| Utility Boxes - Fishing Product Review | |
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By F.R. "Fritz" Nordengren
Utility boxes are the plastic boxes Plano and others have made famous. They go inside soft tackle bags, inside hard tackle boxes, and many anglers keep them in storage compartments on boats. They come in two general sizes: Plano's 3600 size and the 3700 size.
These have fixed dividers that run the width -- or length depending on the manufacturer, and removable dividers running the other way. Recently, I picked up 3 new utility boxes for different reasons.
I bought a Flambeau, a Plano waterproof and a Plano Guide series. All three are 7 1/4 x 10 3/4 more or less -- the size of the 3600 series Planos.
First the Flambeau.
It's the same size as the Plano's but it has many more dividers. The fixed dividers run the short side of the box (making 6 compartments left to right. Each of those has 5 dividers, making a possible 6 compartments top to bottom for a total of 6 - 36 compartments. What this also makes possible is it accommodates different lengths of soft plastics, or hard baits, with less wasted space. I use mine for leadhead jigs and for weights
Next, the waterproof Plano box. The overall size is the same, but because of the waterproof design, the interior measurements are about 1/2 smaller. it has 3 latches : one on the front and one on each side, and an o-ring seal.
The fixed dividers are slightly different that a traditional Plano box. There are the dividers along the long side, but they only run 3/4 of the length. This makes 4 compartments up and down on the left side, and a full size open compartment on the right.
The open right side has up to 4 removable dividers and each of the long compartments on the left can be divided into 4 small compartments. I've found that the compartments are the right size for 5 inch and 4 inch soft plastics -- I use mine for Senkos, but it would be good for worms, Flukes, or other plastic jerk baits.
While I can't say water proof, they are very water resistant and also dust resistant.
Finally, my new favorite, the Guide series 4600 two layer box. This utility box is a two layer box with a unique latch that lets you open the top or the bottom. Like the waterproof box, the interior is about 1/2 inch smaller but the extra features make up for the loss in size. The pop compartment is dividable like the regular Plano box. It has 6 dividers running the short side of the box, and each of those can be divided into 3 spaces, making 18 possible compartments. I found them to be very easy to adjust and store in-line spinner style baits like Mepps and Rooster Tails and also spoons.
The bottom has fixed dividers on the left side, and a fully undivided space on the right for large items like line spools or pliers. It is similar to the waterproof layout, expect the left side spaces ion this box is about 4 inches instead of 5 inches. The open space has removable dividers if you want to split it up.
The front edge of this box has a built in handle grip -- it slides out of a case or storage compartment very easily. Because of it's depth, it is 1 1/2 times thicker than a regular 3600 box. So 2 boxes take up the width of 3 -- but with two layers in each, there are actually 4 trays.
The 4600 series 2 layer box is about $4.99 compared to $3.25 or so for the regular 3600 box.
Not everyone likes to have their tackle organized in boxes like this, but if you do, these three give you more options than the traditional utility box.
