BassFans, by nature, are outdoors people. And just like us, they take storage seriously. There's just nothing in the world more frustrating than losing (or forgetting) a key piece of tackle. And if you fish tournaments, lost minutes and forgotten tackle can equal lost money. So it usually makes sense to spend at least a few extra dollars to upgrade from your cracked and slime-coated flat plastic trays.
One storage product we recently had the chance to test was the 3258 FlipSider Hybrid Satchell from Plano.
The Name
It goes without saying that the Plano name has been synonymous with tackle storage for about as long as we can remember – all the way back to the 7777 and 747 boxes. Of course, you couldn't own one of the boxes if you didn't have a jumpsuit to go along with it.
Fast-forward to the present day and Plano's still on the cutting edge – its premium products have incorporated key elements of new-age industrial design. That's the first thing about the 3258 that we noticed – the combination of soft and hard materials in a simple, graceful, Apple-computer inspired shape.
It was stable on the upright, and looked like it could take a beating.
Next, we put it to the test.
On The Water
We took the 3258 FlipSider on a recent trip to Alabama's Lake Jordan. We'd be there for a pre-spawn bite, so we loaded up with everything we thought we'd need.
In fact, as a true test, we limited ourselves over 2 days to only what we could fit in one 3258.
We used the top rows of storage – the ones under the amber lid – for hardbaits, and were surprised to see the compartments could fit most jerkbaits. In all, we stacked deep, medium and shallow cranks, plus Rat-L-Traps and jerkbaits, and felt there was quite a bit of tackle right at our fingertips.
Ultimately, we stored our bigger deep-divers on the same side, but under the final FlipSider compartment.
Once you close the amber lid, you can then unzip the satchell at the center to reveal more storage options. We were stoked that a waterproof spinnerbait box, and three small ProLatch utility boxes, came packed in the 3258. That's where we stored our Chatterbaits, trailers, jigs, hooks, sinkers, and other bits and pieces.
We also opened the internal zipper to reveal a thin, but significant storage area for worm bags or other flat items. There's a spot for tools too. And we stuffed extra bags of plastics in and around the spinnerbait and utility boxes, along with some spare spools and line.
Day Box Advantage
Overall, we found the 3258 to be a nearly ideal 2-day box. We could quickly grab our "go-to" lures without rummaging around. Since they were stored in the individual FlipSider compartments, we never had to wrestle two baits apart. and we had confidence that the satchel could bang around without breaking.
It's a great system for tournament anglers of all levels, and especially co-anglers who need a compact, durable, but efficient storage system.
Notable
> The waterproof zippers are sealed.
> Currently, the only color option is burnt-orange/black.
> The rubber feet aren't just for durability. They help keep the satchell from sliding on long runs.
> The suggested retail price is around $49.99. Many fine retails carry it, including Cabela's.
> For more information on this and other Plano products, visit www.planomolding.com.
