Tackle Storage & Organization

Boat tackle storage has one job: the lure you want should be in your hand in seconds, not after a dig through three boxes. Utility boxes with adjustable dividers — Plano's StowAway line is the standard — handle crankbaits, jigs and terminal tackle, and waterproof versions are worth it in an open boat where everything eventually gets wet. Tray-style tackle boxes still earn their place in smaller boats and for bank fishing, where one box has to carry a whole trip's worth of gear.

Build the system around how you fish. Trollers do better with boxes organized by bait type and depth range, plus a dedicated spoon caddy — spoons stored loose in a box come out tangled and scratched. Line spool and leader spool boxes keep fluorocarbon and trolling leaders from becoming a bird's nest in a side compartment. Soft-sided totes work as the carry-all between truck, boat and garage in the off season.

Start with waterproof utility boxes for the baits you fish most, add a spoon caddy if you run spoons, and keep terminal tackle — hooks, swivels, beads, weights — in its own small box so the rest stays clean. Amish Outfitters spoon caddies and totes are in our Amish Outfitters Storage category.