My first one was a small single tray, made of brittle bakelight plastic. The only contents were split shot weights, Eagle Claw hooks, a fish scaler, and a spool of Montgomery Wards mono line.  I received this box as a Christmas gift in 1966.                                 When I got seriously  into bass fishing, I bought a large three tray box made by Rebel. This box held a lot of stuff, but had a poorly designed latch. I lugged the heavy box up and down the bank wherever I fished.                 After spilling the contents a couple of times due to the bad latch, I retired this one.                                                                 Eventually, I bought one of the gold colored Plano suitcase models. This was the best one, with solid dual latches, plenty of compartments for various baits, and a good design overall. I used it for several years, and my grandson is using it now.                 These days, I carry two flat Plano boxes in the boat, and for bank trips, a much smaller 4"x6" flat box. These are made by Plano, and have worked well. I add and subtract baits as I need to.                                                                     Now, when I look at any tacklebox of any size, I always look at the latches first. I want latches that snap shut firmly and stay shut until you want to open them.                                                                   I'm thinking that most folks use a tackle bag of some sort now. This seems to be a good way to go. I may look into getting a tackle bag at some point.                                                               I know we have many members here who started with a tacklebox, way before the modern tackle bag was invented.                                                          What type of tackleboxes have you used over the years? Did you have any particular models that seemed to be better than others?

I started with a single tray Plano. Then a double tray. Then I had 2 double trays. Then I bought a Plano with multiple sized compartments and trays that was the size of a small suitcase. Then I started muskie fishing so I needed a large hanging style box for that. Currently my bass tackle is mostly assorted in the Plano 3700 series.

 

Looking back I think a large assortment of the 3700 series works pretty well but I also like having a soft sided carry bag that I can bring when I fish in someone else’s boat.

Sounds like my first - this was me with it back around 1967...

 

Moved to a 6-tray in the mid-70s and stuck with that until I started back seriously fishing about 5 years ago...this was my total tackle 'stash'.

 

Now it's 2-3700 size bags and 2-3600 size bags for my main stash, and a 3600 Weekender for my panfishing needs.

My first was a single  tray metal tackle box. Union brand,

well built and solid.good times

I remember having a big Plano 3x2 hard plastic molded tray model. It weighed a ton and really didn't hold much for it's size. It was retired for a soft sided Shimano bag that held 6 3600 boxes. Outgrew that and went to the Cabela's Mag and eventually the Super Mag. Now I've got an 18' 9" tacklebox that has it's own trailer and takes a truck to haul it ?

My first was a blue Plano single accordion shelf deal that my father got me in the late nineties when I was maybe six or seven years old. That lasted until maybe age 9 or 10 when I upgraded to a Blue shimano tackle bag that held 5 or 6 3500 or 3600 style boxes that I stuffed with all matter of random lures.

@Bluebasser86, I think we had the same bag.

 

God bless that bag, it lasted me all the way up to Christmas 2020 when my dad got me a Lews Mach Hatchpack tackle backpack which I carry 6 thin 3700’s in at full capacity. Much better organized now ?Very well designed bag, I really like the upgrade. I’m a sucker for nostalgia though and I still have my original tackle box from all those years ago, now repurposed to hold small specialty tools under my work bench.

I started with the same green tackle box above.

My tackle box today is 18’8” long, 7’8” wide and needs a truck to carry it to the lake.?hmmm.

My first one was a cheap tiny plastic box... Now, I have a huge BPS bag that holds 12 3700's plus a lot of other gear.

Mo love your post. We are about the same age. I have a lot in common with many of your posts. I think that a good thing. My first box was metal and I still have it an old brown JC Higgens. When I started to expand it was to Plano plastics and they got tossed. They did not hold up to plastics well. I still have much of my stuff from being a kid. Mostly trout related. I started taking that pretty serious at a younger age. 

9 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Sounds like my first - this was me with it back around 1967...

 

Moved to a 6-tray in the mid-70s and stuck with that until I started back seriously fishing about 5 years ago...this was my total tackle 'stash'.

 

Now it's 2-3700 size bags and 2-3600 size bags for my main stash, and a 3600 Weekender for my panfishing needs.

I love that pic. The pic is priceless. Be nice if you still had that rod and reel. Make a Great Wall hanger. Car would make a nice show care these days also. Good luck.