Organizing Plastics

[ChuckE]

I use a lot of plastics, and keeping them organized had gotten to be a big problem over the years. I've tried binders, ziplok bags, trays, etc. in the past, but I had so many that things had gotten out of control and finding them in the boat really became difficult. Gradually over time I just decided to keep them in their original bags because they seemed to store better and not take up as much room.

The local Walmart had a sale on soft sided coolers last year for $3.29-- they're the size that holds a 6 pack of soda. They came in 8 different colors and have a zipper top, so for about $25 I got one of each. The majority of the original bags that plastics come in fit just right in a cooler, and the coolers themselves can be stacked or put side-by-side in one of my boat lockers. The coolers also have a small mesh pocket for hooks, sinkers, jig heads, and other terminal tackle to fit in.

So, now I have a cooler bag for tubes, creatures, Senko/stickbaits, grubs, worms, flukes/minnows/swimbaits, jigs and trailers, and finessee baits (beavers/small worms). [About 80% of the time I fish with plastics.] The coolers worked quite well last year, and it's easy to pull the bags out and store them, or move things around when I switch between boats (Nitro Bass Boat or Ranger Walleye Boat). I started off with a tag on each cooler to identify what it contained, but over time learned that red had tubes, black had worms, etc. and it's gotten so much easier!

Chuck