What’s the Best Way to Organize Your Fishing Gear?
Plano Guide Series 3700 Tackle Bag offers the most useful all round storage, holding multiple utility trays with room for tools. Piscifun Fishing Tackle Backpack suits anglers hiking to the water. Plano Sportsman’s Trunk handles bulk gear storage in a truck or garage.
Plano Guide Series 3700 Tackle Bag fits the widest range of anglers among fishing storage options. Piscifun Fishing Tackle Backpack wins for walk in access, while Plano Sportsman’s Trunk solves bulk gear storage rather than lure organization.
Fishing storage is tricky to rank because the right choice depends entirely on how you reach the water. A bag that shines off a boat deck turns miserable on a two mile hike. We compared tray compatibility, published capacities, material and closure types, plus recurring owner reports, weighing whether each option keeps tackle dry and organized once loaded.
How to choose
How do you choose fishing storage for how you reach the water? This single question settles most of the decision. Fishing from a boat or parking beside the swim favors a large tackle bag or trunk, since it gives the most capacity per unit of effort. Walking in favors a backpack with rod holders, even at reduced capacity, because a shoulder bag turns miserable after the first mile. Anglers who fish several ways might choose a mid sized bag that carries both ways, though it fits neither perfectly.
Why do 3600 and 3700 tray sizes matter? Plano’s numbering system, copied by most rivals, refers to tray footprint. Buying into one of those standards keeps replacement and specialist trays easy to find later. A bag that only accepts proprietary trays locks you in from day one. Check which size a bag takes and how many it actually holds, since four trays sometimes means four of the shallowest version.
Is fishing storage actually waterproof? Almost no soft tackle bag is genuinely waterproof, and treating a water resistant bag as waterproof is how hooks rust. A moulded, coated base that survives a wet boat deck or muddy bank matters most, along with closures that shed rain instead of funneling it in. A separate rain cover often outperforms marketing claims about coated fabric. Silica gel packs inside trays help in humid climates.
What is the best way to organize tackle trays? Organizing by technique, not lure type, avoids the most common regret with fishing storage: a beautifully sorted system that does not match how you actually fish. Loading one tray per technique means the relevant gear travels together, so you grab that tray and leave the rest in the car. Labeling tray ends saves rummaging at the water. Owners report this habit improves on the water efficiency more than any single bag feature.
The shortlist, ranked
Plano Guide Series 3700 Tackle Bag
Built around the 3700 utility box standard, this bag carries several loaded trays plus pockets for pliers, line and leaders. That format is the closest thing tackle storage has to a universal size, so trays stay easy to find and swap. Owners report the base holds its shape fully loaded instead of sagging.
Pros
- Uses the widely available 3700 tray standard
- Rigid base resists sagging when loaded
- Numerous external pockets for tools
Cons
- Bulky for a long walk in
- Not fully waterproof during heavy rain
Piscifun Fishing Tackle Backpack
A real backpack harness changes everything when the fishing spot sits a hike from the car, and this pack still carries several utility trays. External rod holder straps free both hands during the walk in. Based on specifications, it balances tray capacity against a load that stays comfortable over distance.
Pros
- Comfortable to carry over distance
- Rod holders keep both hands free
- Water resistant outer fabric
Cons
- Trays are harder to reach without removing the pack
- Holds less than a large tackle bag
Wild River Tackle Tek Nomad XP
Integrated LED lighting built into the lid stands out immediately, and it genuinely helps when tying knots after dark. Beyond that feature, the bag stays well organized with multiple tray slots and a rigid frame. Owners report the light adds some weight but earns its place during dawn and dusk sessions.
Pros
- Built in lighting for low light fishing
- Rigid body protects everything inside
- Pocket layout is well thought out
Cons
- Heavier than comparable bags
- Battery needs a check before each trip
KastKing Karryall Fishing Tackle Bag
KastKing packs real features into a mid range bag, including built in rod holders and a water resistant base. Tray capacity trails the big guide bags, which suits anglers who prefer to travel light. Quick access wins out over maximum capacity in the overall layout.
Pros
- Rod holders built into the body
- Water resistant base handles wet decks
- Strong value for the feature set
Cons
- Smaller tray capacity than guide bags
- Zippers are the weakest component
Plano Sportsman’s Trunk
This rugged trunk skips the tray system entirely, built instead for gear that never fits neatly, such as waders, reels, nets and spare line. It stacks easily in a truck bed or garage and shrugs off knocks. Think of it as a companion to a tackle bag, not a replacement.
Pros
- Handles bulky gear trays cannot hold
- Stackable and genuinely durable
- Keeps kit together between trips
Cons
- Not portable to the water
- No internal organization
Ghosthorn Fishing Tackle Backpack
Weather protection gets more attention here than in most tackle packs, with a coated shell and an included rain cover for genuinely wet days. Anglers who sit through bad weather on the bank will value that more than extra tray slots. Harness comfort trails the Piscifun, though it remains decent.
Pros
- Rain cover included for wet sessions
- Strong external pocket layout
- Coated shell sheds spray effectively
Cons
- Harness comfort trails dedicated packs
- Trays are not always included
Spiderwire Wolf Tackle Bag
A straightforward soft sided bag holds tray slots and enough pockets for the essentials, built for anglers who skip guide grade systems. Construction stays basic but honest, and tray compatibility follows the standard sizing. Occasional trips and second bag duty suit it well.
Pros
- Affordable entry into organized storage
- Standard tray compatibility across brands
- Light weight when partly loaded
Cons
- Soft base sags under heavy trays
- Minimal weather protection overall
How they compare
| # | Model | Tray format | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plano Guide Series 3700 Tackle Bag | 3700 series utility boxes | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Piscifun Fishing Tackle Backpack | Padded backpack harness | Best for walk in access | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Wild River Tackle Tek Nomad XP | Integrated LED lid system | Best for night fishing | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | KastKing Karryall Fishing Tackle Bag | Integrated side holders | Best value | 8.7 | Check price |
| 5 | Plano Sportsman’s Trunk | Hard storage trunk | Best for bulk storage | 8.5 | Check price |
| 6 | Ghosthorn Fishing Tackle Backpack | Coated shell with rain cover | Best for bank fishing | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | Spiderwire Wolf Tackle Bag | Soft sided tackle bag | Best budget bag | 8.0 | Check price |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 3600 and 3700 tackle trays?
These are footprint standards. The 3700 tray runs larger and suits bigger lures, while the 3600 stays compact and fits more trays into a smaller bag.
Is a tackle backpack better than a tackle bag?
For walking to the water, yes. For boat and bankside fishing where the car parks close, a bag holds more gear and gives easier tray access.
Are fishing tackle bags waterproof?
Very few are. Most stay water resistant, shedding spray but not sustained rain. A rain cover or a dry bag liner closes that gap.
How do I stop hooks from rusting in storage?
Dry tackle fully before it returns to the tray, leave trays open at home after wet trips, and add silica gel packs to each box.
How many utility trays do I actually need?
Most anglers manage well with three or four trays organized by technique. More than that usually means carrying gear that never gets opened.
Do I need a tackle bag with rod holders?
They help a lot when hiking in or moving between spots. Fishing from a boat with rod racks already covered makes them extra bulk you will not use.
Can a tackle trunk replace a tackle bag?
No. Trunks store bulky gear well in a vehicle or garage but offer no lure organization and are impractical to carry to the water.
How should fishing tackle be stored over winter?
Dry everything thoroughly, loosen reel drags stored nearby, and keep trays somewhere with stable temperature. Damp garages cause most spring corrosion.
What is the best fishing backpack for hiking to remote spots?
Piscifun Fishing Tackle Backpack balances tray capacity against comfort with a padded harness and external rod straps, which suits longer hikes better than a shoulder bag.
The verdict
Plano Guide Series 3700 Tackle Bag takes the top spot for using the most widely supported tray standard while carrying a serious load without collapsing. Choose the Piscifun backpack for hikes to the water, and add a Plano Sportsman’s Trunk for the bulky gear no tackle bag was built to hold.
