Storing harnesses

[JohnP]

Who has the best method of storing worm harnesses? Have tried a bunch of different stuff that never seems to be handy enough! Maybe its just me, but there has to be a better way.
Starting to sort out tackle, and getting extremely antsy!!
Thanx,
JohnP

[T-Mac]

I like the "Fun Noodles" the kids use for smacking each other while swimming.
I cut off sections about a foot long and wrap about 10-12 leaders around that. You can get a lot of storage out of one $4 "fun noodle".

[redbone]

this works well for me.
i buy one of those noodles that the kids play with in the backyard pool in the summer. cut it to the length that suits you. then cut a v-notch running length wise. on one side of the notch cut a small slit running 90 degrees to it. this allows the hook to set in the groove. wrap the rest of the harness on and slid the end of the mono in the slit. mine have a length that allows me to wedge them across the width of my live well and they stay there. works for me.
bob piette ><)))'>~~~><>

[Jay]

I too have been using the "noodles" for years - they're cheap and effective, but they are still kind a pain to roll up snells, particularly a 10 footer. I ran across a new idea called a Rig Roller at the MN Walleye Expo that I'm going to try.

It's a foam cylinder (similar to a noodle) that holds 12 rigs with a long bolt through it with a clamp for attaching to a rod holder base or boat railing. To remove a snell you just unhook it and pull it off the roller. To wind it up there is a small handle on the top for rolling it back up. Hold the snell with one hand and wind it up with the other.

You can get the complete set-up for around $15 and extra spools for $5. A little spendy, but it was really fast and easy to do and looks like a great idea. Anyway I got one with an extra spool and will test it out soon.

The owner seemed like nice guy to deal with. He was a PWT amateur who came up with this idea when, after a tourney, there were rigs all over the floor. If you're interested he's now trying to market the Rig Roller by Finovations in Faribault, MN. 507-685-2377

[EYEFISH]

I use a combination of the tackle buddies and the slide on foam pipe insulation. I have found the tackle buddy is the way to go, the line never gets loose which I like. I carry a small tote bag with nothing but my tackle buddies in it. I put all one color or style on each tackle buddy. If orange is working I pull out the tackle buddy with orange spinners and I'm ready to go. It is a little more expensive to go this way but once you start to get a few they last for ever. The don't blow out of the boat as easy as the foam tubes either(1 lost role of spinners pays for 3 or 4 tackle buddies).

Good Luck and Good fishing

[mnjimcarp]

i have used the "fun noodle" - "coffee can" method. use a chunk of "noodle" and store it in a "coffee can". takes up space, but works fairly well.

[Mal]

I have used the tackle buddy exclusively. They are stored in the adjustable plano boxes. I make my own so I store mine according to bead color and a clevis that allows me to add whatever color or size of blade. By storing them without the blade on them, they take up much less space. It also allows alot of color combinations for the harnesses. Have had great success with it so there are no plans to change. I do have to come up with a way to store harnesses when fishing for salmon.

[Dan(MI)]

I use the noodles, they are lightweight. I have a large Plastic box that I can fit two noodles about 14- inches long in, and can store almost two dozen harnesses in one case, separate container for my quick change blades.
Pvc would also work for storing your noodles inside.
Go Fishin
Dan

[Stinky Fingers]

I run short harnesses 18"-24". I use the small ziploc snack bags. Sort of fold/coil the harness into the bag a zip it shut. I then store the ziploc bags in a Plano 3700. It stores them tangle free and they don't take up much space..

[Lund_Dude]

Have you tried the plastic tennis ball tubes to store the wraps? The tubes are clear plastic so that you can see your rigs and are available for free at your local courts. Try it!

[JKJ]

I second that! Those 1/2 size zip locks are the ticket. I can get about a 100 of them into a medium sized plastic container. The line and blades never get dinged.

[wawalleye]

This post may run a little long so bear with me. I take foam pipe insulation for 1/2" pipe. Make sure it is the kind that is not slotted. Cut the pipe insulation in 8" lengths (you will need 8 pieces). take 2 nylon tie wraps about 10" long and run one inside and one outside the insulation pieces and connect them. Cut off excess tie wrap. I tie all my snells with a ball bearing snap swivel on it. You can open the snap and hook it on the tie-wrap and wind it on. Once the hooks are buried in the insulation they are there until you need them.
Cut 8 pieces of 1/2" PVC pipe. Buy one of those shotshell boxes with the holes for the shotshells that has two trays. Remove one tray and put the PVC pipe into the holes, spacing them evenly. The pipe fits pretty snug, but you can glue it in. This gives you a tray with 8 pegs that you can slip your insulation pieces over.
This rig stands nicely on the deck and is right at hand. If it's too light, weight it or screw it to the deck. The shotshell box has two trays and you can make two of these with two pieces of insulation and a few more tie-wraps. You still have the box to use as a nice utility box in the boat.
Insulation=$4, Box=$6, Tie-wraps=$3, and pipe=$4. Less than $20 and you have 16 rolls and the holders and still have a great utility box. I make up a few extra rolls for those lakes that need special colors and simply swap the rolls on the holders depending on where I fish.

wawa

[Brad/nd]

I took 1 of my plano boxes that came with the soft pack box, and found just the right diameter pipe insulation that fits in the box & the lid still closes nicely. I also picked up some 3/4" pvc pipe to cut the same length as the foam. After measuring the box, I cut each length of foam & pvc to fit snugly in the box. I then cut each in half, about 7 or 8" long to keep the rolls short for easier wraping of the harnesses. All in all, the box holds 8 tubes or about 80 harnesses. The pvc, with small amount of glue, is slid snuggly inside each foam length to keep the foam from collapsing after numerous wraps & unwraps. I have thought about making some kind of holder using a couple of dowels, just smaller than the pvc, to hold the tubes upright for quicker unwraps with longer snells. Just unhook & spin the harness off. Also preventing them from blowing around the boat. These cost just pennies to make.
Thats the fun of fishing, everyone comes up with their own ideas!

Take care,

Brad

[JohnP]

Thanks guys for some really great ideas. Its amazing how much info is out there if you just ask!

JohnP

[tinboat]

I use tackle logic worm wraps, I put the pretied snells in 3 X 4 ziplocks, then in the "pages" of the tackle logic wrap. Each wrap will hold about 180 snells.

[John]

Try the longer tackle buddies and Pringle containers. A perfect fit.

[Bacala]

I tird dat!

I use small zip lock bags, size 2" x 4", to store my rigs,. You can buy these in bulk from mail order for next to nothing. Nice thing about them is they compress into hardly any space at all and store easily in tackle bags. Also, if they get left out in the rain, the rigs stay nice and fresh. You can use the bags over and over, and see clearly what rig is inside.
I got a small child's tool box that I keep about 200 in and they keep nicely sorted.

Have a good day!


Get the NE...vermind.

[AquaMan]

What do you hook the "other end" too? I tried them and my harnesses always came undone, so I went to the tackle buddies and have never looked back. Small, quick and storage for the nicknacks. I can put 12 harnesses on one and I can fit 4 tackle buddies in the ole box. Sort by blade color/style, line length or number of hooks, etc...depending on how organized you want to be. :-)

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[Moose]

Even better than noodles. Water pipe insulating foam. It has a slit running the length of the foam which helps in cutting the V. I have used the pool noodles but in the winter they are hard to find.

[Mattman]

I probably don't have as many harnesses as a lot of guys but..... I have one of the Tackle Buddies and its OK. Its the kind with the velcro tabs. The one I have and really like is the Takle Logic one. It has a small Plano box for components, a few extra pockets for components and the rigs are held on with rubberbands. The hook goes in a groove along the edge of a pad and you wrap the rig around it, hook the snell's loop or swivel with the hook on the rubberband and then stretch that around the pad to a spot that will hook the rubberband. I find that system much more user friendly than the Tackle Buddy.

[steve(IL)]

Aquaman - I typically tie a very small swivel on the end of my harnesses. Tackle buddies have that little ear that sticks out. Take the swivel end, double back on the main line 2-3" and then twist 3-4 times. Pull tight while wrapping the harness. I've never had one come undone

p.s. I only recommend the larger diameter tackle buddy. I store these in one of those cooler bags meant to hold six packs. It holds four perfectly.

[Tommy Mac]

AquaMan, What I do with the noodle's is, take some fairly stiff rust resistant wire and cut it into (1 1/2) 2 inch pieces. Bend the wire into a offset V shape with one leg of the V about 1/2". Stick the long leg of the V into the noodle, attach the loop knot or barrel swivel of the spinner rig to the wire sticking out of the noodle. Then tightly wrap the rig on. If you can find the little brass paper clips they work great for this. They have a small round brass head and two legs. Just bend the legs and stick em in the noodle. Going to the Muskie Expo? I will be heading down today. TM

[ufda]

I agree. I would only add one step. When I make my rig and wrap it around my hand, just prior to storage in the plastic ziplock, I take two small piece of aluminum cooking foil and squeeze one over the hook and layers of leader and one over the spinner. Keeps things neat and they remove with almost no effort.
ufda

[AquaMan]

Thanks TM. Can't do the Expo. Heading to NY this weekend. The wife was there on business all week and her company let her stay the weekend in the Beacon Hotel. It is cheaper to let her stay then fly back during the week. So we have a kingsized room/bed and no kids for the weekend. WooHoo. Sorry, that is currently more appealing then the Muskie Expo....well...yeah, I'm sure it is! ;-)

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[Tommy Mac]

"A"Man, have a good trip to NY. Been to the big apple once, Hope that I never have to go back there for anything.

I had the Muskie Expo pegged for the wrong weekend anyway. Turns out it is next weekend. Good thing I didn't jump into the 'burb and head out early for Blaine. Take Care, TM.

[RJ]

Great ideas from all!! I'm a pipe insulations user myself. Just to keep the ball rolling on the whole spinner topic, I have added a new post to the forum regarding any ideas on bouncer storage systems any of you use that you would like to share. If they are anything like the spinner storage, there should be some great ideas. Please post on it if you can help!!!

[Backwater Eddy]

I keep my dottom bouncers in a water proff 30 or 60 cal mil amo-box.

In another box I store them 2" pipe wraps & spinners, 3-way's, cut to fit inside zip locks. I write length's & line wt. ect on the bags for referance.

I also pre-tie lots of cat leaders in this maner also to save time on the water.

The amo case's store well in most boat lockers.

Backwater Eddy