tackle box

What would your fishing buddies say about your tackle box?

Even the most adept angler can can find it difficult to keep new hooks from old ones and separate 5-lb. monofilament from your trusted braided spools.

Gear can gradually accumulate and before you know it, your box is a tangled web of lures, line, bobbers and bits of plastic worm.

It can make it treacherous to dig deep for a favourite jig head when you need it. Luckily, I discovered the solution to my tackle chaos in the craft aisle at my local dollar store.

Sold in two sizes, I found small, clear, hard plastic containers that are perfect for storing hooks, beads, swivels, split shot, and jig heads.

Sold in two sizes, I found small, clear, hard plastic containers that are perfect for storing hooks, beads, swivels, split shot, and jig heads. Each can be sorted by size, weight, and colour, if desired.

The containers have tight fitting lids and fit perfectly inside tackle trays.

To help identify the contents, I write a “code” on each lid. For example, DS 2 indicates size two drop-shot hooks and 1/8 tells me the weight of the individual items inside the container.

But, even with this system, I couldn’t always tell exactly what was inside and often resorted to taking several containers out of the tray before I found what I was looking for.

Then I realized that by storing some containers upside-down, I could see the contents, rather than having to check the containers one at a time.

Tackle organization may seem like a minor issue but it can make or break your day.

Another tip I picked up preserves the life of my tackle. I place a small package of silica gel in the tackle tray to prevent rust, odour and mould on baits, hooks, and other tackle. Silica packages can be repurposed from vitamin bottles, boxed electronics, leather products, and other items that can be damaged by humidity, or the gel can be purchased in bulk at most craft stores.

Tackle organization may seem like a minor issue but it can make or break your day on the water, and if you have a system, it really doesn’t take long to do.