Stack Three 3700 Boxes Instead of One Giant Tackle Box, and Rigging Speeds Up
The Plano 3700 Stowaway remains the standard building block for most tackle systems — mix configurations across topwater, soft plastics, and terminal tackle rather than buying one oversized box. Pair it with the Wild River Nomad backpack for kayak and shore trips, or step up to the waterproof Plano EDGE 3700 for surf fishing and boat trips in rain.
| Product | Verdict | Approx. price | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plano 3700 Stowaway Utility Box | The universal building block for tackle storage | $6.99–$9.99 | Check price |
| Wild River Tackle Tek Nomad Backpack | Best tackle backpack for kayak and shore fishing | $79.99 | Check price |
| Plano EDGE 3700 System Box | Best waterproof hard tackle box | $24.99 | Check price |
The Plano 3700 Stowaway box has been the default divider-box size in fishing tackle storage for so long that nearly every tackle backpack, crate, and rack sold today is built to fit it — one product effectively set the dimensions for an entire storage category. A disorganized box still costs fish: time spent digging for the right lure, untangling hooks, or wrestling an overstuffed lid is time not spent fishing. Most anglers overbuy a single do-everything box instead of building a system sized to how they actually fish. The picks below cover hard utility boxes, a waterproof line, and a tackle backpack, plus a system for keeping terminal tackle and soft plastics organized instead of turning into a tangled mess in the trunk.
Some links are affiliate links — we disclose them and earn a small commission at no cost to you. We never accept payment for favorable coverage. If something isn't worth your money, we say so.
Plano 3700 Stowaway Utility Box
The universal building block for tackle storageThe 3700 size has become the de facto industry standard: nearly every soft-sided tackle bag, backpack, and hard case sold today is built around its footprint, so a box bought years ago still slides into a bag bought new. Rather than one large box, many anglers build a small system instead — a topwater box, a soft-plastics box, and a terminal-tackle box, swapped in and out depending on where they're headed. On the Housatonic and Farmington rivers, trout anglers often reach for the smaller 3600 size for split shot, small flies, and light terminal tackle; the deeper 3730 handles bulkier swimbaits and glide baits better suited to Candlewood Lake bass. Dividers can shift if a box is packed past capacity, and the standard 3700 isn't sealed against submersion.
Wild River Tackle Tek Nomad Backpack
Best tackle backpack for kayak and shore fishingKayak and shore anglers who carry gear from a trailhead to the water tend to favor backpack-style storage over hard cases, since it keeps both hands free on uneven bank access or a kayak launch. The Nomad holds up to four full 3700-size boxes, which is typically enough for a full day on Long Island Sound or a CT lake without hauling excess. Its LED lighting inside the main compartment comes up often in gear-forum threads from anglers rigging before first light on early-season striper trips, when a headlamp alone slows down rigging. The hydration compartment suits long shoreline sessions where returning to a cooler isn't practical. The tradeoff is price and bulk — fully loaded, it's heavier than most anglers need for a short afternoon outing.
Plano EDGE 3700 System Box
Best waterproof hard tackle boxThe EDGE line is Plano's sealed tier of the same 3700 footprint, built to handle spray and submersion rather than just splashes. For surf fishing along the CT shoreline or boat fishing in rain, a sealed box keeps soft plastics from swelling with moisture and keeps hooks from rusting between trips. The tradeoff shows up in daily use: the seal takes more effort to open and close than a standard 3700, and the pre-rigged foam layout is less customizable than loose dividers. Anglers who fish mostly freshwater ponds and lakes typically don't need the premium; anglers who kayak fish water where gear occasionally goes under often say it earns its keep the first time a standard box wouldn't have.
Buying guide
**The Category System**
Most experienced anglers organize by lure type rather than trying to carry everything together. Separate boxes for topwater, jigs and soft plastics, hard baits like crankbaits and jerkbaits, and terminal tackle (hooks, weights, swivels) are common. This lets you pull out only what a given day's fishing calls for instead of digging through everything in a single crowded box.
**Labeling**
Labeling the outside of utility boxes with a label maker or tape saves time when restocking at home and makes it obvious which box is which at a glance, especially in low light before sunrise.
**Terminal Tackle Organization**
Small terminal tackle — hooks, split shot, swivels, bobbers — benefits from its own dedicated box with many small compartments. A 3600-size box with 20 or more small compartments is a common choice for this category.
**Soft Plastic Storage**
Soft plastics should be stored in sealed bags or containers. Different soft plastic compounds can react chemically when packed together, softening or melting the plastic and ruining lures. Storing by bait type in separate bags, or using a purpose-made soft plastic organizer such as a Roll-N-Go style bag or Plano FTO bag, avoids this.
**What the Community Reports**
As of the 2025–2026 season, threads on CT kayak-fishing forums consistently point to the same failure mode: anglers who bring one oversized box instead of a small system spend more time on the water searching than rigging. The consensus among CT kayak bass anglers is to keep a "day box" — one 3700 loaded with only the 2–3 categories needed for that trip — separate from a larger at-home stock of boxes.
**The Take-Less Approach**
Most anglers carry far more tackle than they use in a session. Picking the 2–3 lure categories suited to the day's conditions and season generally means lighter, more organized fishing — a drop shot rig rarely gets tied on if the plan is shallow summer topwater anyway.
EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
Weekly fishing intelligence
Nationwide conditions, what's biting, and honest gear deals. One email, no noise.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.