Could this be the Best Soft Fishing Tackle Bag?

If you are looking to organize your tackle and will be using a soft fishing tackle bag for either freshwater or saltwater fishing, Albackore makes one of the best soft exterior rigid frame bags on the markets. The produced the Albackore "Altunative" in 2001 - the name being a combination of alternative and tuna - for those anglers you spent a lot of time big game fishing or evn day trips to the islands. Although, even with the name implying "tuna", this bag is also great for lake fishing or just hanging out on the shore bait fishing for rainbow trout or catfish.

This medium-sized tackle bag sports an rigid, waterproof interior frame that keeps the fishing bag in an upright position even when loaded with heavy tackle like lead sinkers, reels, and heavy ocean jigs. The tackle system includes 3 slide out plastic utility boxes also designed by Albackore for storing smaller items like hooks, sinkers, drop shot clips, spoons, and other fishing tackle. Each plastic utility tray is held in place using a patented infinitely-adjustable shelving system design by Albackore back in 1998. Each fabric shelf can be removed and adjusted so that you can add various sizes of plano-style 3600 clear plastic utility boxes in it's place. Many other items that Albackore produces also fit inside the same space as these Shimano-style utility box.

Almost every feature designed in the Altunative originally came from the Albackore fishing tackle backpacks which was the premier tackle organizer system in the earlier 2000's. Unfortunately, Albackore is no longer producing the tackle backpack and there are none in stock. Luckily for you, there ar still a few of the soft tackle bags in stock and you can get yours through eBay today.

Besides the plastic utility boxes included in the Altunative, the 5-inch deep top section of this fully padded soft tackle bag has adjustable soft dividers that protect your fishing gear and tackle. It's a great tackle workspace while you are fishing. You can adjust these dividers to create spaces for your fishing tackle, food, drinks, or sunscreen. There's also a zippered mesh pocket for fishing maps or other paperwork built into the lid of this tackle bag.

There are three pockets on the outside of the fishing bag. One has padding and was designed for sunglasses, cell phone or gps. There is one large bulk storage pocket on the right side of the tackle bag that can hold lots of fishing tackle, a weigh scale, fishing net, or even a light rain jacket. The final pocket was designed to hold lead and/or spools of fishing line or monofilament.

The Altunative comes with an adjustable, removeable should strap with a soft padded strip to keep the nylon strap from digging into your shoulder.

Finally, the front flap of the tackle system has a unique flip of velcro strip across the top to make it easier to just swipe the front flap closed and get on your way without having to zip up and secure your fishing gear each time you leave your tackle bag.

On a side note, there is no metal or steel on this bag at all. Nothing to rust or corrode in the salt water or freezing rain. But we still recommend that you spray your derlin zippers with a silcone (don't use WD-40 please) spray every few months depending how much abuse you give your tackle bag or how often you fish. Other than that if you want to restore the color of the Altunative (or the backpacks) fishing tackle bag, just use a light spray of Lemon Pledge and it will restore it's color and add additional waterproofing to the bag.