The Rhino Tackle Tote serves up instant fishing excitement
wherever you go

Date: |
5/9/05 |
Tackle type: |
Storage + Rod
& Reel |
Manufacturer: |
Rhino |
Reviewer: |
JIP |
Total Score: 8.41 +
BEST VALUE AWARD
Introduction:
Whether you frequently travel or enjoy shore fishing... then you have to check out this handy new combo from
Rhino. The Tackle Tote Storage system plus rod and reel combo is an astounding
value for an entire
package. It's compact, well organized, feature rich, and comes with a shocking price
tag under $50! Come join us as we put the Rhino "TT" system to work.
Rhino Tackle
Tote Storage System (RSP30TT)
Specifications |
Type |
Storage |
Pockets |
10
available |
Tackle Boxes |
2
(7" X 4.24" X 1") |
Plastic Worm Bags |
10
(zipping) |
Colors |
Red
& Black |
Features |
Worm
wallet, Heavy-duty utility handle, 3-D utility rings, Mesh pockets,
Ergonomic/Padded shoulder strap, Spinning rod & reel |
RSP30
Spinning Reel
Specifications |
Line
Capacity |
4/230, 6/175, 8/160 |
Gear
Ratio |
5.5:1 |
Bearings |
3 |
Line
(pre-spooled) |
8 lb
test mono |
Additional Features |
Continuous Anti-Reverse, Forged Aluminum spool, Rhino front adjustment drag,
Soft-touch crank knob |
Indestructible Pack Rod (RNS604M-GWG4)
Specifications |
Length |
6' |
Line
Weight |
8-20
lb |
Lure
Weight |
1/4-3/4 oz |
Pieces |
4 |
Action |
Moderate |
Power |
Medium |
Warranty |
1
year limited warranty |
Price |
$49.99 |

Introducing the Rhino Tackle Tote
package for under $50 (Lures and terminal tackle not included)
Impressions: This is our very first review
of a Rhino
fishing product, so we were not exactly sure just what to expect. The Tackle
Tote storage system is attractive in appearance, and proudly displays Rhino's
aggressive colors and a heap of pockets throughout the bag's construction which
are designed to hold just about anything. The bag also featured D-rings
for attaching accessories, a worm wallet with 10 zipper bags, and plenty of
straps. The
compact storage bag runs 24 inches in length by 8 inches in width. You can carry
the Rhino system either by hand via a heavy-duty rigid handle or toss it over
your shoulder for extended distances. The shoulder strap and backing are well
padded for greater comfort and Rhino adds a snap lock buckle for convenience.
Unzipping the main compartment we first noticed the
4 piece spinning rod neatly secured on two ends. The reel and 2 tackle boxes are
held in their own secured sections with access from both inside and outside of
the Tackle Tote.

The TT storage bag holds the 4
piece rod, spinning reel, 2 boxes, worm wallet, and much more
The combination comes with Rhino's RSP30 spinning
reel that's pre-spooled with 8 pound test monofilament fishing line. This budget
reel comes with features such as Continuous Anti-Reverse, a forged aluminum spool,
and a large ergonomic crank knob.
From our initial inspection of the rod, it first
appeared to be like any other spinning rod. But as we put the rod pieces
together, we noticed something atypical. The ferrule connecting system is
designed so the two pieces won't join as one at the thread wrap. (more on this
in our actual tests)
Field Tests: The Tackle Tote combo can be applied to many situations.
Leaving it in the car for those after work runs, shore fishing, trekking those
hidden trails to hit honey holes, use on the boat, and much more. We put the
Rhino system up against species from
stocked trout to largemouth bass in local city lakes, as well as stress tested
the entire outfit by tossing jerkbaits for stripers.

The combination comes with a Rhino
branded
spinning reel
The Reel:
Before we even begin, let's keep in mind how much this entire combination costs.
Yes, the RSP30 is a budget reel that houses 3 bearings. The retrieves are decent
but a little noisy and it's not free flowing and frictionless like you might be used to in higher priced reels. The Continuous Anti-Reserve on the reel is
excellent, showing no signs of back-play. The drag washer on the Rhino spinning
reel is adequate for most species one might fish for with 8lb test line, and
smooth enough to release line when fish run. The reel also features a clicking
drag knob that we welcome when making on the fly adjustments. Casting with this reel is not a problem, and even
though we recommend you to manually flip the bail back, a crank of the handle
returned the bail back into position every time. The overall construction of the
reel, like any other budget reel, is constructed out of plastic, but we found it
reasonably durable and felt solid in our hands.

Though not the most attractive,
the dowel-like system provides a sure grip of the sections
The Rod: The four piece Rhino spinning rod is compact and easy to put
together via the ferrule system. Even though the joining design isn't the most
attractive, it provides a very secure solution. The dowel-like connection
accommodate for the stretching that occurs in any multi-piece rod. We made many
casts and never once did any of the sections fly off like we've experienced in
the past with other multi-sectional rods.
Being medium in power and moderate in action the
rod has a very soft whippy feel. When casting lures we were able to fling big
and small lures a good distance, even undersized Kastmasters as we targeted
stocked trout in urban lakes. When battling a fish, the Rhino "Indestructible" rod
arcs nicely, putting the proper pressure on the fish to tire it out, and when
the fish decides to run the rod does all the work in taking the stress off your
wrist, all thanks to the combination of the E-glass outer shell and responsive graphite
core.

The bag sports a worm wallet that
holds 10 zipper plastic bags to hold your plastic worms, grubs, etc. The bag
also comes with a large mesh pocket to hold water bottles and can be further
secures with a compression strap
The Design & Layout:
Honestly the Tackle Tote storage bag is my favorite element among the entire system.
The tackle bag is filled with many practical pockets and features that
make it a great bag to use while on the go. Many shore anglers carry standard school backpacks
where you have maybe two or three main compartments which can make organizing
and finding small items
difficult. The Rhino Tackle Tote storage system solves this problem. Starting
from the bag's exterior, the lower section houses a wallet with 10 fairly
thick zipper bags that will hold your favorite plastics. We were able to hold
more than enough bags of plastic worms, grubs, lizards, and Senkos for days of
fishing. Aside from organizing plastics we found it very useful to hold lures like spinnerbaits as well. In addition the flap on the wallet has a mesh compartment where you can
store additional accessories such as extra worm hooks.
Moving on up there are two mesh pockets, one small
and one large. The small pocket is very useful for holding bottled scent,
sunscreen, or any small accessories. The larger mesh pocket is actually a water
bottle holder, and can hold a range of different size bottles. This mesh bag
also features a compression strap to keep those smaller bottles in place.
Furthermore the front side has two D-rings where we were able to attach items
such as tools, additional water bottles for those long hikes, a fishing license,
or even a small net. Smartly designed, a compression web is placed under one of
the D-rings to hold larger and heavier items that are clipped onto the D-ring and
prevent it from swinging as you move around.

When not carrying the Tackle Tote
on your shoulder, you can use the firm handle to transport the bag
Along the shoulder strap you will find even more storage
space. These pockets are designed for tools that you mostly use when you're out fishing.
Near chest level there's a pocket where you can slip in a set of needle nose
pliers and we found it was easy to draw them when it was time to remove a hook from the fish. The
pliers held in place tightly and when bending down to land a fish the pliers
will not accidentally slip out.
What one electronic device do many people carry
with them today? That item is probably mobile phones/cellular phones. Near the waist you'll
find a little pocket that secures closed courtesy of a Velcro flap. If not using it for your cell phone, anglers can also
fit a two-way radio in this pocket.

The bag comes with many practical
pockets and compartments. The pocket near the waist can hold 2-way radios to
cellular phones. Also handy clips and D-rings are on the bag for easy attachment
of additional accessories
Ergonomics: When you put on the Tackle Tote you know Rhino had comfort in
mind when the bag was designed. The pack is very form fitting
and comfortable to toss over your shoulders. Both the shoulder strap and back of
the bag are well padded and porous to keep sweat from building up when worn all day. We liked how
the entire loaded bag felt as we hiked
through trails. The bag doesn't swing around since you are able
to adjust the shoulder strap to fit firmly and comfortably against your body. Some backpacks have thin
shoulder straps that give you sore shoulders after a full day of wear, but with
the TT system it never comes to that point because the strap has a wide section where it
lays on your shoulders, efficiently distributing the weight evenly. We also welcome the lower part of the strap where it's
also well padded that rests on part of your lower ribs and hip bone (of course
depending on your height).
For those days where you carry the Tackle Tote
onto your buddy's boat or to your vehicle, the bag comes with a ruggedly built
handle. This heavy-duty rigid handle is firm, thick, and very comfortable to
grasp when transporting the bag short distances.

The TT bag is very ergonomic. We
like the wide shoulder strap, and both the strap and backing of the bag are well
padded
Durability: The durability of the storage
bag is excellent. Very well constructed with heavy duty components, exact single
and double stitching, and the bag's main body's material is top notch. We put
the Tackle Tote through tight hiking trails where branches would scratch against
the bag, tossed it around the truck bed, and more. The TT system held up nicely
without damage on the bag or the interior contents.

The durability of the rod is great
thanks to the E-glass and graphite core construction. The bag is also made of
very hardly material
The plastic worm wallet will be a section you'll
probably use much. Throughout our test period we must have opened and closed
these plastic zip bags over 100 times. No problems here with its durability. The
plastic bags are thick and unless you aggressively rip it open, they won't easily
tear. The zip bags are held in place via two binder-like rings. Will these
plastic bags break off from these rings? Unlikely, we even tried hard to just for
our tests. Not only are there metal supporting rings, a thin strip of nylon
strap runs across giving it an additionally sound construction, preventing those
plastics bags from tearing out when you dig through for your favorite plastics.
There's only one thing that we found might become
an issue in the long run. The small mesh bag only has an elastic rim to hold
your belongings from falling out. But in the future this elastic piece might
lose its stretch characteristics. After 3 months of use, we haven't noticed any
degradation yet, but with prolonged use it'll get there.

The tackle boxes can be accessed
either inside or outside of the bag
The "Indestructible" rod held up nicely during our
field tests. The E-glass skin and graphite core design displayed great
durability. The ferrule system provides a nice and secure way to hold the rod
pieces together and we saw no hairline cracks in the rod even when stressed.
Price: The bottom line... the price on the entire Rhino Tackle Tote system is unbelievable! At
under $50 dollars, you get an attractive, ergonomic, and durable bag that has many
compartments to hold all your fishing necessities, a four piece indestructible
pack rod, a Rhino spinning reel, a wallet for plastics, two tackle boxes for
lures, terminal tackle, and more. No other combo quite like this is available
today, and the Rhino system has others beat in the sheer bang for the buck
category.
Ratings:
Rhino Tackle
Tote (RSP30TT) Ratings
(?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
The
TT bag is well constructed and very durable. The components used are also
rugged. The plastic worm zip bags are excellent in quality. The reel is
housed in a plastic body but is durable and solid. The rod feature's Rhino's
indestructible construction that is armor tough. |
8 |
Performance |
The
reel isn't your top notch reel, but for the price, it's decent. The reel
doesn't have the smoothest retrieve coming from 3 bearings, but the drag and
anti-reverse system is quite good. The rod holds together nicely with the
ferrule system and has a great whipping action to cast big and small lures. The bag, performed
excellent when you wear it or care it around via the handle. |
8.5 |
Price |
Less than $50 for bag, rod, and reel. Absolutely incredible value! |
10 |
Features |
The
bag features many practical compartments that allow you to carry and
separate your tackle. It also comes with 2 tackle boxes and 10 plastic zip
bags. The reel has basic necessary features, but the rod has more with the
dowel-like joint, indestructible core, and woven e-glass skin. |
8 |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
Excellent in ergonomics is what I can say about the bag. It's well padded,
form fitting, and pockets that hold most used tools are placed in easy to
reach positions. The rod and reel is well balanced. The oversize handle knob on the
spinning reel is comforting |
8 |
Application |
The
entire combination can be applied to many species of fish and can be taken
on boats or used for shore fishing |
8 |
Total Score |
8.41 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Impressive and Practical storage system |
L
Elastic rim will eventually lose
tension |
J
Great for traveling, shore fishing, or
carrying in your car |
L
Budget reel |
J
Great Value!!! |
|
J
Ergonomic bag |
|
J
Armor tough rod construction |
|
Conclusion: The Rhino Tackle Tote system is our very first
review of a Rhino product and we were quite impressed with the total offering's
overall value from start to finish. The
rod and reel performed up to par considering cost, but boy oh boy, the
Tackle Tote storage bag is very well organized and could go for 40 bucks just by
itself. It's definitely a very practical bag
with many pockets and compartments designed to be highly functional. The entire bag is
compact for travel, very comfortable to wear all day, and extremely durable in
design. This complete package deserves TackleTour's Best Value Award
simply because for under 50 dollars you get the useful storage bag, a worm wallet that
can hold plastics and spinnerbaits, two tackle boxes, a spinning rod, a reel
pre-spooled with line. For under 50 dollars anglers can afford to be ready to
fish anytime and anywhere. Rhino may be well known for building "tough" tackle
but the Tackle Tote System proves they are a "tough" act to follow when it comes
to the incredible value as well.

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