The 8 Best Fishing Backpacks (2020 Reviews!)

Page Contents

What Makes A Good Tackle Fishing Bag?

Our Choices For The Best Tackle Fishing Backpacks of 2020
Final Verdict

Imagine this – you’re out fishing by the lake and your fishing line snags on a rock beneath the surface. You start pulling and yanking at it to try and get it loose, but you just can’t get it unstuck. So you decided that you’ll have to cut the line and set up a new rig to continue fishing.

Luckily for you, you came prepared with the right tools in your backpack. So you dig and fumble through your unorganized bag, pulling out random fishing pliers and lures and accidentally stabbing yourself on the hooks lying around in there.

10 minutes later, you finally found what you were looking for, but now you need a plaster…

Oh how you wish you had invested in one of those fancy backpacks that your buddy Joe brought along. You watched in envy as he pulled out the compartmental box from his bag with all his collections of lures and sinkers, neatly organized for his convenience. He looks over to you, notices your cut finger and proceeds to offer you a plaster from his first aid kit tucked in the side pocket of his waterproof fishing bag.

You can’t help but feel annoyed at how easy it is for him to handle his fishing supplies. “What a show off,” you thought to yourself as you begrudgingly accepted the plaster. You decided that you will get organized for the next fishing trip, just to save yourself from seeing that smug look on Joe’s face.

What Makes A Good Tackle Fishing Bag?

We’ve all been there, trying to bring all your fishing tackle, equipment and supplies along with you on your weekend fishing trip can be such a mission, if you don’t have the proper equipment to transport them around.

A good tackle fishing backpack will have reasonably quick accessibility, designed for your convenience while looking stylish.

Ideally, you should select a waterproof bag made from long-lasting materials with an ergonomic strap. For times where you need to carry your gear through a stream to get to a better fishing spot.

What equipment to bring in your fishing bag?

Rod and reel – bring extra rods to give yourself more options on your fishing trip.
Tackle boxes – used to store your hooks, extra lines, lures, fliers, sinkers, and more.
Bait – A good fishing backpack will have a cooler compartment to store your bait.
Water/Food – Make sure to stay hydrated and fuel up with some snacks. You can store your food and water in the cooler compartment of your fishing bag as well.
Tools/Accessories – Things such as sunglasses, pocket knife, pliers, clothes, first aid kit, cell phone, flashlights, basically anything that comes in handy for your fishing trip.
Documents – your fishing permit, ID and wallet. Make sure to store them in the waterproof compartment of your fishing bag.

We’ve done thorough research, studied various different fishing backpacks and all the features to suit every angler’s needs.

So the next time you go out fishing, you can focus on catching bigger fish than your buddy Joe, rather than fumbling around in unorganized chaos.

Our Choices For The Best Tackle Fishing Backpacks of 2020

1. Bassdash Fishing Tackle Backpack - Best Overall Fishing Backpack

The brand Bassdash is a new fishing tackle brand with a sophisticated downtown attitude that was created for precisely the way we live today. Functionality and reliability comes first as described on the company’s facebook page.

Product Summary and Notable Features:

The Bassdash fishing tackle backpack is designed beautifully with 600D polyester constructions, its dimensions are approximately 18.1”(L) x 11.8” (W) x 23.6” (H). It comes with an adjustable main compartment that can be divided into 2 separate inner compartments with movable clapboard in the main compartment. The top compartment can be used to store your personal items and the lower compartment can hold up to 3 x large size utility boxes as shown in the picture. The utility boxes are included along with the bag, so you can use it to organize your tackles and accessories in them.

It is made from waterproof materials and designed to be hard and rugged for impact resistance to protect your gear from the environment. If the weather gets ugly, there’s a built-in rain cover at the back zippered pocket to keep your content safe. The front pockets and large side pockets have been sized to fit most box styles in the market today. It even comes with a hard-molded sunglasses compartment and daisy chain webbing at the front which can be used as an attachment point.

The straps on them are designed to be breathable and padded for extra comfort, and its ergonomic design will ensure your back remains comfortable even with all the extra load.

2. Kast King Fishing Backpack - Most Durable Fishing Backpack

The KastKing brand emphasizes performance and reliability. Their products come with a 1-year warranty. So if you find any issues within the year, you can get a free replacement by contacting their customer support team. The company constantly strives to improve their products based on their client feedback which is why they made it onto our list.

Product Summary and Notable Features:

This new backpack features an improved construction to help this backpack last a while. This pack’s total size is 21.25” (L) x 9.25” (W) x 13.4” (H). It comes with rod and tool storages to keep your hands free while travelling about. The double rod pockets offer a secure storage for you to transport your rod combo, simply place the rod butt or the second section of a 2 piece rod in the side pockets, then secure the rod with the integrated adjustable bungee loops. In addition, there are also integrated D-rings that provide attachment points for your tools and line cutters.

The KastKing fishing backpack is designed to be tough and water resistant as it is made from 420D rip-stop nylon material for exceptional long-term performance and reliability. A hydrophobic coating repels moisture from the outside and a PVC layer on the inside provides extra protection to ensure your tackle is protected from the elements.

So if you’re looking for an efficient and functional storage that is also comfortable to carry, look no further from the KastKing fishing tackle backpack as your solution.

3. Wild River Nomad Lighted Backpack - Most Efficient Storage In A Fishing Backpack

CLC – the company that produced the Wild River backpack ranges, has been around for over 3 decades. Their experience and consistency in producing high-quality outdoor adventure gears is the reason why we’ve chosen this backpack on our list. In addition, this backpack features a unique feature that we haven’t seen in many other backpacks so far.

Product Summary and Notable Features:

One of the unique features of the Wild River Nomad lighted backpack is its smart LED light system that lights up the internal contents of the bag, allowing you to find what you’re after even in the dark – making it the perfect backpack for anglers who prefer to do some night fishing.

This new backpack features multiple useful compartments and pockets for storing all your fishing gears, the bottom tray storage can comfortably fit 4 medium #3600 trays meaning you can bring your whole collection of lures, lines and more! Your sunglasses will be protected in this backpack due to the mounted hard molded sunglass holder. When it rains, the included rain cover can be installed effortlessly to keep your bag’s contents dry.

Despite putting heavy load on the top of the bag, this tackle bag doesn’t sag at all unlike its competitors. Its zippers are made from heavy-duty plastic material which will protect it from cracking, twisting or element corrosion.

Overall, if you’re the type of angler that enjoys fishing from dusk till dawn, we highly recommend the Wild River nomad lighted backpack to tag along your fishing adventures.

4. Bass Pro Shops Advanced Anglers Backpack - Best Value Fishing Backpack

You may have heard of the Bass Pro Shops brand from their popular nintendo game – “The Strike.” Besides making fishing games for fishing fans and hobbyists, the company also creates highly competitive advanced angler backpacks.

The Bass Pro Shops advanced anglers backpack is packed full of features, their advanced anglers II tackler system has been serving anglers all around the world since 1997. This newly redesigned angler backpack is a wildly popular selection in the Bass Pro Shops ranges.

Product Summary and Notable Features:

High durability and enhanced usability is what the company aims to achieve with its advanced angler backpack, and based on many angler reviews, we can comfortably say that they’ve achieved it perfectly.

Created with durable 600-denier-water and UV-resistant fabric, you can take this backpack with you in any fishing adventures where it involves walking through streams and facing all the elements. The company includes two medium 3650, one 3750, and one 3500 utility boxes along with the backpack. You’ll also have access to 2 tool holsters on the side of the backpack.

Armed with heavy-duty zippers with speedy zipper pulls, you can expect to get in and out of your backpack quickly without worrying about it breaking apart. It also features a waterproof electronics pouch for you to keep your powerbank, mobile phone, and other devices that would get in trouble if exposed to water. You can further protect your backpack from the elements with its quick-install rain fly cover.

If you’re looking for a versatile backpack with great durability and comes with an electronic pouch for all your gadgets, you might want to give this backpack a shot. You won’t be disappointed.

5. Calcutta Squall 3600 Tactical Tackle Backpack

Stylish, rugged and durable. Featuring extreme functionality and loaded with lots of practical features. The Calcutta Squall 3600 tactical tackle backpack is one good looking bag to bring along to your next fishing adventure. The company is so confident in their product, so much so, that they’re offering 100% money back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied with your purchase.

Product Summary and Notable Features:

Designed as an oversized backpack, it comes with three 3600 double latch trays (designed with a cool skull logo) and will hold up to six 3600-sized trays for you to sort your extensive collection of tackles and lures into. There is just so much room in this backpack for you to store all your gear.

Fitted with an internal frame that offers great stability and function, this bag sits upright without tipping over so you can have peace of mind when laying down your equipment – knowing that it won’t fall over and spill your bait causing unpleasant stains and smell.

The padded shoulder straps on this backpack provides maximum comfort even with a full load. The straps are designed to withstand the combined weight of your gear without putting too much strain on your back and waist – giving you freedom to carry heavier loads for longer without worrying about injuries.

If you’re the type of angler that likes to bring all your gears along with you and more but can’t seem to fit everything into your standard backpack. Simply purchase this backpack and you can bring everything along, while staying congruent with the company’s mission of never settling for anything less.

6. Piscifun Fishing Tackle Backpack (4 Trays)

The Piscifun fishing tackle backpack is one of the best-selling fishing backpacks in the market today. Featuring water resistant coating, hard molded sunglasses case, KAM buckle and SBS zippers combo and one-year total peace of mind warranty plus the low affordable price, it is no wonder why a lot of anglers choose the Piscifun’s fishing backpack to tag along their fishing trips.

Product Summary and Notable Features:

It comes with 11 individual spaces and 7 additional small areas for a total of 18 compartments. Giving you plenty of space to justify bringing all your fishing equipment along. We thought that much space would equal a large bulky fishing bag, ironically the backpack ended up being one of the most compact fishing backpack we’ve reviewed so far. The cleverly designed folds within its storage system gives it maximum storage space while keeping the backpack compact and portable.

You will appreciate the built case for your sunglasses, many backpacks in the market have this feature nowadays but not many actually feature a hard casing like the Piscifun tackle bag does. Rest assured your sunglasses will be well protected inside your bag.

Made from superior high quality water-resistant 1200D high density nylon fabrics, paired with durable KAM buckle and SBS zippers to ensure maximum use life. The exquisite 86 sewing procedures further adds 20% stats to its water resistance and toughness.

If you’re looking for a superior backpack that does it all but not wanting to spend more than you need to, look no further as this backpack is well-known for it’s affordable innovation.

7. SeaKnight Waterproof Outdoor Tackle Bag - Best Value Fishing Backpack

Seaknight was founded in 1983, the company committed to providing a comprehensive solution for global fishing enthusiasts – by adhering to the concept of people-oriented technology. With a company mission like that, it is no wonder the SeaKnight waterproof outdoor tackle bag secured a spot on our list.

Product Summary and Notable Features:

Staying true to the company mission, SeaKing has produced a backpack that caters to anglers from all over the world. The backpack ticks all the boxes when it comes to

Large storage space – featuring incredible storage space with removable dividers that converts it into an even larger storage space.
Water resistant – made with high quality polyester fabric (1000D Nylon), water-resistant high intensity and durable. Clear zippered interior pocket under the lid keeps your licenses and other valuables visible, secure, and safe from water damage.
Comfortable straps – adjustable padded shoulder straps and padded mesh back panels for superior breathability. What more can you ask for? Keep your back and waist relieved from added pressure with the backpack’s comfort technology.
Anti-scratch bottom – Rugged base pads protect the backpack scratch damages. Perfect for camping and climbing.

If you’re after an affordable waterproof outdoor backpack that ticks all the necessary boxes then this backpack will surely satisfy.

8. Magreel Fishing Tackle Waterproof Backpack - Largest Volume Fishing Backpack

The Magreel Fishing Tackle Backpack made it to our list by being the best value fishing backpack on a low budget. Even at the low price point, you can be sure you’re getting a quality bag that will serve its primary purpose – to hold and protect your fishing gears.

Product Summary and Notable Features:

Well constructed with 1000D nylon. The nylon is firmly stitched and water-resistant. Combined with durable dual zippers, which gives protection for all your fishing gear.

The adjustable straps are surprisingly comfortable for its price range. Designed to be ergonomic and flexible enough to fit your back and shoulder curve – relieving load stress. Breathable materials ensure heat is distributed away while you traverse in your journey to find the best fishing spot.

Compared with all the other backpacks we’ve reviewed, this backpack is the smallest of the lot. That being said, it is still quite spacious at 16.1” (L), 7.9” (W), 17.3” (H) and will be able to fit the majority of your gear comfortably.

Anglers looking to invest in a reliable fishing backpack while ensuring they get the best value for their money should definitely consider the Magreel Fishing Tackle Backpack.

Final Verdict

It is absolutely worth investing in a fishing backpack, as it has the potential to make or break your fishing experience. To find the ideal backpack for yourself, keep in mind the type of fishing you do, whether you fish during the day or night, or how long you usually fish for. You should always purchase one that closely fits your needs.

Even though all the backpacks above are great options, we singled out the Wild River Nomad Lighted Backpack w/4 PT3600 Trays as the best choice overall. The unique LED system that allows you to fish in the dark really stood out for us as we do love our night fishing. We also really appreciate the adjustable padded shoulder straps, plus sternum strap that provides well needed support to your back on a long fishing trip. On top of that, its attractive design also means that you will be proud to carry around after you’re done with fishing. What more could we ask for in a fishing backpack?