Plano Tackle Boxes

[32eml24]

Going through all my tackle from last year and have had to dump so much of it because of RUST!  What causes rust buildup especially in the case with all my terminal tackle, and how can I prevent it this year?  Every penny adds up and I don't want to waste good stuff that I can make last longer.

[LennyB]

Never store tackle that can rust in your boat. Load it the night before and pull it when you get back home. Condensation is the culprit and it happens with temperature changes. Even in a storage locker of a top quality boat like a Ranger stored in a garage, it can and will happen. I drill small holes in my tackle boxes so air can penetrate to keep them dry, but again the #1 prevention is to always pull them from the boat when you get home and put them in the house. If they are wet, open the lids to air dry.

[huston]

Try little pieces of charcoal in pill container holders with holes in them. charcoal absorbs moisture. Put them all over the boat.

[32eml24]

Thanks a lot for the tips!  Seems like the stuff is contagious... put one rusty hook in a case and all the other ones rust!  I'll be getting out the drill this afternoon 

[Puma]

Flambeu makes a product called "Zerust Plastabs" that you can put into each of your Plano boxes.  One tab handles a 1 foot square area.  For a $6 pack (At Bass Pro) it covered all of my boxes with hooks.  They claim they will last for two years.

[thedude]

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=silica+gel+packets&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=15950934740812830302&sa=X&ei=J3dVT8iWAcf8ggfdgNXyDQ&ved=0CKIBEPMCMAI

[LennyB]

If you get a hook or component that has is starting to rust, get it out of the there. It will sped to the rest of the tackle for sure.

[djkimmel]

I am the poster child for rusty hooks the past couple seasons in particular. I leave my stuff in the boat and it seems like I fished in the rain a lot, and went I didn't I got water in the boat, sometimes in large quantities some other way. I didn't lug must stuff out each night - no good place to put it in my little house. There were days when I would pour water out of my boxes the next trip out. I see a lot of hook replacement and new jig pouring in my near future.

[djkimmel]

OFFER NO LONGER AVAILABLE

[Barb Elliott]

 
Not to steal any thunder from the Plano boxes - I have used them and like them too..
BUT for your little off size 'special' rigging boxes - you know - the ones with a million little metal pieces in them - of course NOT all stainless - and that one time you open the box and it is just barely dripping rain - it gets WET and you forget to open/vent the boxes when you get home - USE THESE PAPER chips by VCI - they are VERY inexpensive - and they WORK - I have used them for years.....

http://www.theruststore.com/The-Inhibitor-VCI-Pro-Chips---20-pack-P254C84.aspx

I put them in ALL my boxes - have used them for years - two in the larger boxes - and they last all year - there is a place to write the date on them...so if dampness DOES sneak into your boxes - and you KNOW it will by virtue of where we play - you will be protected ...stop rust dead in its tracks - it is like a cancer - just one little speck and it can ruin a whole bunch of good tackle....
and best - they are very inexpensive!!!! and they do what they SAY they will do - transklation - you spend money for a product that works!!!  REFRESHING CHANGE EH..?

[djkimmel]

Yes - thanks for another great tip!

[djkimmel]

Fishing technology and innovation never ceases to amaze me.

OFFER NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

[Skulley]

And still made in the USA.   



BD.                           

[FishermanJohn]

I leave my boxes to air dry in the house or garage overnight before I pack them away.  I also use the charcoal in a pill container trick.  Plain, dry, white rice or those little packets of silica gel that you get in new shoeboxes or electronics work great as well.  And never put a rusty hook into a box with good hooks...it sure does seem contagious!

[bigjc]

I use the Plano boxes with the rubber gasket, and I keep silica packs in them.  I save all them little packs in shipping packages.  But like it has already been said, once you get a bit of rust on a hook, get it the hell out of your boxes.  I keep an empty box just for those lures so that I don't have to put them back in with good lures.

[Lightningboy]

It took me a while to get rust prevention under control.  I don't know if a rusty hook spreads to others, or just that any hook that rusts is living within rust producing conditions.

I've got the old falcon boxes and bags.  (that was to put a finite number on how many baits I can carry; a problem all it's own)  I use the VCI chips each season.  Very dependable, and cheap.  I even throw them in my tool box.

I also make sure to open my compartments when I put the boat in the garage.  My compartments have a rubber lip seal on them.  Even if it hasn't rained, the seal is enough to cause moisture to form.

BTW- If you've got rust, use it as a chance to update all your hooks to sharp, modern designs that catch easily.  Then just prevent the rust.   

[FishermanJohn]

BTW- If you've got rust, use it as a chance to update all your hooks to sharp, modern designs that catch easily.  Then just prevent the rust.   

Great point!  I also like the idea of a separate box for rusted items...they usually just end up sitting in my bag or tackle compartment.

[Lightningboy]

I kinda have a version of a "rusted tackle" box.  I have a small tackle logic bag, the size of an I-pad.  Holds one 3650 box, and a few bags of soft plastics in a back pocket.  I call it the "working box".

Any baits I think I will be using for the day go in the working box.  It keeps me from digging through all my stuff to find a hook or lure.  Any lures that get used stay in the box to dry out.  Any hooks or hardware stay in there after getting used also.  Used hooks are OK for fun or practice, but only new for a TX.

I load the working box before each time I hit the water.  It's changed my fishing in a lot of positive ways.  Old used hooks get weeded out.  As I reload the box and put stuff way, any questionable components get swapped.

It's also saved me incredible amounts of time in a TX.  The baits I will probably need are all in one location, along with some tools like scissors, pliers, and scent.  I don't have to dig in the lockers very often, and keep my stored baits out of exposure to the elements.

I know it's not always kool to post links to other sites, but the following article really made me think hard about how I store my tackle:

http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/bassdozers-bag.shtml

KVD always preaches efficiency; taking a hard look at your tackle systems and how your manage them keeps your hardware in good shape, and reduces wasted time on the water.

[bigjc]

Hey Ken, where you been?  I have been working on perfecting my tackle storage system for 20 years.  I cannot tell you how many different configurations I have gone through.  My current set up uses plano 3700 boxes loose in my center box on my front deck.

As part of that set up, I use a "day box."   My day box ranges from a single 3700 to a small tackle box, depending on what my plan for the day is.

[Redbone]

I have three or four Plano boxes that are broke!  Anyone know how long it takes to recieve a replacement from them?  Its been years since I had to send one in.