Angling Gear: Do You Need A Bag Or A Box?

As an angler you will become aware that the amount of extraneous equipment one acquires needs some serious storage and organisation. Weights, hooks, lures, bobbers, reels and so on become more and more necessary as your fishing style and skill develop. The necessity for an easy way of carrying all that gear around on angling trips becomes all too obvious. Two options are available: a tackle bag or a tackle box; they each serve the same purpose, does one have benefits over the other? With a multitude of brands out there, which should you choose? Personally I tend to stick with Browning for tackle bags, whilst I favour Flambeau for boxes.

Points to Consider

Where are you fishing from – pier, jetty, boat, riverside, etc?

The rigidity of a tackle box is more suited to the flat surfaces found on rigid structures like piers and boats; riverside fishing may involve crossing rocky water and sitting on uneven riversides, more suited to the flexibility and generally easier carrying afforded by the less-rigid, bag option.

What size/sort of fish are you angling for?

As larger fish require larger lures in general, a tray and system tackle box may be the better choice

Are you a Beginner, or a Child?

A simple, small version of either a box or bag will probably do, at least in the temporarily. However, given that the amount of gear one acquires it will not be long before the need of a decent box or bag becomes evident.

Cost Factors?

Obviously, one should set a budget, but it is worth saying that given the demands made on your tackle carrier, it is usually worth spending that bit more to get a box or bag that will last a long time: chances are that something that costs less than $20 will not offer both the adaptability and resilience of one that is more expensive. Your tackle bag or box is as vital a piece of equipment as the stuff it contains.

Appearance?

A point for the ‘fashion-conscious’! Don’t be too swayed by how cool your box or bag looks; think “function”. Both the bag and the box perform the same useful function, and some from either range do look pretty cool.

When it comes to fishing tackle boxes or bags, you’ll find that there are hundreds of choices available. Whether you search online or go to your nearest tackle shop or Wal-Mart, you will be inundated with choices. With many reputable brand makers out there it’s difficult to know quite where to start, but I recommend the wide ranges supplied by both Flambeau and by Browning.

Importantly, whichever bag or box you select, make it one that suits your needs, and treat it as an important, long-term purchase.