If there’s one thing a visit to ICAST will inspire an avid angler to do it’s buy more gear. Seeing the latest and greatest products should motivate any bass fanatic to add a few dozen products to their “gotta have it” list.
This can lead to problems when it comes to shared living spaces. Many anglers live in a tentative truce with their significant other when it comes to bringing home (even more) fishing gear. Rods, tackle, line and other items pile up and can annoy if a spouse isn’t a dedicated angler.
Thankfully, there are tons of options (both old and new) for gear organization, storage and transport on display at this year’s ICAST event.
Upgraded tackle boxes
At ICAST 2016, Plano debuted two new series of products for anglers looking to store and transport needed fishing gear. The company’s Guide Series feature design upgrades, including raised and rubber feet and a hard-top surface with bungee cord for securing the product’s easy-access utility box.
Made with nooks and crannies galore, an angler should have no problem keeping their tools of the trade at hand with the Guide Series. Side pockets, tool holders, mesh slip pockets and tie-down slots are just a few of the built-in features.
Plano’s Z-Series features a zipperless design and incorporates a durable, water-resistant coating and splash-resistant openings. Tool pockets, Velcro closures and cinch-cord closures round out the Z-Series’ most unique design features.
New mafia members
Bass Mafia introduced three new variations of their Coffin line in their booth at ICAST 2016. The new Cranking Coffin is an original storage system made especially for deep-diving crankbaits. The box will hold up to 48 of your favorite large, deep-diving baits. The box features a smoke-colored lid for easy viewing, and the box shares Bass Mafia’s standard locking latches and rugged design.
The other two additions, the Blade Coffin and the Terminal Coffin, feature more secure and watertight tackle storage options. The Terminal Coffin has built-in storage spaces for terminal tackle and weights. The Blade Coffin is a designed for tangle-free storage of spinnerbaits, jigs and bladed swim jigs.
Even more storage options
Simms also introduced a new set of storage solutions for bass anglers. The Challenger tackle storage bags come in large and small sizes. These storage solutions were designed with retractable handles and transparent tops for convenient organization and access. Also, the top rollback cover was designed to stay out of the way while fishing. Also, the bags’ waterproof bottoms keep gear dry even during a downpour.
The large Challenger can store up to eight boxes while the smaller size, designed with competing co-anglers in mind, holds three. The large size includes interior dividers that fold down and allow the bag to flatten when emptied. The large bag was also sized specifically to fit inside bass boat storage bins.
Garage door storage
Finally, one rod storage option utilizes space that is often overlooked in a garage – the back of garage door panels. Cobra Garage Door Solutions offers an adjustable system that can be installed and adjusted with no tools required. For anglers without a garage door, the racks install on walls or ceilings.
In sizes of 21-inches and 18-inches, the rack pairs hold to up to 10 pounds of fishing gear. And, if your rod collection isn’t large enough to fill all the spaces, the design allows yard equipment storage as well.
Structurally, the racks are designed to clear any hurricane bar reinforcements, and spacers are available for any oversized bars.
