Sock – Want to keep the blistering sun off your hands or keep them warm on chilly days? Take an old cotton or wool sock and cut it across the heel with scissors. Next, pinch an area the size of a nickel about 2 inches below the socks elastic top and cuts this away with scissors. Pull the sock over your hand and stick your thumb through the hold. Repeat with the other sock and you will have a matching pair of gloves. I keep several pairs in my boat for those rainy days.
Ed – New York

Cheap Seats – My old boat did not have factory installed seats in it. So for those days where I need to set, I improvised. I took two standard ice chests and mounted a half inch of marine plywood which I cut to the size of each lid. Then I mounted two cushioned boat seats to the lid by bolting their swivel bases through the plywood. I stabilizaed the coolers to the deck with plastic corners obtained at a sporting goods store. Now my boat not only has comfortable seating, but since they are removable coolers, I can store my favorite drinks, snacks, and food.
Kevin – Texas

Trailer Hook – I have used red trailer hooks on my spinner and buzz baits, but was having trouble finding the right size of tubing to use as a stop or “keeper” for the trailer hook, so I ended up using the small plastic sleeves which cover the hooks of many new lures. One of these sleeves can be cut into four or five keepers.
Bryan – Texas

Coffee Time – When I put fresh line on my reels, I put the filler spool in a coffee cup. This prevents the spool from dancing around and the line from tangling.
Jeff – Mississippi

Can Marker – For an in-expense marker buoy, punch a hole on each side of the bottom of an aluminum can, drain the contents. Cut one 4 ½ inch and two 4 inch lengths of wire from a coat hanger. Tie the three wires together in a loose bundle with one end of 50 feet of brightly colored string line cord, and attach a 2-ounch sinker to the other end. Attach the wire bundle flat to the side of the can with electrical tap allowing the end of the longest wire to protrude a half inch beyond the tape. Seal the holes with silicone bathtub caulk and wind the cord around the can and tuck the end under the exposed wire Tom – Connecticut

Duct Tape to the Rescue – I save money by making my own inserts for soft-sided worm and spinner bait bags. I take a regular zip lock freezer bag and run a strip of duct tape along the closed end for reinforcement, then punch two holes through the taped end so the bag will fit on the rings of the tackle bag.
Ray - Pennsylvania

Pony Tail – Attention all jig fisherman, I have one of the est ways to add versatility and attraction to your favorite lures. Pi8ck up a package of small elastic pony tails holders from your local store. The best ones for a bass fishing application have a fuzzy feel to the hands. Before tying your jig to your line, position the holder between the line tie and the fiber weed guard. Then tighten the fit by twisting the holder and reinserting the jig head into the loop. Since these rubber bands come in a variety of colors, you are able to add whatever color you need for the conditions. Also these bands soak up and hold liquid fish formulas.
Steve – Louisiana

Rust Protection – The best thing that I have found to tackle moisture in my tackle box is a piece of blackboard chalk. Add a couple of pieces on the bottom and it will keep it dry. Andy – Wisconsin Sponges – I have stopped spending the money on pork and plastic jig and spinner bait trailers and have decided to make my own out of sponges instead. To do this purchase any ones you want then use scissors to cut out strips in split-tails or chunks. Hook the cut to your bait, get some fish attractant on their and watch them hit it.
Bob– Louisiana

Dipping Box – The dipping dye we use for our soft plastic bass lures is highly effective, but it can mess up your boat carpet. Cut out a piece of foam from an old life jacket and trip it to fit inside a plastic index card file box. Cut out two holes in the foam to fit dye bottles, and glue the foam to the box with epoxy cement. Place the bottles in the cut out inserts and dip your lure in the dye. This set up will keep in the drip and splashes.
Steve – Texas

Fly Eye – An old eyeglass case makes a great box where you can keep your most precious baits. Glue a thin sheet of Styrofoam inside to hold flies and popping bugs, then slip it in your shirt pocket for easy access.
Kev – Pennsylvania

Stop the Braid Slip – As all bass anglers know, braided line makes it easy to winch –in the big ones, but it has one large drawback, it slips on the spool when it is under pressure. To solve this problem, I wrapped a strip of double-sided carpet tape approximately one eighth inch wide around the center of the spool, when tied the braid around the taped portion. This technique stops the slippage and makes the braid a lot more pleasant to fish with.
Ron – Massachusetts

Penny Weights – Special tube bait hooks and weights are very expense considering how often they get lost. In order to cut some cost, slide a penny sideways into the tube leaving a small amount of space between the nose of the bait and the edge of the coin. Then insert a standard offset worm hook Texas Style. The now slightly flared tube has enough weight to get down into the strike zone while giving it great movement underwater.
Colin – Tennessee

Tape Clean – In order to get rid of the ground-in dirt, sand and pebbles in your boats carpet, tear duct tape into foot-long strips and press the tape firmly into the carpet. It will lift up the stuff a vacuum cleaner misses.
Jim – Oregon

Nutty Tip – Empty plastic peanut butter jars make great storage containers for grubs, tubes, lizards, and other plastic baits as well as jig heads, hooks, sinkers.
Fred – Arkansas.

Spinner Die – When I belive that the colors of my spinners are getting faded or I am just tired of them, I purchase some Rit Dye. Since they are used for fabrics there are many colors which are available which makes it easier to get the color you are looking for.
D.J. – Alabama

Lure Holder – Want to do something with all those old plastic bottles. Pick up some velcro and apply a couple of strips to one side. Then stick the bottle on the side wall of your boat and store frequently used lures such as cranks and topwaters inside. It will make your next switch out a breeze.
Rog – Connecticut