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Tackle Block Tips
By Tomas McIntosh
When I first started Murray cod fishing, my biggest issue was the lack of storage options for big soft plastics in my kayak. Big, realistic soft plastics dominate cod fishing in the winter months, when the big cod push up shallow in search of food. Storage of larger plastics, such as the ZMan 7" DieZel MinnowZ and ZMan 8" Mag SwimZ calls for a new plan as they don't fit in the standard ZMan binders that are designed for the smaller packets of plastics. Keeping baits in their original packet ensures the maximum swimming action by preserving their shape in an unkinked state. The TT Deluxe ZMan Tackle Block has your big bait needs covered and so much more.
My Deluxe Tackle Block is utilised to store all of my cod soft plastics, from 5" to 8" in length, along with spinnerbaits, leader, scent and all of the tools required for chasing cod (which is a lot). It is my one stop shop, covering all of my needs for a day on the water. My Tackle Block was able to carry the bare minimum of gear, while still covering all of my soft plastics and spinnerbait needs tenfold, yet it is still compact (20cm x 40cm) and will fit into the rear cargo section of any size kayak. The water-resistant shell and heavy-duty base ensure that storage all internal items are stored in a water safe manner. I was confident in storing expensive items such as mobile phones in the Tackle Block, knowing the water wasn't easily able to get inside. The Tackle Block also features a sturdy carry handle, along with the tough and durable water resistant outer shell. Overall it is extremely sturdy and can be loaded with a significant amount of tackle.
I am utilising the large, clear internal pocket on the inside top of the lid to store a large collection of unrigged spinnerbaits. This sturdy pocket holds a range of spinnerbaits, in a variety of colours and weights, sealed with a strong Velcro zip. The clear, tough liner allows you to easily see through and locate whatever you need, while ensuring that hook points do not penetrate through.
The mesh pocked in the back of the bag is perfect for storing larger tools, such as long nose pliers, side cutters, lip grips, gloves and scissors. The main internal section has Velcro tabs inside that allow you to customise compartment sizes to suit tackleboxes or any of your favourite fishing accessories. The main internal compartment will hold up to 30 standard packets of ZMan plastics. Inside my Tackle Block I am storing 8 packets of 7" DieZel MinnowZ, which fit in the same direction as the smaller packs, along with about 15 packets of smaller plastics that I run as trailers on my spinnerbaits.
Inside the main compartment I am also storing my leader material and scents. It is always important to store leader in a place out of direct sunlight, to avoid damage to the material. My favourite feature of the Tackle Block is how it can store packets of 8" Mag SwimZ. Unlike standard ZMan plastics, the 8" Mag SwimZ comes in a large clam shell plastic case and these can be stored by sitting them in the top of the inside section.
The TT Deluxe ZMan Tackle Block is an awesome addition for any angler, to help organise and store all of your favourite fishing accessories. It has the ability to condense all of your tackle into one concise and compact place. The ability to customise the internal segments ensures that you can store all of your favourite pieces of tackle with ease. Next time you are in your local tackle shop, check out the TT Tackle Block, you won't be disappointed.
Cheers, Tomas