Quick View: 5 of the best fishing backpacks for anglers

Best Overall - Wild River by CLC WT3604 Backpack

This backpack is probably the best tackle backpack of them all. It has plenty of storage space for anglers to carry all the necessary items for their fish quest. It also allows you to fish from dusk to dawn in waning light with its built in LED light that helps you navigate even in the dark.

Size: 18.5 x 17 x 8.5 inches (weight: 7 pounds)

Material: Polyester

Capacity (trays): 4 medium 3600 trays and 4 medium 3500 trays

No. of compartments: 2
main compartments (with adjustments to double the space in the upper
compartment) and 4+ additional pockets.

• 4 side pockets
• 1 larger upper compartment
• 1 bottom compartment
• 1 front pocket
• 1 mounted glass holder

Benefits

• It features a variety of
  storage units that allow you to carry all the important fishing tools. Keep
  your glasses, lures, hooks, spare leaders, and lines along with other necessary
  items safe in this spacious bag.
• It comes with a LED light that
  ensures that you get to fish even in scarce light.
• It comes with a rain cover to
  keep your gear protected if it starts to pour down the clouds.
• The fold down pocket at the
  front provides anglers with handy workstation making their experience more
  convenient.
• The structure of the bag is
  highly stable and the base keeps it upright even when you take out a tray.
• The removable plier holder
  makes it easier to shift the tool from bag to belt swiftly.
• Mesh pockets keep items in the
  anglers vision at all times.

Drawbacks

Even though this bag offers innumerable
benefits, it also has some drawbacks.

• This Wild River backpack is
  quite heavy. You can’t tote it around for longer durations. You may have to
  keep it down as soon as you get to the fishing site.
• Not all good things are cheap.
  Just like this bag, which is a lot of things, but it’s definitely not cheap.

Extra Features

• The pockets do not sag under
  pressure. You can keep your essentials without thinking about the weight.
• It’s water resistant which is
  important because fishing keeps you at close quarters with water.
• Cable lanyards provide points
  to attach and easily carry small items.
• Adjustable padded shoulder
  straps give adequate support in carrying the bag and the chest strap keeps it
  in place.

If you are passionate about fishing and you don’t mind splurging a bit for your passion then you should buy the Wild River Tackle Backpack with LED lights to fish day and night.

RUNNER UP - Bassdash Fishing Tackle Backpack

This carrier is probably the best fishing backpack with rod holder and stacks of storage spaces. It’s convenient and lightweight which makes it easy to carry as well. The Bassdash tactical backpack comes with a host of benefits and very little drawbacks.

Size: 18.1 x 11.8 x 23.6 (weight: 8 pounds)

Material: Premium ultra-lightweight polyester

Capacity: 4 pack 3670 trays

No. of compartments: 2 main upper and lower compartments with 6+ pockets and rod holder.

• 1 main upper compartment that
  can be made into two to store large items
• 1 lower compartment that can
  store 3 large utility boxes that can be modified to create 7-27 mini compartments.
• 2 front pockets
• 4 side pockets with mesh
  holders for additional room
• A glasses holder
• 1 base pocket
• 2 Rod holders

Benefits

• It goes without saying that
  this bag offers a great deal of storage space.
• It comes in a breathable
  design.
• It also features a rain cover
  to keep your backpack safe during cloudburst.
• The Molle webbing exterior and
  D ring gear attachments and whistle buckle allow anglers to carry small items by
  just hooking them to the loops.
• It comes with a water proof
  base compartment.
• Rod pockets with hook and loop
  straps to keep all you fishing rods in place.

Drawback

The base compartment doesn’t have enough
room to carry a standard Plano box as one would expect.

Extra Features

• Its light weight and impact
  resistant.
• Padded shoulder straps and
  elastic chest strap offer effective holding grip to the angler.

This bag is definitely a winner with so much to offer without being too heavy to carry around. You should definitely buy this bag if you are looking for a lightweight ergonomic option.

ALTERNATIVE - Piscifun Fishing Tackle Backpack

Another great alternative for anglers who
love to venture out to the sea is this Piscifun Fishing Tackle Backpack. It’s
ergonomic and easy to carry. It comes with a lot of benefits.

Size: 12.6 x 7.9 x 17.7 inches (weight: 7.8 pounds)

Material: Water resistant 1200D high density Nylon Fabric, paired with durable KAM buckles and SBS zippers.

Capacity: 4 3600 tackle boxes

No. of Compartments: 11
compartments divided by high quality zippers (which can be converted into 18
storage rooms with the help of removable clapboards and flaps).

Benefits

• It holds enough storage rooms
  for all the fishing tools you wish to carry.
• The main compartment can make
  room for more items by removing the movable clapboard.
• The bag is made with breathable
  fabric. The 86 sewing procedures offer 20% higher water resistance and
  toughness to the bag, making it durable.
• The molded pocket on the top
  keeps your sunglasses safe and secure.
• It comes with a built in rain
  cover that can be pulled over according to the need.
• It doesn’t cost a lot.
• It features an exclusive bottle
  holder so that you can quench your thirst whenever you need to.

Drawbacks

The only drawback of this backpack is the
weak inner lining of the pockets. Anglers have to sometimes use duct tape to
provide additional support to the gear they wish to hold inside.

Extra Features

• Rubber feet under the bag
  provide support and structural stability to the bag.
• Padded shoulder straps make it
  easy to carry the bag with comfort.
• This tackle backpack comes with
  waterproof pockets to carry sensitive objects such as touch phones.

The Piscifun tackle backpack is a great option if you want a tough waterproof fishing backpack with lots of storage space.

And the best part is that it’s easy on your pocket. If you wish to buy an ergonomic inexpensive tackle backpack, then this is the choice for you.

BEST FOR THE MONEY - Wild River 3508 Multi-Tackle Backpack

It’s small but smart. This Wild River
tackle backpack is a lightweight fishing backpack for short fishing treks. It’s
easy on the pocket yet offers enough storage space for a quick fishing getaway.
Don’t go by the size of the bag, instead consider the many benefits it has to
offer.

Size:12.6 x 6 x 15 inches (weight: 3.15 pounds)

Material: Polyester

Capacity: 4 3500 style trays

No. of compartments: 2
large compartments with 4+ front and side pockets.

• 1 main upper compartment that
  can be divided into a bigger space to carry larger items.
• 1 lower compartment to store 4
  tackle trays.
• 4 side pockets with mesh holder
  for quick access.
• 1 front pocket that can fold
  down to provide handy working space.

Benefits

• It’s easy to carry owing to its
  compact size, which works great for short fishing trips.
• It provides a feasible
  workstation to manage your lures and hooks during fishing.
• To keep your valuables safe
  such as touch phones or license, this bag offers a clear internal pocket as
  well.

Drawbacks

• If you want to carry a good
  amount of gear for an extensive fishing trip then this bag might not be
  suitable for you.
• It comes with only two trays,
  even though it features enough space to carry 4.
• It’s not water proof but is
  water resistant.

Extra Features

• Rubber feet at the bottom of
  the bag provide support and structure to the bag
• Padded shoulder straps do not
  strain the back or shoulder when carrying the bag.

Small, sleek and stylish, this wild fire bag can be your side kick for any sudden fishing plans. If you already have bigger backpacks then you should definitely buy this bag for unexpected fishing trips.

RUNNER uP - Piscifun Fishing Tackle BACKPACK

It’s not just ergonomic, but it’s also
super stylish. The sling cross body bag adds a touch of class to your fish trek
anytime anywhere. It offers a bunch of pros and maybe a few cons (depending on
how you take those). Let’s break all its features down one by one.

Size:  Large: 14.96 x 10.24 x 4.33inches (weight: 2.6 pounds), Standard: 11.8 x 8.3 x 3.9inches

Material: Water resistant 1000D high density nylon fabric

Capacity: 4 medium tackle trays

No. of compartments: 13 compartments
divided with full length double zippers

• 3 main compartments for
  carrying your fishing gear
• 3 external zipped pockets
• 2 side pockets
• 2 bottom pockets
• 1 bottle pocket
• 2 rod holders

Benefits

• It comes with a lot of storage
  space, 13 storage units are no joke!
• It’s made with high water
  resistant durable material.
• The inner lining of the bag is
  also water proof, doubling the water resistance of the bag.
• It is sewed together with
  precise solid external sutures that provide the bag with stability.
• The back of the bag features
  untearable mesh cushion that supports the bag and keeps you free from the
  sticky feeling of sweat.
• This bag is great for carrying
  fishing rods as it offers specialized holders for them.
• Your water bottle gets it’s
  very own pocket away from all the other items.
• You can carry the bag as a
  cross body bag, or a back or front pack or a handbag according to your
  preference.
• It also offers safety in the
  dark with its safety reflective stickers. They provide you with light when
  daylight starts to diminish.

Drawbacks

• It doesn’t come with a shoulder
  pad which can get a bit uncomfortable for the angler after a while.
• Nylon can sometimes cause
  itchiness if your skin is too sensitive.

Extra Features

• It comes with several D shaped
  rings for you to hook small essentials and keep them in easy access.
• It has enough structural
  stability to stay put on the ground.

This Piscifun bag is an angler’s dream. It’s the best fly fishing backpack for any and every angler who loves a good fishing run.

Fishing Backpacks FAQ

If you are a fishing pro then you already know what you must carry for your fishing adventures but hobby or amateur anglers might be a bit confused about it.

Now that we have given you a comprehensive guide on the nest fishing backpacks, let’s discuss a few FAQs for beginners.

These questions will help them pack for their fishing adventures an also provide them with pertinent knowledge about fishing.

What should be in a beginner’s tackle box?

It varies from
fisher to fisher, some like to take a lot of items and some like to stick to
the basics. However, there are certain essentials that are indispensable if you
want to have a successful fishing experience.

• Extra Line

You cannot (and should not)
go out into the wild without extra line. Having a spare line is crucial if the
existing line gets damaged.

• Extra Hooks

It goes without saying
that you must carry extra hooks if you wish to get more than one fish. And at
times it’s possible that your hook gets damaged without even catching a single
fish, hence you must keep some spare hooks.

• Bobbers

Bobbers or floaters help
you get bites out of the fish. They attract the fish and once the fish bites
into a bobber, it sinks and you know it’s time to reel it.

• Sinkers

A lure or worm alone can
be too light and maneuvering them can get a bit tricky. Attaching a weight,
known as a sinker, makes it easier to drop the bait down into the sea/ocean.
Sinkers, just like hooks or lures can get lost in water, so it’s good to keep
extra pieces within reach.

• Plastic worms/lures

It’s good to carry live
bait but keeping a bunch of those is a bit inconvenient. Carrying plastic lures
can help you when you run out of live lures.

• Line Cutter

Don’t forget to keep a
line cutter with you. You’ll need it to modify the line according to your need
and preference.

• Needle Nose Pliers

If you want to actually
bring the fish home, then you can’t forget nose pliers. A nose plier is used to
get the hook out of your catch, making it possible to store it till you reach
home.

• Items for Personal Care

Keep a sunscreen and small first aid kit with you. You can’t catch
any fish if you are not comfortable enough under the sun and near all the
rocks.

What do you need in a beginner’s fishing backpack?

Apart from a loaded tackle box filled with essentials, a beginner’s
fishing backpack must have the following items:

• Fisher’s license.
• A rod, reel and line.
• A tackle box filled with baits,
  hooks, sinkers etc.
• Swivels, you might need those
  to prevent your line from twisting.

What is the difference between a fishing backpack and an ordinary (let’s say hiking) backpack?

A fishing backpack needs a lot of compartments to store a plethora of items to catch the elusive fish. It must have small compartments to keep baits and pliers.

And most importantly it must have enough space to carry tackle trays. Whereas for any other backpack you might not need small compartments because you may not need mini items such as hooks and bobbers.

Furthermore, a fishing backpack must be water resilient if not entirely waterproof. Fishing keeps you close to water, hence chances of it getting wet are high.

And if your backpack is not good strong enough to wither repel water or withstand it then all your gear would be damaged and that nobody wants.

A hiking backpack could
also get wet due to unexpected rain but for that just a rain cover would be
enough. The entire bag can work without being waterproof.

What is the best size for a fishing backpack?

It mostly depends on the angler carrying the bag. If someone is dainty then a medium sized bag like the wild river multi tackle bag would be good enough.

And if the angler is bulkier and can carry heavy bags then a large sized bag like the Wild River LED light tackle backpack would work.

Aside from the angler’s physique, your need of the trip also determines the size of the bag that you should carry. For a long trek you might need a bigger bag than for a shorter one.

But if you still need to
get a basic idea of the right size of a fishing backpack then we would suggest
you to get a bag that can at least carry 3-4 medium tackle trays easily.

Keeping fishing gear
secure is one of the biggest concerns of any angler, apart from actually
catching the fish. Not having the fitting gadget to house all that precious
gear is a rookie mistake that one should avoid making if they wish to go pro.

Without any further ado, buy any of the backpacks from our list and keep your fishing devices in their pristine state.

You might also be interested in:  Best Fish Finders of 2021 – A Complete Buyer’s Guide

---