8 Best Tackle Boxes 2021

Nothing ruins lures, flies, and other fishing tackle faster than not having a dedicated system to keep them protected and organized. Enter the tackle box, an essential piece of gear for any fisherman—from fly to spinning to saltwater.

The basic concept for any tackle box is the same, but they now come in lots of flavors, from dainty fly boxes to large backpack-style bags with built-in coolers for fish. There are even airplane luggage-style wheeled tackle boxes for when you have more lures than you can reasonably carry.

Type of Tackle Boxes

Unless you’re at an antiques dealer, you’re probably not looking at metal or wicker tackle solutions and are considering one of two main types: a hard plastic case or a soft fabric bag.

The hard plastic tackle box is the most common and often the most affordable. This type of tackle box offers several benefits, including high durability. And given its plastic construction, it’s essentially waterproof, though the closing and sealing mechanism matters a lot for submersion. If you want a truly waterproof tackle box, look for a tight, secure close and a rubber gasket around the edges.

There are also plenty of lunchbox-style fabric tackle boxes (some with plastic box inserts), but obviously fabric runs the risk of not only getting wet, but also getting waterlogged, especially if the fabric isn’t well-coated with waterproofing. Soft bags usually are structured to accommodate smaller clear plastic cases used to keep lures and other tackle organized. Fabric and treble hooks just don’t mix well.

In general, fabric bag solutions are better when you have lots of gear and things besides tackle to keep organized such as extra layers. Many come with backpack straps, so they’re a good option when you need to be mobile with your tackle. Plastic tackle boxes are usually more affordable and are great for boats and kayaks when they’re able to stay in one place.

Size

If your tackle collection is small and minimal, as with fly fishing, you may not need a large tackle box. Likewise, if you’re deep sea fishing with lots of tackle and large lures, you’ll need something bigger, and depending on how heavy it gets, you may even prefer a tackle box on wheels. If you’re starting from zero building your tackle collection, go a little larger than you think you’ll need. You’ll be surprised how fast you collect gear, and you’d rather deal with a partially filled tackle box than an overfilled one.

Internal Storage

Many fishermen opt for smaller individual storage cases such as the ubiquitous Plano-brand clear plastic cases. The 3600 series is a popular size, and while the Plano brand is widely available, there are plenty of comparable options. Many of our recommendations below, especially the fabric bag type, are built with these cases in mind. If you already own these types of cases, just confirm in the product description for any tackle box that it will accommodate your size cases.

How We Selected

My selections here were based on conversations with fishing outfitters and my years of experience fishing across the U.S. I grew up fishing mostly bass in New York’s Finger Lakes region, shorecasted and spearfished for saltwater species while living in Hawaii, and now I fish almost exclusively for trout in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

We focused our selections on the most common options in North America that anglers will find stocked online, in fishing-specific retailers, and in the more popular big-box stores. Our category picks offer guidance if you’ve already narrowed down your search.