8. Plastics & Jighead Storage

When it comes to storing your soft plastics and jigheads there are a stack of storage options available, and some important things to remember. In this chapter we will take a closer look at storing and caring for your plastics and jigheads, some popular storage options, and some tips to get the most out of your gear.

Soft Plastic Storage

ZMan soft plastics are constructed from a unique ElaZtech material, that has benefits that include 10X Tough durability, super-soft and flexibility realistic feel, and a natural buoyancy that brings them to life in the water, while creating a natural ‘tail up’ or ‘claws up’ pose, when at rest on the bottom, to attract fish and trigger strikes.

ElaZtech also requires some basic care to maximise its longevity, including separation from other plastics that it may react with, and avoiding extreme heat when storing and transporting your plastics. We recommend that ZMan plastics are kept in their original packets, with their internal plastic trays designed to maintain the shape and action of the plastic. To cater for this storage, while in the original packs, we have developed a range of binders, blocks and bags that allow you to easily organise, transport and access your soft plastics.

ZMan also produce a selection of rigged plastics, including the Mulletron LT and PrawnZ Elite, that come in innovative packaging that can be used for storage. The clam shells that these plastics come in have tabs that can be clipped in to lock the clam closed, protecting the plastic and allowing it to be stored in binders, trays and bags.

Deluxe ZMan Binder

This is a simple and effective way to store ZMan plastics in their packets, featuring heavy-duty binder rings that fit the pre-punched, reinforced holes located in the bottom corners of the packet. Clip the plastics into the zip up binder and you can flick through, select your packet, open the resealable zip lock top on the packet and access the plastics quickly and easily, without having to remove them from the binder, where they can be misplaced or blow off the deck.

Available in a small (single) and large (double) version, with the small holding about 10-15 packets, and the large double that, these binders feature durable, water-resistant construction, carry handle, quality SBS zips and an internal pocket for storing leader, scent and other accessories. A tip for those fishing ZMan plastics in larger packets, such as the 7” Scented Jerk ShadZ or 7” DieZel MinnowZ, you can utilise the first and third ring in the large binder to clip these in, removing the other two rings and making the most of the leftover space to store leader, scent and other accessories.

Binders are popular for loading into backpacks, kayaks and other small watercraft, with some boat anglers running multiple binders into a plastic tub, with each binder labelled for ease of locating tackle. These are a great grab and go option that can be set up for specific applications, species and adventures.

Deluxe Tackle Block

Stepping up from the binders and we have the Tackle Block option, which is a favourite for anglers fishing from boats and larger vessels. This structured soft case has a durable, water-resistant outer shell and reinforced base, heavy-duty SBS zips, carry handle and an external rear mesh pocket that is ideal for storing scent, tools and other accessories.

Internally the Tackle Block has a transparent pocket in the lid, with a Velcro closure, that is ideal for scent, leader and accessories, with an open format in the main compartment, with two adjustable dividers included. The internal compartment has been designed to be the same width as the ZMan standard packet, allowing you to fit 30+ packets of plastics inside, with the dividers allowing you to separate models or styles, such as curl tails, paddle tails and crustaceans, or small, medium and large plastics.

The dividers can be moved to allow larger ZMan packets to tun the length of the bag, based on the fishing that you do, with the remaining space utilised for standard packs or other accessories. Personally, I like to have one Tackle Block set up with plastics and a second with the divider set to house four TT Small Split Foam Tackle Trays that contain jigheads, blades and small vibes, with the remaining space housing leader and scent.

The Tackle Block offers excellent flexibility to customise the set up to suit the fishing that you do or set up multiple Tackle Blocks for different applications. With all binders and bags, it’s important to remember to give the zips a spray and run the zip the full length occasionally to keep everything running smoothly.

Tackle Sling Bag

We designed this storage solution for anglers on the move and it has become a favourite in the range due to its versatility and functionality, packed with features that include a pliers pocket with Velcro strap, three D ring attachment points, and a built-in rod holder that allows you to stow your rod and reel away from water, sand and mud when rigging and managing fish.

I utilise the large pocket for a water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, first aid and snacks, with the two from pockets holding fishing tackle, with a TT Small Split Foam Tackle Tray in one front pocket, with scent and leader. The other front pocket comfortably holds a handful of ZMan soft plastics and I’m ready for an adventure. All pockets feature quality SBS zips.

This is a great option for land-based anglers. It’s comfortable with wide, padded strap, which is adjustable to suit the individual, and the Sling Bag allows you to keep everything organised and easily accessible.

Jighead Storage

When it comes to storing jgheads I keep a bulk supply of my go-to jigheads at home and top up my trays as required, rather than carry everything with me on each adventure. Even when away on fishing adventures, I will carry enough for a session with me in my kit, with back up jigheads in my Tackle Storage Bag at our base. Here’s a couple of my go-to tray options for storing jigheads.

Waterproof Tackle Trays

Made from durable UV stabilised materials, with watertight lids and four lockdown points, TT Waterproof Tackle Trays are available in small, medium and large sizes, with plenty of internal space and adjustable compartments, allowing you to use them for jigheads, along with blades, metal lures, stickbaits and more.

A cool accessory for setting up these trays is the TT Jighead ID Labels, allowing you to label each compartment, making it quick and easy to locate your chosen weight and hook size. With plenty of available space in each compartment I will often store multiple colours, head weights or hook sizes in one compartment, that can be easily identified. For example, my go-to hook size for 2.5” ZMan plastics is a finesse 1/0, so I may have 1/8oz, 1/6oz and 1/4oz 1/0 jigheads in a single compartment, as they are easily identified by their head size and weight moulded into the head weight.

Split Foan Tackle Trays

The TT Split Foam Tackle Trays have rapidly become a favourite, winning the People’s Choice Award for Best Tackle Storage at AFTA 2024, they allow you to lay out and secure you jigheads in order, protecting the points and making selection simple. They are constructed from UV stabilised, impact resistant materials, with secure locking tabs and high-density foam inserts with deep slits for securing hooks.

The shallow small and shallow medium trays are favourites, with their slim design perfect for small to medium jigheads, along with the range of TT blades and smaller Quake Power Vibes. These shallow trays have lids that can be opened using the latch on either side, or with both latches open the lid can be removed, which is handy when loading the tray.

Four small shallow trays fit neatly into a Deluxe Tackle Block, so I will often run one loaded with small jigheads, another with medium jigheads, one with blades and one with small soft vibes. Alternatively, you could split them into painted heads, Ned Rig jigheads, Hidden Weight System jigheads, finesse jighead, HD jigheads, or whatever suits your fishing style and target species.

The medium shallow tray allows storage or more jigheads, and especially more medium size jigheads, while the larger model (Large) has both increased size and depth, making it ideal for offshore anglers and other anglers wishing to load larger jigheads, along with other larger soft vibes and hard bodies.

Gear Storage

Tackle Storage Bags allow you to carry multiple binders or trays on your adventures, whether it be on a boat, fishing the beach in a vehicle, or as a base camp kit for other adventures. TT Tackle Storage Bags are available in Standard (22L) and Large (36L), and are constructed from durable, water-resistant materials, with a hard moulded base, SBS zips, carry handles and a removable shoulder strap.

These bags are ideal for clothes, reels and other gear when travelling, or load them up with everything you need for fishing from the boat, 4WD or another vehicle. A rear mesh pocket is ideal for drying wet items or storing tools and accessories, while front and side pockets expand the versatility of this bag, with quick access to tools, scent, leader and other accessories. An internal pocket in the lid provides additional storage, with bungee on top of the bag perfect for a rain jacket or a tray that you access frequently.

The Standard (22L) size holds four Large Waterproof Tackle Trays, while the Large (36L) holds five Large and one Medium Waterproof Tackle Tray or mix and match a stack of binders and trays to suit your requirements. These bags are perfect for throwing in the boat or car for your next adventure, whether loaded with trays and binders, reels and accessories, clothes or other gear.

That's a quick breakdown on how I store my soft plastics, jigheads and other gear to keep it in good condition, organised and easy to access. Hopefully this helps you to get your gear sorted so that you can maximise your time on the water and get stuck into a few more fish.

See you on the water...
Cheers, Justin