I keep all my plastics in the original package and cram the bags into larger Plano boxes with no sections. Come tournament time - my boat is a mess and I can't find anything.

Is there any reason not to take the plastic out of the package and store them organized in a tackle tray. For example, one 370 tray full of senkos sectioned by different colors.

Do plastics last longer in the bag or does it matter?

All.of my plastics are n plano boxes sorted by color and techniques. I burn through them pretty regularly so I'm constantly restocking. I do keep exra bags in their original package and stored in a plastic shoebox type tub. To me its just easier to grab my box of hyper freaks then it is to dig through the bags looking for the one i need

Yes, because they will lose the juice, scent, and fade.

I find it's easier to put the same type of plasics (in their bag) in a gallon freezer bag, separated by technique.

+1

I have a smaller tackle bag, similar to the ones that everyone loses on Falcon and Fork, that I put my plastics in. I keep them in their original packaging. Now that I have my own boat, I can come up with my own system since storage is no longer an issue.

I'm still trying to find the right technique. I've tried the plastic binder with the original bags. I've tried the plastics directly in the plano boxes. I've tried gallon bags with different styles. If I'm fishing out of my boat, I'll leave my top 3-4 plastics in their original bags stored in my "day box" compartment with my pliers and clippers.

Keeping the plastics directly in the plano box is the easiest way to access and it really condenses down the load. Instead of 4-5 bags I've got 1 box for each style of bait.

Keeping the plastics in the original package seems to prolong the life of the baits but makes it harder to access while on the water.

If I'm co-angling I'll just condense down and only bring a few styles in a few different colors. It makes like a lot easier and less confusing.

+1

The easiest system is to realize that you don't need 17 styles of baits in 4 colors each. Pairing your plastics to 3 or 4 styles and one or two colors makes selection easy. Look at your last year that you fished. I would bet that you have a few baits that you use on a regular basis and that you fish with confidence. After that you have a pile of bags that are missing one or two baits because you thought they looked great but did'nt catch anything on them. Do you really need those baits --just in case--?? Or are you going to fish those baits that you know catch fish.

I picked up a couple of these: http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Plano_FTO_Elite_Speedbag_4807/descpage-P4807.html

Got the little one for my finesse worms. They're awesome.

I currently have them sorted in the bigger Plano boxes by Craws, Worms, Frogs, Swimbaits, Grubs, Tubes, Lizards/Hogs, etc. Then I have 2 or 3 boxes marked "Favorites" that stay up in the front box. Those are the confidence baits and colors.

Yes, I have more plastic than I can possible ever use. But, you know the sickness...."I might need it"

I keep most of my selection in an easy view system inside my lids. I do have a couple boxes for smaller worms. I also keep a large zip loc bag for all my grubs. Very early in the morning I usually choose about 4 plastic baits and put them in my pocket. Beavers and hogs in one pocket and senkos and worms in the other . I usually just fish all day with what's in my pocket.