When it comes to tackle management, there's many different approaches and methods you can use. When it comes to lure storage, there's two main types, the old-school standalone tackle box or the more contemporary modular tackle tray system, and it's the latter that I prefer. It gives you more flexibility, and I find it far more user-friendly.

When it comes to hard baits, it's the stowaway tackle trays that I prefer, and when it comes to my bream, and bass, and mangrove jack fishing, it's the 3,600 size that I reach for more often than not. It's not until I get into my larger cod and barra size lures that I reach for the 3,700s. The 3,600 i find is the perfect pack-friendly size, whether it's storing in the tackle hatch in my boat or loading into a tackle bag.

A Touch of Colour

When it comes to using these tackle trays, there's one item that's a must-have, and it may surprise a few people, and it's one of these guys, a label maker. With a label maker, you can mark every tray. That way, at a brief glance, you know exactly what's in that tray. Another thing I like to do is color code them. All my bass trays have blue labels, bream have red, and the mangrove jack have green. The great thing about color coding is you know exactly what that tray is for, which is very handy when you have them all stashed into a cupboard or all mixed in together.

Going Soft

Storing soft plastics can also have its challenges. Some people like to take them out of their packets and store them in containers like this. I, however, am not a fan of that approach. I much prefer to leave them in their packets and store them in a container like this. Doing this gives you the flexibility to take out the ones you don't want and put in the ones you do want.

Now, leaving them in their packets also does a couple of important things. It ensures that colors don't bleed together when they get mixed together in the tray like this. It also ensures that every plastic you use has that crisp, fresh out of the packet feel and taste. Storing your tools leader and your used baits is very important.

Tool Time

Now, when it comes to your tools, you always want to have those at your fingertips, and for that, I always have them stored with my lures, and I keep them all together in a container like this. In here, I have braid scissors, pliers, multiple pairs, both to get the hooks out of the fish and also split-ring pliers, and I also have a few spare spools.

Getting Used

Swapping lures throughout the day is something that we all tend to do. The question is, what do you do with those lures that you cut off? Well, you certainly don't just throw them in your tackle bag, and you definitely don't let them roll around on the floor of your boat, so what do you do? Well, you cut them off and you keep them all in here together.

At the end of the day, when you get home and you wash your boat, your rods and reels, you also wash your lures. You then hang them out to dry, and once they're dry, you put them back where they belong in their tackle tray. So there we are, a few tips and tricks that will help you with your lure and tackle storage and hopefully will help you avoid those tackle storage blues.

Meet Simon Goldsmith
Daiwa Marketing

A Daiwa Fan Boy at heart Simon loves nothing more than loading up his bass boat with Daiwa gear and JDM tackle and hitting his local lakes in search of bass or packing the boat and car for a trip to North Queensland chasing sooty grunter and mangrove jack.