IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS
Informative articles to help you better understand and utilize the Tools of the Trade

"Back to Basics" Vol. 5 "
Organization

In this month's "Back to Basics" we are going to step away from our equipment and talk about organizing it. After all, what good is having all that gear if you don't know where to find it? These are general guidelines that I use to help me perform better and catch more fish.

Some of us have more tackle then we will ever fish with in a lifetime and others of us have just the amount of tackle we will fish with. Either way, do you know exactly where that crankbait or certain color of worm is or can you get close then dig around and find it? I often see anglers kneeling down in their boats pulling out bag after bag of worms or searching endlessly through Plano boxes looking for that special bait. Been there...done that! Too much time is wasted looking for these baits when this time could be spent casting and catching more fish.

Tackle:
The first thing I would recommend to do, would be to separate your baits into categories such as spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigging, etc. A side benefit from going through this step is you can cull baits you no longer use but don't forget to donate them to a charitable cause. Next, and what I feel is the hardest part, is choosing what type of storage containers to use. What I ended up doing was the old trial by error. I stood over my baits with the catalog open to the storage box section and visualized the baits in the container. This did not always work, or worked for a time, but the benefit was that I was able to use those boxes for other baits or storage for extra baits. Once the correct storage container is found, the next step is to place the baits into it with what I call consistency. What I mean by this is if I start out a worm box with light or natural colors first I continue that pattern in my other worm boxes. The same goes for crankbaits, spinnerbaits, etc. This way no matter which box I pull out, I know exactly where to go to get what I'm looking for. The last step is to label the storage boxes. I like to use 3M plastic tape to do this and label the front and one side of each box. Important labeling is not only what type of baits but the weight of or depth of the baits. By doing this you will be able to find the bait you're looking for without having to look through multiple storage boxes. One very important factor you must keep in mind while choosing your containers is, will they fit in the storage compartments of your boat.

Boat:
Now that we have taken the time to organize all the baits we use, let's not forget to organize it when it goes in the boat. There are several key factors you need to keep in mind when organizing your boat's storage compartments. First, consider how much weight you place in certain locations. Too much weight in the front storage compartments is going to have an effect on your boat's performance. The more the front is weighted down the less bow lift you will get which will have an effect on both speed and handling. Second, think about which compartments you put your storage containers in. When loading your baits into the storage compartments, place the baits you'll use most often in the front compartments. For instance, you will most likely have to change or put on new plastic bait (worm) before you will change out a hard bait.

Storage, extra gear and baits:
Now that you have organized all your tackle and put it away nicely in your boat, what do you do with all that extra bait and gear? Well, you go through the same process you did to organize your baits but include your extra gear. Once you have all your extra baits and gear laid out, determine the best method for storing it in your basement or garage. You might need to add a couple of components to your basement or garage such as shelving or peg boards. What I have found to work best is to put the plastic baits in larger storage containers, hard baits on a peg board, extra boating gear on shelving, and building a rod rack. The large storage containers for the plastic baits are easy to load in the back of the truck for long trips and I organize the colors in the same manner as I do in the boat storage containers. With the hard baits being on the peg board all I have to do to replace one is reach out and grab one. Two items I always keep near my extra storage are a pen and note pad. This way when I start to run low on a particular bait, I make a note of it and when I go tackle shopping I know exactly what I need and how many. My extra boat gear stores nicely on shelving where it is handy and easy to retrieve when I need it. Last but not least, do not forget to organize your fishing notes and lake maps. For this I use a small portable hanging file system. I organize the information by lake in alphabetical order, and it is small enough that I can throw it in the truck and have it with me at all times. Always keep blank fishing reports in the file system so you can fill them out at the hotel in the evening while it is fresh on your mind.

I hope you have found this month's "Back to Basics" informative and it helps you to increase your catch! If you are interested in a particular topic, send a request to rick@ricktilson.com. Check back next month for another informative "Back to Basic's".'

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