There are a plethora of tackle and bait storage solutions on the market today. No question. But, when it comes to a low cost, light, non-corroding, water resistant, low maintenance, and multi-functional solution, The Fisherman’s Bucket surpasses the competition:

The low cost, non-corroding, water resistant, and low maintenance features are self-evident. But, how can a simple “bucket” become so versatile and serve multiple functions for a fisherman? The universal use of The Fisherman’s Bucket is to store fish. I became convinced of this when a Japanese man (who did not know a single word of English!) approached me, smiled, bent over, and removed the lid from my bucket. His face turned from excitement to disappointment when his eyes processed the fact that cavernous volume of my bucket was filled with tackle and not fish. Besides fish and tackle storage, The Fisherman’s Bucket serves as a seat, and can be easily rigged for other purposes (e.g. live well or eel bucket).

Some manufactures have realized the versatility of the “bucket” and have produced commercial products. The ones that I have seen have the following features for a price of $19.99:

1. Thin side walls
2. Flexible lid
3. 5 Gallons of storage

Such products will not last the demads of surf fishing. First, surf fisherman also need a sturdy seating platform that is not going to collapse under his or her weight or flip over in the trunks of our vehicles.  Second, surf fisherman need more than 5 gallons of storage volume: we catch big fish and carry a good amount of tackle.

With some basic materials and a few tools, you can create your very own Fisherman’s bucket at a fraction of the cost

Materials

1. 3/8″ Poplyproplylene rope (e.g. camping rope or marine rope)
2. < 5/32″ rope or twine
3. 5 Gallon Bucket
4. 6 Gallon Bucket
5. Bucket Lid
6. Duct tape
7. Foam (e.g. recycled styrofoam trays)

Tools

1. Jigsaw
2. Drill
3. 1/2″ Drill bit
4. 5/32″ Drill bit
5. Utility Knife

Procedure

Remove the metal wire handles from both buckets.  Measure 4.5 inches from the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket and mark the bucket with a black permanent Fisherman’s Bucket marker. Repeat until you go “full circle”.  Using role of tape, just cover the black line with the outside edge of the tape.

Using a 1/2″ drill bit, make a pilot hole just below the duct tape edge and insert the Jigsaw blade into the hole.  Using the edge of the duct tape as a guide, cut off the bottom portion of the 5 gallon bucket. Insert the newly created “bucket extender” into the 6 gallon bucket and align the holes left by the wire hangers. Using a 1/2″ drill bit, enlarge the fist hole; be sure to penetrate the side wall of the “bucket extender”. Repeat for the other side. Remove the bucket extender from the bucket. Using duct tape, secure strips of 1/4 inch thick styrofoam to the side wall of the bucket extender.  This will created a tighter “seal” and reduce “wobbling”.

Insert the bucket extender into the bucket. Align the previously enlarged holes. Insert one end of the 3/8″ rope through the hole and tie a knot on the inside. Run the rope over the top of the bucket an insert the other end of the rope through the other hole and tie a knot.

5/32″ drill bit, make a hole in the back of the lid. Run the twine through the hole and tie a knot. Secure the other end of the twine to 3/8″ rope. This will prevent wind or water from taking the lid to Posidan’s front door. Trust me!

Options

Based on the purpose of the your bucket, there are several varions.

1. If you do not have a 6 gallon bucket, then two five gallon buckets will work fine.  This will just give a shorter seating height, which may be desired based on your height.
2. The less labor intensive option would be to purchase a 7 gallon bucket and simply replace the wire hanlde with the rope handel and attach the lid.  In fact, the 7 gallon bucket has the same height as the 6 gallon/5 gallon bucket combination.
3. If you application is going to be eel transport or storage, I would recommend a black bucket, given that eels take on the color of their surroundings; unless you are looking to produce albino eels.