[Andy Welch]

My lure bag has just about given up the ghost, it was a wychwood fresh water one and the zips just did not like salt, apart from that it was a good bag.
I have been looking at the Rapala sling bag, but i thought i would ask for help on here before deciding what to get. Thanks in advance.

 

[Simon L]

Andy, there are a few guys on here using the Rapala sling bag, so i am sure that one of them will give you a view on that. Also worth considering is the "Ultimate Fishing" sling bag from Mr Fish - i have one, & it's a nice bit of kit, with plenty of room for your gear. There's a thread in the "Clothing & Accessories" section, called "Chest Packs" (or something like that), that also has some interesting alternatives.

Si.

 

[Nick Phillips]

My lure bag has just about given up the ghost, it was a wychwood fresh water one and the zips just did not like salt, apart from that it was a good bag.
I have been looking at the Rapala sling bag, but i thought i would ask for help on here before deciding what to get. Thanks in advance.

The Rap sling bag could have been a very nice bit of kit,problem is that it was made to the usual Rap accessory standards.
The zips are awful and totally dont like the salt water.
Why do Rapala do this :?: :rollineyes: :rollineyes:

 

[Ben Field]

I'm still on the lookout for the perfect bag to be honest. I've used the Rapala sling bag, the Ultimate one, the Shimano Lure case etc etc. Last weekend I used the shimano lure case with a backpack as well, and this still wasn't ideal.

Problems with each:

Rapala:
Limited space for anything but lures. Ok, you can store more than lures in the boxes, but it's not perfect. Great idea overall though. Zips are going on mine. One shoulder carrying can ache after a while. I'd just like more space for bits and pieces.

Ultimate:
Overall very good. I'll be going back to this one for now. I can't see it lasting forever though. Compared to the Rapala the zips are fairly lightweight, and combined with thin material overall, I can see either the zips failing, or the material wripping. For what is a reasonably specialist bit of luggage - aimed at lure anglers, I think they could actually have made a better quality bag and charged a bit more for it. It's great value overall, but I'd love it if they made a more hardcore version. I'd be happy to pay extra. I'd also like to see it laid out a little differently. The main section is ideal for 2 Sakura boxes for hard lures, but I'd actually like another, smaller section in front of this for soft baits. The middle, current zipped section is a bit too much of an allrounder at the moment, and I'd prefer it as a standard pocket. The foam hook board never gets used. The front pocket could also be a bit bigger. And the side pocket shouldn't zip so low. Anything you put in it is likely to fall out if fully unzipped. Shoulder can also ache massively after a while. If a bag could be designed with 2 shoulder straps, but still slide around your side, it'd be ideal!

 

[Henry Gilbey]

What is the general feeling on lure bags ?

Is the most important thing to have a way of accessing the lures without taking the bag off - like the Sling Bag, Ultimate Bag, Shimano thing etc. ?

Or is it to have a really well designed small to medium rucksack with perhaps a waterproof compartment and a means of adding bits to it, like some kind of modular system that a lot of the LowePro camera bags employ ?

 

[Nathan Taylor]

Ive gone through so many bags or plug holders etc...but nothing seems to be right or that lasts me...doh

 

[Nigel Gullon]

I use to use a shimano lure box around the waist and a small rucksack on the back for everything else (pliers, boxes of lures, food ect), but now only use a rucksack and a couple of lures in the pockets which were protected.
The shimano lure box has had to be repaired as the belt started parting from the actual lure holding section. The problem with having too many lures to hand I think, you are prone to switch lure too often and not give the lure a good go.
What are your thoughts?

 

[John Orrells]

For most of 2009 I used a small backpack and a Shimano lure case around my waist which on the whole has been ok but with a few irritations. I find the Shimano bag really good and like the idea of storing lures vertically in individual tubes, there’s an elastic loop on the front for holding pliers and a small pocket which I keep a pair of scissors, small reel of leader and a few extra clips in. Changing lures is a breeze as you simply retrieve your lure drop it into one of the tubes unclip and connect to the next lure you want to use without your fingers going near any of the hooks. When I get home the whole thing gets dunked in a sink full of water to rinse everything off and then hung in the airing cupboard to dry. I have used the backpack to carry a lightweight wading jacket (just in case), scales, glasses case, flask of coffee or bottle of water, camera , phone and possibly the odd sandwich along with another lure case. Its not ideal as it sits fairly low on my back which makes for soggy sandwiches when wading out to some of the better places. I have thought about just combining the Shimano bag with another waist pack or bum bag to carry the extra bits but this wont be any good for wading to some of the spots I frequent so I think this is a non starter.

I cam across the Patagonia Double Hall pack recently and it looks promising as it looks as though it can be worn higher up on the shoulder so keeping everything dry while wading. The front bag can be used for camera, scales, phone and a drink, no need to take the bag off and quick access. The back section for spare clothes, flask and lure case. Anyone got any experience of them? As I’m very tempted.

 

[Andy Welch]

Thanks everyone for the replys, given me food for thought.

 

[JimH]

Got a fishpond (shooting star) with chest pack, great for a full session and can be used in full or sling style for shorter session. Having seen the Sakura chest pack, I would also recommend.

 

[Steve Lewis]

Got a fishpond (shooting star) with chest pack, great for a full session and can be used in full or sling style for shorter session. Having seen the Sakura chest pack, I would also recommend.

I have this, it has room for 2 lure boxes in the front and a large box in the back

 

[bob jameson]

Got a fishpond (shooting star) with chest pack, great for a full session and can be used in full or sling style for shorter session. Having seen the Sakura chest pack, I would also recommend.

I have this, it has room for 2 lure boxes in the front and a large box in the back

And what would that be steve The lunch box..... :muttley:

 

[Steve Lewis]

Got a fishpond (shooting star) with chest pack, great for a full session and can be used in full or sling style for shorter session. Having seen the Sakura chest pack, I would also recommend.

I have this, it has room for 2 lure boxes in the front and a large box in the back

And what would that be steve The lunch box..... :muttley:

Yes Bob, room for my hotdogs :aarrg:

 

[Andy Marquis]

I used to use a slingbag but found that half the time it kept swinging back round my head when crawling round and over boulders if you have to lean slightly forward. The zips also went after just 1 season.

I use a chest pack from Askari sometimes but the zips are going.

I have now taken to using my pockets with the individual lure tubes from BASS. Half a dozen lures in tubes fit in my 2 coat pockets as well as a bag of bucktails and some softies. it also makes you think about lures and what to take which makes you use a lure for what it is supposed to be rather than changing every 2 minutes just because you can. Now I just need a wading jacket or something with pockets for when it gets warm again, whenever it is that's supposed to happen!!

 

[Alex Jordan]

I use a Camelbak Havoc which has a bladder for water etc - mebbe not so good for quick lure changes but I keep a pocket of SP's and a pocket of lures from the waterproof plano boxes that are in the rucksack - 2 seasons of wading, snowboarding and mtb'ing and still rock solid - I tend not to rinse my gear so much either ...

http://www.camelbak.com/en/sports-recre ... havoc.aspx

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0012352014887a.shtml

 

[Tom H 2]

I use a US military assault rucksack (zips are great - has a rubber lining - a pocket for a camelbak & sits high on the back). The lures Im using go in my top pockets or chesties in take away curry boxes & I keep 2 3600 boxes in the rucksack.

Gonna try a KOA chest pack this year too (done all the sling bags / imax bumbags etc already)

Ive also noticed a special forces magazine chest pack down the nato shop here - looks ideal if I can find the right sized boxes (all plastic clips & velcro) - if I get one Ill post a pic

 

[Tony Barnes]

I Bought a Flambeau AZ4 for christmas from here:

http://www.sapsglobal.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=30

3 large lure boxes, large enough for TM 145s, and 1 smaller box large enough for TM 175s. It has enough room for all my lures and a spare lure box to put in the ones that I have used, meaning that I have only one box to wash out afterwards. The lure boxes feature corrosion resistance technology, which can only help to prevent rusty hooks. Good organisation for tools, and a couple of places to secure lanyards/zingers. Also has a pocket on the end that is just about large enough for my Exage 4000FB reel. So it keeps all of my gear together. One bag to grab when I leave the house. Also has chunky plastic zips.

Only major problem, no water bottle holder. Have to leave it sticking out of one the end pockets and I'm worried that it might fall out.

Not a problem casting with a traditional style shoulder bag and it swings around the side when I need it.

I'm starting to think that a chest pack with enough room for the lures I'm going to use and some tools on the front and everything else on the back might be best. A hydration pack and rod holders on the side would probably make it perfect. It might take some trial and error to find the right combination. You might also find that different days or situations require different bags depending on requirements. Small bag for short trips and rucksack for longer ones.

I also like the look of bags with vertical lure tubes rather than lure boxes, especially for the lures being used, so maybe a combination of bags could work best. Shimano now make a larger version of their lure case, I believe.

Good luck with your purchase, Tones.

 

[Andy Welch]

Cheers for that Big Tones, it certainly looks good and will go on my short list.. :clap:

 

[Jeremy Hayden]

I've been using a shimano fly fishing bag.
plenty of room in the main compartment, but the best thing i've done is to source some drill tubes (same as the BASS lure boxes), tape 3 or 4 of them together and put a set into each of the front pockets so that i can keep my most used lures handy and not have to muck about with opening boxes & placing them back into the bag whilst fishing.
works for me.

 

[Marc D...]

but the best thing i've done is to source some drill tubes (same as the BASS lure boxes),

Hello jezza, are these available at a good price? or are you getting them from a workshop? Cheers, Marc.