Bag or box for fishing – what to choose?

How to choose a winter box for different fishing methods

Let's find out which parameters when choosing a box for winter fishing will be decisive for specific fishing methods.

For floater

The winter box of a fisherman who loves to catch peaceful fish on a float should be as spacious as possible. This kind of fishing is stationary, which requires a little more equipment and, therefore, space. A large volume is also the bait, packaged to protect against low temperatures. What is very important is that when fishing with a float, the gear is on the ice, and when biting, the angler reaches out with his hand to the fishing rod.

If the container is too high, then there is a danger that you will not reach the fishing rod in time and miss the bite. If the angler is aged, then constantly being bent over the hole is harmful to health, and for young people it also does not add any benefits to our favorite hobby.

The height of a comfortable float box is usually 30–40 centimeters.

In this case, weight is sacrificed in favor of volume, since usually such fishing does not involve long, difficult treks during the day, and the angler often gets to the fishing site by snowmobile or using a sled.

For the spinner

The winter fishing box of a spinner or a fisher without a reeler should first of all be light - since fishing requires constant movement between holes. Such an angler usually has less gear. Often this is a small thermos, several fishing rods and a box of lures. The possible catch will also have to be carried around with you all day, so if the weight of a heavy container is added to it, the fisherman will be even less comfortable.

For glittering, it is convenient to use tall containers, from 45 to 50 centimeters. It will also be convenient to store long fishing rods for trolling.

Sometimes such suitcases for winter fishing for traveling long distances are equipped with shoulder straps for convenience. The design of the box is conveniently complemented by a container or compartment for caught small fish. There is an additional hole or cover for this purpose.

The fish folds compactly, does not freeze, does not take on excess snow and weight, and also does not attract the attention of less fortunate competing anglers by jumping on the ice.

Remember that a thermos filled with hot tea must be carried strictly in an upright position, so there must be a special compartment for the thermos.

If earlier, a good thermos was in short supply, then fishing boxes were often made or purchased with a height specifically for the existing thermos. Now you can choose a good thermos of almost any size. But a good thermos, alas, is now not cheap and its size has to be taken into account. Many drawer designs initially have a ready-made compartment where a thermos is placed.

Box hybrid of high chair and backpack

Separately, it is worth considering the division of fishing boxes - hybrids of a high chair and a backpack.

Such a backpack box for winter fishing often has a transverse tube at the base, which prevents the structure from falling into the snow, and the backpack protects the hole from the wind. When choosing, I would recommend first of all paying attention to the material and thickness of the chair legs. Often these structures are flimsy and will not last a couple of seasons. And in a critical situation, they will be left far from home without a place to sit. Such designs are equipped with backpacks of various capacities.

I recommend that you do not test the material of the backpack for leaks in a pond, but immediately buy a plastic canister that fits the size of the backpack. It must be cut off at the top with a sharp knife and placed inside, which will protect things from getting wet, and your car from water leaking from thawed gear and fish into the trunk. Then the backpack will last much longer, and at the end of the season, you just have to take out the canister and rinse it with water.

Fishing bag or box? Let's figure it out together

Today we will talk about how a fisherman can take everything he needs with him, but at the same time not overload his luggage by collecting something that he won’t even use this time. We remind you that fishing gear requires careful handling, and leaving everything in your travel bag is a very, very bad idea. Having arrived at the fishing spot and starting to sort out your equipment, you will find that the fishing line is unwound and tangled, the hooks are caught on everything that can be caught on, the baits are scattered throughout the bag, and if you had maggots in your arsenal as bait, then they spread out and settled comfortably in the most inappropriate places, occupying the bag and gear. Yes, an experienced and experienced fisherman will not allow this, he will automatically collect gear in a bag or box, using each compartment rationally, so our advice applies to novice fishermen and those who want to understand in more detail the intricacies of the subtle art of fishing.

It doesn’t matter what you ultimately prefer – a bag or a box, it is important that they comfortably contain all the accessories that you will need for your upcoming fishing trip and that they are comfortable for you to use. High-quality bags and boxes have several compartments for gear, this also depends on the size - a large bag can also be used to put an unassembled fishing rod, especially for telescopic spinning rods; there are special bags for this type of fishing, and there are boxes with an additional compartment for the caught fish. fish. By preparing for fishing correctly, putting everything you need in the designated places, you will save your time when you need to quickly change the bait or hook. Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of these two main fishermen's assistants.

Manufacturing materials

During the Soviet period, strong and durable duralumin boxes were popular, but they were heavy.

Today manufacturers use:

• plastic;
• Styrofoam;
• less often metal.

Metal boxes have good reliability and durability; they can have any capacity, but the price and weight force them to look for a replacement.

The polystyrene boxes are very light and quite durable, with many internal compartments that guarantee order in the contents. It has thermal insulation properties and does not sink in water. The disadvantage is the possibility of the box being blown away by strong winds.

A plastic box is between foam and metal in weight, does not absorb fishy smell, can have many compartments, and is easy to clean. However, it is fragile - it can crack if hit or dropped.

Considering the shortcomings of industrial boxes, some skilled fishermen make such a necessary accessory with their own hands. The best results are obtained by converting a used thick-walled plastic canister or a plastic car battery case into a box.

Summer fisherman's box from a canister

To make it yourself you will need:

• large and two small plastic canisters;
• two hinges for the box lid;
• aluminum corner;
• latches for fixing the lid in the closed position;
• rivets and screws.

We cut off the top part of a large canister, and an aluminum corner is attached to the cut along the perimeter with small bolts or rivets to increase the rigidity and strength of the structure. A plastic partition is made inside our fishing box.

The top cover, which also serves as a seat, is made of plastic or plywood, with a slight overlap over the edges of the box. The bottom and top of the lid are covered with a rubber bath mat. On one side, at the top of the product, two loops are attached, with which the lid is also fastened.

Where to get

The easiest way is to buy it at a fishing store. You can come up, look at what you like, and evaluate the quality. Ask the seller for advice. The second way is in an online store. The quality will greatly depend on the choice of store: Aliexpress is a pure lottery.

Don't think that all the boxes are made in China and resold here under different brands, this is not true. Tonar, for example, has its own production base and patented technologies. Another way is to buy it second-hand. You should be careful here, because there will be no refunds on purchases. However, it’s unlikely to be in the online store either.

The last method is worth considering in more detail. Old Soviet products are often sold second hand. Of course, they are very large, and not all fishermen will be satisfied with this. But they have one important detail: you can put a sled on them, and a standard mount is provided for them in the lower part. There is no point in buying without a sled.

With a skid it will be a partial replacement for the trough. The belt of the purchased box should be replaced with a more modern one, since the linen belt constantly freezes and absorbs water, and in general is too heavy and weighs a lot when swollen.

When buying modern boxes secondhand, you should take a closer look at the seller. For example, does he have any other advertisements on Avito and what kind. You can often find just resellers. They buy low-quality products and then try to sell them as advertised so as not to bear responsibility.

Sometimes you can find a product that is sold according to an advertisement for two to three times more expensive than in an online store, especially in small provincial towns. It is worth checking the price from other sources, and if possible, buy where it is cheaper. You can purchase a faulty product, but this is only revealed upon careful inspection.

The best option is when a person needs money or wants to get rid of an old item. In this case, you can buy a good thing for a reasonable price, the seller and the buyer will be satisfied.

You can buy a good box if the owner for some reason decided to buy a different model, or decided not to go ice fishing anymore, inherited the box and doesn’t need it, etc.

Characteristics of fishing boxes

In principle, all manufactured boxes are more or less the same type. Plastic is preferred by such companies as A-Elita, Golden Catch, Konger, Tonar Barnaul. They have virtually no design differences, but there may be differences in the quality of the plastic, and this is an important nuance.

Let's study Barnaul Tonar. The inside of the box is divided into two horizontal sections, which is a classic fishing box. The large section usually stores gear, caught fish, and even clothes. The lid of the box has a smaller compartment, divided into small sections for various small items.

The fishing box is equipped with a wide belt. The manufacturer stated that the plastic from which the product is made is quite impact-resistant and frost-resistant - the maximum cold temperature is -40 degrees. The box does not allow moisture to pass through. The seat is quite comfortable. Its volume is very large, but this affects the dimensions, which are not suitable for everyone.

Metal boxes are produced in two versions. For the manufacture of the former, galvanization is used, the latter are made of duralumin. Their design can vary, similar to plastic boxes, and you can find both single-section and two-section boxes on sale.

In the case of galvanized iron, fishermen note low build quality and corrosion, which inevitably befalls the metal. The connection with the help of rivets becomes loose over time, the box begins to play and leak water. Duralumin structures have fewer disadvantages, but their cost leaves much to be desired.