Soft shoulder tackle bags that carry a stack of 3600 or 3700 utility trays, for the angler whose starter box is full. Ranked from a compact one-tray case to a 12-tray boat bag.
Most anglers buy a tackle bag the same way: the starter box is full, the lid will not close over the worms, and there are now three loose utility trays rattling around the truck. A soft tackle bag fixes that by carrying those trays upright in one place, with pockets for pliers, spools and a bag of plastics. This page is only about that shape: a bag with a shoulder strap and handles that sits on a dock or a boat deck. If you want the trays on your back, the backpacks and slings have their own guide, and hard boxes and stocked starter kits live on the beginner tackle box page.
The decision that matters most is tray size, and it is easy to get wrong. A 3600 utility tray is the smaller one, roughly 11 by 7 inches. A 3700 is the bigger one, roughly 14 by 9 inches, and it is a common choice for sorting crankbaits, jigs and soft plastics. A bag built for 3600s will not take a 3700 at all, so count the trays you already own before you look at anything else. Second, check whether trays come in the box. A bag-only listing is not the full cost if you still need to buy trays.
After that it is capacity and the base. A bag that holds 12 trays is great on a boat and miserable to carry a quarter mile down a bank. A molded or PVC-coated bottom keeps a wet deck from soaking through. Tom has not handled or tested these bags. They are ranked from published specs and the ratings Amazon buyers left, and each listing's tray size and capacity below comes from that listing's own description. Check the current price on Amazon before you buy.
Short on time? Start with these top-rated tackle bags picks.
Plano Guide Series 3700 Tackle Bag (6 Trays Included) is the #1 pick here, on 4.7-star Amazon buyer ratings (484 of them) and one clear job: six trays included for bass.
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KastKing KarryAll Tackle Bag, Medium (Holds 6 3600 Trays) is the #2 pick here, on 4.7-star Amazon buyer ratings (2,154 of them) and one clear job: six 3600 trays for bank anglers.
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KastKing Bait Boss Hawg Tackle Bag, XL (Holds 12 3700 Trays) is the #3 pick here, on 4.7-star Amazon buyer ratings (943 of them) and one clear job: big boat loads of 3700s.
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Quick verdict: Plano Guide Series 3700 Tackle Bag (6 Trays Included) is the #1 pick here, on 4.7-star Amazon buyer ratings (484 of them) and one clear job: six trays included for bass.
Quick verdict: KastKing KarryAll Tackle Bag, Medium (Holds 6 3600 Trays) is the #2 pick here, on 4.7-star Amazon buyer ratings (2,154 of them) and one clear job: six 3600 trays for bank anglers.
Quick verdict: KastKing Bait Boss Hawg Tackle Bag, XL (Holds 12 3700 Trays) is the #3 pick here, on 4.7-star Amazon buyer ratings (943 of them) and one clear job: big boat loads of 3700s.
Quick verdict: KastKing BaitSpace Tackle Bag with Bait Binder, Medium (4 3600 Trays Included) is the #4 pick here, on 4.6-star Amazon buyer ratings (326 of them) and one clear job: soft plastics, with its bait binder.
Quick verdict: Reaction Tackle Water-Resistant Tackle Bag, XL (Holds 12 3700 Trays) is the #5 pick here, on 4.8-star Amazon buyer ratings (300 of them) and one clear job: wet decks, 1000d pvc shell.
Quick verdict: Plano Weekend 3700 Tackle Bag with Molded Waterproof Base is the #6 pick here, on 4.6-star Amazon buyer ratings (140 of them) and one clear job: grab-and-go with one 3700 box.
Quick verdict: Calamus TB61 Tackle Bag (Holds 4 3600 Trays) is the #7 pick here, on 4.6-star Amazon buyer ratings (1,933 of them) and one clear job: compact four-tray bank bag.
Quick verdict: Ghosthorn Waterproof Tackle Bag (4 3600 Trays Included) is the #8 pick here, on 4.7-star Amazon buyer ratings (186 of them) and one clear job: four 3600 trays included.
3600 and 3700 trays are not interchangeable. A 3600 bag cannot swallow a 3700, and a 3700 bag may leave 3600s loose inside it. Count your trays first, then shop.
Five or six trays is a full day of bass fishing and still carries fine on one shoulder. Twelve 3700 trays is a boat bag. Loaded, it is a lot to carry on a long walk.
Three of these bags include trays and five do not. Matching trays are sold separately, so a bag-only price is not the full cost if you still need trays.
The base is what sits in bilge water and on wet docks. A molded or PVC-coated bottom with rubber feet helps keep gear off wet surfaces. A plain fabric bottom may not.
Get a bag built for them, like the Plano Guide Series 3700 or the Bait Boss Hawg. A bag built for 3600s may not take even one.
The KastKing BaitSpace has a removable binder with clear sleeves, so bags of worms and craws stay flat instead of balled up in a pocket.
Stay compact. The KarryAll Medium or the Calamus TB61 carries enough for a day and is easier to carry on a long walk.
Want to browse beyond the ranked picks? Filter and sort the full tackle bags listing below.
A 3700 is the larger utility tray, roughly 14 by 9 inches. A 3600 is the smaller one, roughly 11 by 7 inches. Exact sizes vary a little by brand. A tackle bag is built around one size, so a bag made for 3600s may not take a 3700. Some 3700 bags also list a few 3600s or smaller trays in their pockets. Check the tray sizes on the listing before you buy.
Reader-supported and free of paid placements. Every pick is ranked on published specs and Amazon buyer ratings, not on who pays us.
Each pick is compared on published specs, materials, design, and category fit across the major brands.
Rankings factor in how well each product matches common freshwater fishing needs, not just popularity.
Star ratings and review volume from Amazon buyers are factored in to reflect real-world satisfaction.
A pick earns its spot by delivering useful performance for the money, whether budget or premium.
If you walk banks or wade more than you sit in a boat, a backpack or sling that holds the same trays may suit you better than a shoulder bag.
See Fishing Backpacks