Tackling Storage

Tackling
Storage

By Dan Armitage

Tackling
Storage

By Dan Armitage

Studies show that most of us fish from our deck or pontoon boat at least once each season – and often (much) more. Even aboard those boat models that are designed for the sport, the issue of safely and conveniently storing the tackle needed to wet a line can be a challenge. That’s especially true if children are part of the on board angling equation, to which anyone who has shared the deck with an elementary school-age angler can attest.

That said, adults have been known to step on a rod, trip over a tackle box or get hooked themselves while fishing aboard a boat that’s not properly outfitted for storing tackle. Here are some tips and accessories that you may want to consider to keep tackle ship-shape and out from underfoot aboard your boat. Many are available as options from the boat manufacturer and can be found as aftermarket items that can be added to make a boat better organized for angling.

boy wearing blue life jacket grabbing fishing rod

Tube-style vertical rod holders come in portable designs that fit into tracks when needed and can be used to store rods and to hold them while actively fishing.

Beckson Marine offers a line of aftermarket storage options for a variety of applications for anglers (www.beckson.com).

Rod Storage

Fishing rods with their delicate tips and vulnerable reels are often the first tackle to succumb to poor storage aboard and are the first angling items you want to accommodate. Rods left on the deck, leaned up against a bulkhead or tossed into a compartment not designed for the purpose are not likely to survive a season unscathed.

There are two common types of fishing rod storage options offered aboard boats, determined by the angle of the rigs when they are put aside. Horizontal rod racks secure rods in a horizontal position, typically along the interior walls flanking the boat’s cockpit. Rods may also be stored in a horizontal position in below-deck compartments, completed with racks for up to a dozen rods. Depending on the model, some fish-and-ski type designs offer rod racks in the same sub-floor compartments that accommodate water skis and boards. Some fishing model pontoon and deck boats eliminate the board racks altogether to offer dedicated holders designed specifically for securing rods and reels.

Vertical rod racks secure rigs in their namesake orientation, often with tube-style holders fitted to the inside wall of the boat, along the rail or fence, flush along the top of the gunwale or in special fishing stations at the rear of the deck. These hold the rod vertically with the butt end inserted into the tube and the tip pointing skyward. Vertical holders are popular among boaters who like to fish because they keep the rigs handy yet somewhat out of the way when not being used for fishing.

Rod “holders” typically denote tubes that are positioned and often angled to secure rods that are actively be fished, such as while trolling, drifting or bottom fishing. Holders may be built-in flush to the top of the gunwale or transom or be added as permanent fixtures or portable holders that can be removed and stowed when not needed.

Rather than being tossed into a cardboard box, fishing lures and terminal tackle should be organized and stored in a safe yet accessible location aboard – for which there are many options.

Tackle Storage

If you’ve ever tripped over an on board tackle box, had one vibrate off a seat and go topsy-turvy, or spilled altogether, you realize the value of having tackle secure and organized as well as convenient. Many boat models designed to be used for fishing come with some very handy storage features for lures, hooks, terminal tackle, and other accessories that would normally be kept in a traditional tackle box. For example, tackle drawers that are built into bulkheads are common, often designed to hold tackle trays or lure boxes from popular brands such as Plano and Flambeau.

One accessory I add to every fishing boat are the “bolt-on” combination racks for fishing pliers that also have slots for knives, bait threading needs, scissors, and similar tools. These are commonly made of Star Board material and are screwed, bolted or glued to vertical surfaces near areas of fishing activity.

Generic plastic tubs of various sizes and shapes are also available and often portable, using suction cups or hook and loop material to secure. Some styles have hook-holding slots on the rim for short term storage of lures and terminal tackle. I say short term because the dangling lures can be a threat to those who accidentally come into contact with the exposed hooks.

Net Storage

When you need a landing net you REALLY need a landing net. A net stashed under a bench seat may not be handy enough to put to use when needed most. However, a net with its handle placed in a designated vertical net holder tube or a securely mounted rod holder can make the difference between bringing a fish aboard or losing it boatside while folks scramble for the net. What’s more, our favorite styles of fishing craft often carry a higher deck than boats built for fishing, and a longer handle is often needed to reach the fish thrashing on the water’s surface. That’s when landing nets with telescoping handles come in handy, both to deploy when needed and to store compactly and out of the way when not. Some nets even offer hinged hoops to allow the net to be folded for storage.

Taking the time to organize your boat early in the season, perhaps after a shakedown cruise or to determine your particular tackle storage needs and challenges, will pay dividends later on no matter how often you or your guests wet a fishing line this season.

Landing nets offer storage challenges thanks to a long handle and large diameter hoop, but telescopic handles and folding hoops make them easier to stow between fishing trips and break out when needed.

Safety

When storing rods in racks or holders that leave them exposed to passengers be sure to remove any hooks, lures, or other terminal tackle from the rigs that guests may come into contact with while moving about the deck. Brushing up against a stored rod with a lure tied to the line that sports 3/0 treble hooks will put a damper on any outing.

One of my favorite sources of aftermarket storage accessories is Boat Outfitters (www.boatoutfitters.com). I have used its design services to craft a custom helm-top tray of Star Board and find their generic storage solutions to be well built and functionally sound. You can also purchase stock Star Board panels online and at marine stores to allow you to design and build your own storage accessories. Another company that I have found to offer a growing variety of useful suction-cup-mounted marine accessories is SeaSucker (www.seasucker.com). From rod holders to tackle trays and a bunch of other imaginative accessories, they have taken portable boat rigging to a new level.

Starcraft EX FISH 20 FD

This slick 20-foot `toon from Starcraft is very affordable and fishable, with a pair of fishing seats aft flanking a fishing station containing an aerated livewell and both lockable and horizontal rod storage racks, plus two additional fishing seats in the bow. Standard amenities include a power canopy, AM/FM stereo with J-port for an MP3 player, docking lights, Rotocast furniture bases and a helm chair with armrests that both swivels and slides. Options of interest to anglers include a depth gauge, combo GPS/Fishfinder, several canvas configurations including full camper for overnight fishing adventures, portable toilet, underwater lighting to attract fish, and an automatic shallow water anchoring system. Big Water and Coastal Editions with beefed-up construction and features make the EX Fish adaptable for open water cruising and fishing in fresh and saltwater alike. And yes, I give this Starcraft a strong “like.”

Specifications

LENGTH:20′ 10″

BEAM:8′ 6″

WEIGHT:1,850 LBS.

PASSENGER/
WEIGHT CAPACITY:10/1,410

FUEL CAPACITY:21 GALS.

MAX HP:125HP

STARCRAFTMARINE
WWW.STARCRAFTMARINE.COM

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