[ad_1]
I’ve recognized about Lakewood Merchandise sort out containers for a very long time, initially seeing them on-line once I was younger being utilized by surf anglers alongside the Atlantic coast. They had been utilizing the bigger muskie sort out containers to guard their surf plugs, usually pricy and handmade fishing lures. The vertical storage system was fashionable for safeguarding the plugs whereas on the identical time being straightforward to select lures rapidly. As soon as I ended studying into surf fishing a lot and began bass fishing they slipped my thoughts for a very long time. So for a very long time, I used to be simply bouncing between huge cumbersome plastic sort out containers and 3700 sort out trays and purchasing luggage of plastic baits. However for the final 6 months, I’ve been utilizing a brand new sort out field from Lakewood, the Lakewood Mini Sidekick Deal with Field.
The 3700 trays labored okay, I imply everybody is aware of them. Flat plastic trays with adjustable storage slots for stacking lures. The most important downside with them is you simply stack all of your lures on high of one another in them and find yourself having to shake unfastened 6 treble hooks more often than not when a lure snags the others. Or simply that as a result of the lures are laying horizontally and infrequently have house left within the slots in the event that they solo they get a bit extra beat up in journey. Certain the trays work and are low-cost however there are higher choices on the market, so let’s see if the Lakewood Mini Sidekick Deal with Field is that higher possibility.
The Lakewood Mini Sidekick Deal with Field is a special model of sort out field than most anglers are used to, having a vertical storage system as a substitute of a tray system that conventional sort out containers use. Because the “Mini” within the title implies it’s a newer and smaller model of the unique Lakewood’s Sidekick Deal with. Each have an analogous arduous ABS body lined in a sturdy smooth cloth exterior development. The sort out field has three essential storage areas, the primary compartment, two padded facet pouches, and a entrance software pocket. The primary compartment has a big slot that may retailer two 3600 sort out trays on the left, and the proper facet is all of the vertical lure storage. The storage dividers on this half are additionally detachable should you do have bulkier lures that want extra space. The hook slots on the dividers are Lakewood’s Lure Saver design that helps retains your lures in place. Even once I knocked the field over the minimize of the slots stored the hooks in place.
Lakewood Mini Sidekick Deal with Field Key Options
- Lure Saver™ hook slots (Patent Pending) to guard lures from loss or injury
- Detachable/adjustable dividers for hanging lures/baits
- Further hanging storage for spinnerbaits, and so on…
- Further storage for two 3600 sort containers (not included)
- Excellent all-around sort out storage answer for boat, shore, kayak, and extra!
- Zippered facet pockets
- Entrance software pockets
- Heavy obligation webbing handles
- Floats when loaded! (when absolutely zipped)
- Outdoors Case Dimensions: 11.5” L x 11.5” W X 7” H (not together with pockets)
- Two Colours – Grey, Black
- MSRP – $149.99
It shocked me once I first moved over all of the lures I take advantage of most frequently from a few 3700 trays into the Mini Sidekick. I assumed I used to be carrying round lots of lures till I noticed how a lot cupboard space was nonetheless left within the new field. So I simply stored including in additional lures till the field was considerably full. I had no less than 4 trays value of arduous baits within the field and nonetheless had a couple of slots left. The perfect half was every part was neat and tidy, with no snagging, and no overlapping trebles. All of them are simply seen from the highest. Even my giant glide baits and swimbaits match into the field with out a lot concern.
The facet pouches are a superb dimension, tall sufficient to suit clamshell-packaged smooth plastic baits like keitechs and large swimbaits like 7″ Scottsboro Deal with Co. Swimbaits. The entrance software pouch clearly is an efficient spot to stuff a pair of cutters or pliers, I additionally retailer packs of sabiki rigs in it. I arrange my Mini Sidekick with a tray of terminal sort out, a tray of jigs, and spoons within the tray part. All my arduous baits after which in one of many facet pouches packs of soppy plastics and the opposite pouch received spools of chief materials, paracord, and a stringer.
Now simply stuffing a sort out field filled with lures and equipment is nice and all, but it surely’s time to make use of it out on the water. I ran this factor via the largemouth bass prespawn, spawn, and post-spawn on the native lake close to my outdated home, each from shore and from a ship. Extra just lately I’ve been utilizing the field as a rigging station for chasing stripers on the Coosa River. The padded lid of the Mini Sidekick has been a godsend for me not having an absolute mess. The abs panel core and padding work collectively to press into the highest of the lure compartment protecting every part comfortable. So even after touchdown the other way up off my truck tailgate, every part stayed in place. After utilizing the Mini Sidekick for six months I don’t suppose I’ll ever return to traditional-style sort out containers. It’s simply a lot sooner and neater than the flat trays. The tackleboxes additionally float for a bit so long as they’re zipped up. Whereas not waterproof the material and stitching do preserve water out alright for no less than a brief period of time.
Even with every part I like concerning the Mini Sidekick, there are a few issues I’m not a fan of. However one is known as a non-issue in the long term. The very first thing is I don’t just like the pleather deal with wrap for the webbing handles. I perceive it’s used to shut up the webbing handles, however the materials selection is a matter for me. I really feel prefer it’s too smooth and will get in the way in which as a rule when attempting to maneuver the sort out field round rapidly. I really feel like extra inflexible materials would work a bit higher, however truthfully, I might relatively not have it there, to start with. The second factor I don’t like is the open-cell foam used as padding for the facet pouches. The froth is out within the open and will probably break down over time.
The Lakewood guys at ICAST advised me to not fear concerning the foam although. If it had been to interrupt down over time, it could be lined by the lifetime guarantee. Like all Lakewood merchandise, the Mini Sidekick has a lifetime guarantee so if one thing breaks down over time they’ll repair it for you irrespective of what number of years down the road it occurs. Which makes the worth tag of $149.99 much more palatable for me. Actually, if you concentrate on it the contents of your sort out field price much more than that. So a superb sort out field that protects all its contents nicely is value it to me. This may simply be the final general-purpose sort out field I ever personal for freshwater use.
[ad_2]
