I need to spend a few hours separating my lures.  Worms, creature baits, spinnerbaits, topwater, jerkbaits, squarebills etc.  Tired of storing them in cardboard boxes and grocery bags.  It's going to take $$$ buying enough storage boxes.  Would like to do it right the first time.

 

How do you keep track of lure weight once it's removed from the original container?  I try to put lures back in whatever they came in, but this can be a PITA as sometimes the lure doesn't get removed while I still remember where it came from.  

 

I'm considering permanent markers for plastic and putting the weight on a lure's bill (for lures having one).  Maybe also use a marker on metal blades.  I assume this would require two different types of permanent markers.

I’m Plano 3700 and 3600 for most things.  Softbaits are in speedbags and/or ziplocks.

 

For crankbaits and jerkbaits, I use a sharpie on the bill or belly to denote the depth.  I don’t care about their weight.  Topwaters are similar- don’t care about the weight and they don’t dive so nothing to note.

 

Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits get it written on the head or the blade.  Then similar weights get stored together.  Buzzbaits I know by sight (and mostly spinnerbaits and chatterbaits).  Jigs are a little all over the place but most of mine are similar weights.  The odd weights are obvious what they are.  And the sink rate plus profile is what I care about anyway.  

19 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

I’m Plano 3700 and 3600 for most things.  Softbaits are in speedbags and/or ziplocks.

Same here ~ with some variation as necessary.

Looks like this . . . . 

A-Jay

I keep my plastics in the original packaging.

 

In these

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Flambeau-Outdoors-Super-Half-Satchel/54716351?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=3513&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222227754716351_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-394283752452&wl5=9019698&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=54716351&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12420145346&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIommLJsc4k3DLygBlrk7Ubmr&gclid=Cj0KCQjw18bEBhCBARIsAKuAFEYgWo5_fq2jySn617sJRFkOZMHya7GoReqig-00Mz7Cg-_k66Jx8uMaAkL6EALw_wcB&sid=680def52-7d8a-48e1-b61f-1ddaca9eda6c

 

Thanks a lot guys.

 

Will research the 3700 and 3900 boxes tomorrow.

 

gim, will call local Walmart tomorrow to see if they have them in stock.  If not, I will order 4 or 5 and go from there.

10 hours ago, gim said:

I keep my plastics in the original packaging.

 

In these

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Flambeau-Outdoors-Super-Half-Satchel/54716351?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=3513&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222227754716351_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-394283752452&wl5=9019698&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=54716351&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12420145346&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIommLJsc4k3DLygBlrk7Ubmr&gclid=Cj0KCQjw18bEBhCBARIsAKuAFEYgWo5_fq2jySn617sJRFkOZMHya7GoReqig-00Mz7Cg-_k66Jx8uMaAkL6EALw_wcB&sid=680def52-7d8a-48e1-b61f-1ddaca9eda6c

 

 

How does it do for watertightness?  It looks like it would be 'okay' if upright though water will sit on the top of the lid which is okay.  Do you get seep back into the bags?  My boat is less waterproof than I'd prefer and while I love the speedbags (I have one for worms, one for stickbaits, and one for creatures) they aren't waterproof.  

I have never had water in mine @casts_by_fly. Most of the time mine are in sitting flat in my main storage compartment in my boat. So technically they are protected by 3 layers: their original packaging, then these containers, then my storage compartment.

Plano's heavy duty bags are pretty good for soft baits if you want waterproof. 

 

On 8/5/2025 at 10:44 PM, new2BC4bass said:

Thanks a lot guys.

 

Will research the 3700 and 3900 boxes tomorrow.

 

gim, will call local Walmart tomorrow to see if they have them in stock.  If not, I will order 4 or 5 and go from there.

On your way to the sporting goods department, stroll through kitchenware and check out SteriLite storage containers.  Just as functional and 80% less expensive

On 8/5/2025 at 7:04 PM, gim said:

I keep my plastics in the original packaging.

 

In these

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Flambeau-Outdoors-Super-Half-Satchel/54716351?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=3513&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222227754716351_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-394283752452&wl5=9019698&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=54716351&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12420145346&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIommLJsc4k3DLygBlrk7Ubmr&gclid=Cj0KCQjw18bEBhCBARIsAKuAFEYgWo5_fq2jySn617sJRFkOZMHya7GoReqig-00Mz7Cg-_k66Jx8uMaAkL6EALw_wcB&sid=680def52-7d8a-48e1-b61f-1ddaca9eda6c

 

These boxes are great. I previously used shoebox size plastic containers. These are so much better with the dividers. I have tried to simplify things and the 4 spaces are perfect for me to keep a few packs of worms, curly tail grubs, paddle tails, and some jig trailers all in one box.

Since I don’t have a boat, all my plastic storage is at home. I have 2 speed bags that I stuff when I go fish. I store all my plastics in 16qt containers from Target. Only $6 normally, but are on sale for 20% regularly. 

Spinnerbaits I keep in categorized boxes:

- 3/8oz and 1/2oz tandem

- 3/4oz and 1oz tandem

- 3/8oz and 1/2oz single blade

- 3/4oz and 1oz single blade

Jigs including bladed and swim jigs I don’t label at all. When I pick one up I generally know how heavy it is. 
 

Buzzbaits I just throw together. 
 

Rest of my tackle looks something like this. 

I liked the Plano Elite Series Crankbait StowAway 3600 but I have been unable to find them anymore. Then I found Meiho fishing storage cases particularly the double sided boxes (Meiho Reversible 165N Two Sided Plastic Lure Case).

For room storage of items not in the tackle bag. Soft plastics as described above - original bags in totes. The rest - lures/some plastics/terminal tackle - on peg boards in the man cellar  

Received 12 of the Plano 3700 boxes and 2 of the Flambeau boxes.  I'm sure I will need more of both types.  Will also look into the Meiho Reversible 165N Two Sided Plastic Lure Cases.  Thanks.