Check out Plano waterproof tackle cases. Not only are they adjustable but truly waterproof. In general you want to look at boxes in the 3600 and 3700 size series. If you don't need waterproof, the plain old 3700 and 3600's will do what you want. There are also versions that are almost completely open on the inside so you can fit larger tackle or gear. From there very easy to organize and store in anything from a soft case with a few in them, 14 or 18 gallon Rubbermaid bins all the way up to a large marine cooler holding a dozen or more. If you store them vertically, you just label the top edge of each box with primary contents. For smaller kits Aloksaks rule.
To get up and running fast Adventure Medical kits are great, especially the extended trip versions. I am more than capable of building my own kits and have had plenty of basic first aid training over the course of my life but it is very easy to grab an Adventure Medical kit.
Given a choice between gear and knowledge, I will take knowledge and duct tape and maybe some clean packing material, but even a small knife and my clothing can substitute there. A heavy duty casualty/space blanket. Knowing what to do trumps gear. That is why I like to give the Adventure Medical kits, IF you take the time to go through them and study them, they will help lead you to some knowledge.
I remember some years back being surprised at the time limit on stitching up an open wound when you arrive to the ER these days. In my youth it was around 24 hours, I learned that after going 48 hours with a large hole in my leg. You can really screw yourself up good by stitching a dirty wound. Mine was beyond field stitching anyway and the extreme cold help stop the bleeding but focus on doing more good then bad. Being able to coach others on what to do may also save your butt if you are the one hurt.
Years ago I lost a good friend in a cold water boating accident and I knew in my heart if I could just find him within 45 minutes I could save him. I may not have but I was confident and was going to try. I was 28 and there was around a dozen guys there that day ranging in age from 16 to maybe 50. Most were related in one way or another to each other and the guy who was missing. This was family, I was the new guy to the group, having met them 3 years earlier. I have never forgotten standing in the boat and looking at the guys in their boats as they arrived on the scene and realizing not a one of them knew Jack**** about anything and what to do. They were already beaten by the situation, the 16 year old was his Son too and they all just locked up, suddenly fishing can be deadly. I had already started a search, and sent someone to get help and send others back to me as he went to the launch to find a phone, we had no cell phones with us back then. I had to really work hard to get them to focus and do exactly what I told them. Even with no F'n clue what to do they resisted my leadership and I had to wrangle them hard. An hour later when help arrived the first 5 questions asked of us were exactly the things I had made them do. At that point they knew we were looking for his body unless he had passed out on shore and I had already searched the area he could have made it to and pulled out.
They could have had a boat full of gear and his body on the deck of one of the boats and without me or someone like me with some kind of training, he probably would have died anyway. Knowledge trumps gear.
Last edited:
