Columbia Customs,
a better way to store line-through swimbaits
| Date: |
12/1/09 |
| Tackle type: |
Storage |
| Manufacturer: |
Columbia
Custom Tackle |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Score (Standard): 7.16 -
GOOD
Score (Line-Through): 8.0 -
INNOVATION AWARD!
Introduction:
Columbia Custom Tackle is
a relative newcomer to the tackle storage scene and brings to market four new
boxes designed for organizing and protecting swimbaits, two of them specifically
intended for hard to store line-through type big baits.
|
Columbia Custom Tackle 6" Swimbait Box
Specifications
(line-through version in parentheses) |
|
Size |
14”L x 9.13”W x
3.25”H |
|
Materials |
Impact-resistant
polypropylene |
|
Storage Compartments |
1 main compartment |
|
Water Resistant |
Yes |
|
Color |
Clear/Red Hinges |
|
Capacity |
16 baits (12 line through baits) |
|
Price as tested |
$31.99 ($34.99) |
Columbia Custom tackle is new to
the tackle storage scene and comes to market with two boxes, one designed with
clips for traditional soft bodied swimbaits and another for line through
swimbaits
Impressions:
If you have fallen under
the spell of swimbaits and the big-fish they are capable of catching then
chances are you have more then a handful of baits, and properly storing them all
can be an issue. With so many different types of swimbaits it is hard to find a
solution to properly address them all. Columbia tackles some of these swimbaits
with two different boxes, which are each available in 6 or 10 inch styles.
Columbia's box can handle popular
Osprey line through swimbaits
Columbia
starts with Plano 3700 class waterproof storage boxes and customizes them with
one of two implementations to better hold swimbaits. These boxes all have
dimensions of 14”L x 9.13”W x 3.25”H and feature an o-ring that surrounds the
entire lip and to apply proper pressure to create a waterproof seal the box has
three latches, one on each side (except for the hinge side).
Feed the wire through the bait...
The Columbia boxes are
designed for top hook or line through swimbaits rather than hard swimbaits with
multiple treble hooks. While the box can hold treble hooked equipped swimbaits
they will tangle if the box is not held upright at all times. The first version
of the box (what we will refer to as the standard swimbait box in this review)
make use of a bar with clips. The 6” version has 16 of these clips along the
bar, each is separated by a plastic spacer to ensure baits are properly spaced.
This implementation is similar to the Markey’s single swimbait box.
...bend the wire upwards and your
bait is stowed, it is that easy
The second version is
designed specifically for line through swimbaits like the popular Osprey Inline
Talons. Most anglers stuff these lures in traditional Plano boxes which can
cause damage to the baits. I’ve personally damaged a few of them by just tossing
them on top of each other and had the hooks pierce each other or left them for
so long the tails were bent over unnaturally.
We had a few extra slots and found
we could use the wires to stow standard soft bodied swimbaits just as easily
On this particular box
instead of using clips Columbia cleverly attaches copper wiring that is coated
in plastic to the top stainless steel bar. The wire is designed to slot through
the bait where you would normally insert your fishing line. Once inserted a bend
at the end will hold the baits in place side by side.
The wire makes for versatile
storage, here we stow Castaic Catch 22 line through swimbaits right through the
head
