JW Outfitters Ultimate Tarpon Tackle Bag

What travelling anglers really need is tackle bag that can be used as an on-flight bag when boarding planes and ferries, but also be highly functional for working with when while fishing. Before we go any further, this bag is about as close to perfection as we've found so far.

The Tarpon bag is formed on a similar principle to a camera bag. It is built around rigid foam walls and floor with internal foam adjustable dividers using Velcro. The base is protected by a waterloo hide type material rising 2inches up from the base of the bag to stop water soaking in to the base when the bag is placed on the deck or shore. The main material is a super tough PVC impregnated 1200 denier nylon giving good abrasion and puncture resistance. We also found the material easy to keep clean with a simple sponge down after use.

This bag can carry masses of gear. The inside storage area is split in to two with a lower and upper compartment. The whole area is 10ins deep by 10ins wide. The dividers in the lower section are 5ins high. I fitted an International 16S and a 30SW in the base, plus two large arbor fly reels and an ABU 7000, just to give you some idea of the capacity. A Velcro hinged dividing floor separates the two compartments.

The hinged divider becomes the floor for the upper compartment. This has a black powder coated alloy tray on, the tray measuring 15" x 9" x 3". You can stack small lure boxes, fly boxes and other accessories in to the tray and simply lift it out when you need access to the base.

The closing flap of the bag on the inside carries two long mesh pockets held in place by Velcro. These are ideal for leaders, hook packets and other items likely to be used frequently that need instant identification. The pockets are zipped for security. The flap is closed using quality plastic zip.

There are no less than seven exterior pockets available. On the outside edges of the closing flap are two more zipped mesh pockets, with another long pocket, fully enclosed with a zip fastening along the front. At each end of the bag are large pannier type zipped pockets for lure or fly boxes, even spare reels spools for easy access. The closing flap on top also houses a zipped map pocket, with another document pocket across the back.

A secondary flap along the front of the bag holds in place a drop down storage pocket with small slot pockets sewn in to the front of the main bag for scissors, pliers etc, a full length mesh pocket held by Velcro along the inside of the flap, plus a full length closed zip pocket on the outside, with a further full length mesh pocket in front of this. In the side supports at each end is a pigtail cord for attaching accessory items. There are fastening buckles on the front to secure the main flap, which can also be used to secure rods for ease of carrying. All the external pockets are accessible without having to unzip the top.

A critical point on bags is the carrying strap. Anglers always seem able to fully fill a bag and the weight inside can be excessive. Bags with weak strap anchorages soon tear free. This tarpon bag has both a briefcase type carrying handle securely sewn in the top flap of the bag, but also extends to the edges and connects to a buckle strap sewn in to the sides of the bag. This spreads the weight and load producing a strong anchorage to carry the full weight of the loaded bag. The main shoulder strap is a generous 2-inch wide nylon type with a pad for comfort.

The overall size of the bag measures out at 16" x 10" x 11". It is available in Navy blue, sand or spruce colours with black straps.

JW Outfitters chose the name well. We've seen many bags over the years, but this is about as close to the ultimate in our opinion. We've found it excellent aboard boat, on the shore, riverbank, and for carrying general items like cameras on reels on to planes, buses and ferries.