags.

But won't keeping them in a Plano styles box make my baits dry out, or lose sent? Marten and other pros might not care if they dry out cuz he can replace them at anytime seeing as how, HE DOESN'T PAY FOR THEM. Lol

Whats the best way to organize plastics...!?

Thanks guys

Raul reply :

Bags with a few baits in tackle boxes.

eyedabassman reply :

You can do that but, I just keep mine in the bags that I bought them in.And mixing colors is not all a bad thing! you can come up with some cool colors from colors bleeding onto other colors!

Or I get all the air out of the bags and I kinda roll them up and put them in a tackle box or takle tote.

papajoe222 reply :

No, they shouldn't dry out in a Plano box. What's beneficial about using a box? You can keep different types and colors in the ame box (separate) and you don't need to transfer the entire bag into the box. What's the down side? If only one of the bait styles/color is catching fish, you could run out. Another downside for guys like me is knowing what color I just ran out of, not because I'm color blind, because I tossed the bag after I filled the box.

Here is what I do. If I'm shore fishing or heading out on someone else's boat, I'll fill up a couple of 3700 boxes with my confidence baits in my favorite colors. Otherwise, they stay in their original bags in a Flambeau 1/2 Satchel. All my extras are kept hanging on a pegboard in their original pkg.

buzzed bait reply :

i've done both and frankly neither one are perfect. whoever comes up with that magical 3rd option is going to make some dough!

JigMe reply :

I am sure this is not a perfect solution as well, but the following idea sort of work for me.

It appears to me that plastics will start going “bad” after 2 years, except for rage craw products and those seems to last forever even you don’t use them. Over the years, my buddies and I developed a strategy to share plastics and 90% of the stuff gets used in a season. For example, we will load up during spring classic and everything gets stored in a centralized location (his garage which I have access to). I will drive over to his house to pickup/drop off stuff I need or don’t need for the next trip. It works fairly well this way, because we will probably use them all by the year end. If you have fishing buddy that lives relatively close by then give it a try.

As far as storage goes, I will take a few from each pack then store them in the Plano box. If I don't it, then it goes back to the original bag when I go over next time.

eyedabassman reply :

I just carry everything in my boat,problem solved ! WAY TOO MUCH PLASTIC!

mayerryan reply :

i usually store all mine in the bags that they came in as the plastics have a chemical in them that ruins plano boxes. the softener in them will cause the boxes to bend and deform from leaking onto box and ultimately causing the box to be garbage. will be having to replace them after a few years of use.

S. Sass reply :

I've went back and forth. Tried the plastic box which does keep my 10" and larger worms straight. But didn't like not having the actual bag with description to replace if I didn't remember.

I've ended up withsome of the large worms in plastic boxes and the rest in the original bags. The original bags are sorted in freezer bags and I carry what I take in a Okeechoobie Fats medium bag.

The original bags just have more positives than the plastic boxes to me. The scent stays (but I'm not one of the scent believers) keeping the worms longevity better it seems. Also I like Zman and mixing them is a bad idea.

I agree the guy that figures out a great solution will be well off.

papajoe222 reply :

On 3/29/2016 at 5:54 AM, mayerryan said:

i usually store all mine in the bags that they came in as the plastics have a chemical in them that ruins plano boxes. the softener in them will cause the boxes to bend and deform from leaking onto box and ultimately causing the box to be garbage. will be having to replace them after a few years of use.

Seriously??? I have two or three boxes that have even full of plastic baits for five years or more and never had a problem with the boxes or the baits. What brand of plastics are you using?

MIbassyaker reply :

At home, filed neatly in Plano 3731 boxes, sorted by bait type:

When I go out, I decide ahead of time what I want to bring, and either throw the packs into a backpack or duffel, or grab a few of several different kinds and put them in smaller plano boxes temporarily to take with.

mayerryan reply :

All different kinds. High end plastics too. It casues the lid to warp and will even melt the bottom of the box if left in there long enough. Ive had numerous boxes have this happen to. Go and watch Glennn's video on bag or box where he goes into taking about this very problem with storing soft plastics in plano boxes. Also google storing soft plastics in plano boxes causing warping, as numerous others have experienced the same problem.

Fish the Mitt reply :

I just kinda rigged my Plano box to hold most of what I need. I keep my extras at the house. If I need more, I refill my box. Pretty simple to rig. Multi tool + coat hanger = plastic bait holder!!

juicebass reply :

On 3/29/2016 at 6:34 AM, MIbassyaker said:

At home, filed neatly in Plano 3731 boxes, sorted by bait type:

When I go out, I decide ahead of time what I want to bring, and either throw the packs into a backpack or duffel, or grab a few of several different kinds and put them in smaller plano boxes temporarily to take with.

nice, that looks very organized! you can take that with you if on a boat, or just load a few in a backpack for bank fishing like u said!

On 3/29/2016 at 6:37 AM, mayerryan said:

All different kinds. High end plastics too. It casues the lid to warp and will even melt the bottom of the box if left in there long enough. Ive had numerous boxes have this happen to. Go and watch Glenn's video on bag or box where he goes into taking about this very problem with storing soft plastics in plano boxes. Also google storing soft plastics in plano boxes causing warping, as numerous others have experienced the same problem.

i have nocited the one box i had a few plastics in, is a little warped. that must be why!

On 3/29/2016 at 7:05 AM, SemperBass said:

I just kinda rigged my Plano box to hold most of what I need. I keep my extras at the house. If I need more, I refill my box. Pretty simple to rig. Multi tool + coat hanger = plastic bait holder!!

wow nice storage!

Incheon Basser reply :

On 3/29/2016 at 6:22 AM, papajoe222 said:

Seriously??? I have two or three boxes that have even full of plastic baits for five years or more and never had a problem with the boxes or the baits. What brand of plastics are you using?

PVC (most brands) and TPE (Zman and a few other brands) have Chemical reactions with ABS and PET and even more so with each other you will notice that if you place a ribbed or or textured bait in a box that comes in contact with UV light or even in a bag for that matter the baits get melted or the box. It's not the heat. PVC is stable well above 100 degrees. The UV light facilitates a faster chemical reaction between the two plastics. Soft baits should be kept in a vinyl composite bag (the original) or a in a ziplock bag. Never ever ever mix a TPE bait and a PVC Bait

Bluebasser86 reply :

I leave them in the bag and carry them in binders or gallon bags.

flyingmonkie reply :

I've started using an ice chest as my "tackle box". I toss in the 6 or 7 most relevant plano boxes, and then dump a drawer full of plastics on top.

livemusic reply :

On 3/29/2016 at 2:06 PM, flyingmonkie said:

I've started using an ice chest as my "tackle box". I toss in the 6 or 7 most relevant plano boxes, and then dump a drawer full of plastics on top.

I have kinda done the same thing except it is a Plano extra large "shooter's case." The version that is nothing more than a large, open box, with no rifle mount thingy. I found it on sale at Academy months ago. I have been storing lots of plastic bags (original bag) of soft plastics. Still intend to cut me a divider or two, just haven't found the right material... plastic or thin plywood or even stiff cardboard would work.

Last_Cast reply :

On 3/29/2016 at 3:45 AM, juicebass said:

I'm sorting threw my tackle before the upcoming season starts this year, and wanna know what's best for keeping my soft plastics organized.

Right now my plastics are in bags, within bags, within bags. But I don't wanna lug around ALL my plastics so I wanna bring a few of each kind. I've noticed keeping different colours in the same bag is a BAD idea, as the lighter colours get stained by the darker colours. So I'm done doing that

I saw that Aaron Martens keeps his plastics in tackle boxes to keep them straight. Which seems true cuz I've already noticed some of my baits are a bit wonky from keeping them in the bags.

But won't keeping them in a Plano styles box make my baits dry out, or lose sent? Marten and other pros might not care if they dry out cuz he can replace them at anytime seeing as how, HE DOESN'T PAY FOR THEM. Lol

Whats the best way to organize plastics...!?

Thanks guys

Not lug all your plastics!???
CRAZY TALK!

ww2farmer reply :

On 3/29/2016 at 4:02 AM, Raul said:

Bags with a few baits in tackle boxes.

Basically what I do. Have my "favorites" in boxes on the boat, with enough in each box for an outing or two. Extras and spares are at home sill in their original bags until the boxes on the boat need to be restocked.

Nitrofreak reply :

I like to keep all of mine in Plano boxes, I keep them stored in the tackle bin in the boat most all the time and really have not had any issues as long as they have been kept in the shade, I have left one of them out on the deck with me before during the day and the result was completely different, like a box full of what you found inside of a stretch Armstrong kind of result...

flyingmonkie reply :

I admire the organization! Too much overhead for me.

I buy soft plastics like billionaires buy water rights. Can't have enough! I usually only take a limited assortment with me each time depending on conditions.

BassThumb reply :

Depends on how much space one has to store plastics, and if they have a boat or not.

Original bags stock in categorized gallon ziplocks works the best for me on the boat.

When I was a wader, I used to take a few out of each bag and put them in Plano boxes.

Kevin22 reply :

3731's, BASS membership bags, and regular 3700 series boxes. 3731's for my trailers, craws, creatures, frogs, etc. BASS bags for smaller baits, grubs, minnows, drop shot worms, senkos, etc. I use the 3700 series for two things. One is full of flukes, and the other soft swimbaits. Those two things it is crucial to keep the tails straight so they are in boxes, with the boxes stored flat.

Incheon Basser reply :

On 3/30/2016 at 12:03 AM, Nitrofreak said:

I like to keep all of mine in Plano boxes, I keep them stored in the tackle bin in the boat most all the time and really have not had any issues as long as they have been kept in the shade, I have left one of them out on the deck with me before during the day and the result was completely different, like a box full of what you found inside of a stretch Armstrong kind of result...

See prime example.

0119 reply :

On 3/29/2016 at 2:06 PM, flyingmonkie said:

I've started using an ice chest as my "tackle box". I toss in the 6 or 7 most relevant plano boxes, and then dump a drawer full of plastics on top.

Same here. I use a Engel drybox. Toss in 3 or 4 plano's. All my soft plastics's are in BPS or old Tackle Logic binders with ziploc pages to keep them laying straight.

Bankbeater reply :

I keep them in the original bags, in the tackle bag. If the label comes off I write on the package with a sharpie.

CarolinaBoy4Life reply :

I'm different than most. I keep ALL my baits in the original package. I have 4 small to medium size tackle bags that are sorted and organized. One holds all my terminal tackle & line. The other holds all my crankbaits & spinnerbaits. Another holds all my jigs (swim jig, flipping jig, football jig etc.) And the last holds all my soft plastics ( Ragetail, Gambler, Culprit, Berkley, D&M baits, Reaction Innovations) The soft plastic bag is the one where all the baits will be in the original bag or package. I'll have them sorted by company then within that sorted by type (worm,beaver,creature etc.) then sorted by color. I'm kind of OCD about my gear

the reel ess reply :

I bought a Cabela's tackle bag that holds several Plano 3000 series boxes, has a zippered pouch in the top flap and a pouch on each side and a zippered pocket on each end. That'll carry maybe 12-15 bags with no problem. I take it whenever I go. I usually fish from the kayak, so I grab the 3 or so bags I think I'll need and drop them behind the seat. I have the ability to carry 6 rods, so I can usually cover all my bases that way.

Nitrofreak reply :

On 3/31/2016 at 1:31 PM, Incheon Basser said:

See prime example.

That does not mean that that's the only time they will have a negative reaction, I have had baits that will negatively react to heat or direct sunlight while tied onto the rod after being fished as well, even after being stored in the rod locker overnight also, so IMO it's about personal preference how one keeps their tackle, any bait can have a negative reaction to something, admittedly, helping the sun cook these baits back to their somewhat original form via a plastic box doesn't help LOL !!

Incheon Basser reply :

On 4/1/2016 at 4:05 AM, Nitrofreak said:

That does not mean that that's the only time they will have a negative reaction, I have had baits that will negatively react to heat or direct sunlight while tied onto the rod after being fished as well, even after being stored in the rod locker overnight also, so IMO it's about personal preference how one keeps their tackle, any bait can have a negative reaction to something, admittedly, helping the sun cook these baits back to their somewhat original form via a plastic box doesn't help LOL !!

It's just Chemistry my friend. I didn't make it up. Store your tackle as you please.

the reel ess reply :

Before I had the kayak, I kept them in a hatch in the boat. I had to throw a bunch out once because the cover leaked and they ruined, even in the bag. I keep all the reserves in a Tupperware container in the house now.

MDbassin reply :

I use to take my plastics out of the bags and put them in Plano's but I noticed when the next season rolled around the lids got a little warped. Now I leave them in the bags I bought them in and put them in a back pack or in a Plano still in the bags and the lids don't warp anymore.

Plus when I start running low on a particular bait I have the package to know what brand, type, size, and color to buy.... I have horrible memory

7840

Soft plastics in bags or tackle box? 2024

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