I hunt saltwater fish with plugs. I hunt freshwater fish with plugs. I hence have more plugs than my wife has shoes. However, to my wife’s delight, I have my own storage solution. I use custom plug crates.
To build your own custom plug crate, you only need some simple tools and inexpensive materials.
Tools
- Miter Jig and Handsaw
- Power Drill
- 1/8″ x 12″ Drill Bit
Materials
- Milk Crate
- 10′ PVC Gutter Drain Tube
- 11 3/4″ x 11 3/4″ plexiglass (0.80″ thick)
The first step in building your custom plug crate is to cut a total of 20 lengths from the PVC gutter drain tube. The best tool for this is a simple miter jig and handsaw; a power miter saw will chip the PVC gutter drain tube. If you have plugs of various lengths and you want to maximize a 10′ length of PVC gutter drain tube, then cut the following lengths:
- Three 8″ lengths
- Five 7″ lengths
- Five 6″ lengths
- Six 5″ lengths
The second step is to prepare the bottom panel of the plug crate. Insert the 11 3/4″ x 11 3/4″ plexiglass into the milk create to cover the bottom. (Be sure to have the piece cut to size for you!). Insert the 20 square tubes into the milk create and arrange them to maximize the space. Using a 12″ long 1/8″ thick drill bit and power drill, drill two holes into the plexiglass for each square tube. This will prevent the tail hooks of your plugs from snagging the bottom of the milk crate and provide drainage.
This low cost and easy to build plug storage solution has several advantages. First, scale-ability: you can stack up to 4 plug crates on a 12″ x 12″ foot print. That’s a log of plugs! Second, portability: you can easily transport your plugs to and from your truck, boat, or kayak. And lastly, low maintenance: after a day on the water, put the plugs into the crate, wash them down with a hose, and let them dry until the next trip. That was easy! 😉
