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Columbia Customs,
a better way to store line-through swimbaits
(continued)
  Operation
cont'd: So what
if you don’t have enough line through swimbaits to fill the box? We also tested
the box with standard soft bodied swimbaits with traditional line tie on top of
the head. We found it easy enough to thread the wire through the hook eye and
after some experimentation we found a short s-bend in the wire was a quick and
easy way to secure these six inch baits alongside the line through swimbaits.
When it comes to ease of operation the line through box makes it extremely quick
to stow and draw soft bodied swimbaits.
The manufacturer wasn't kidding,
with a lot of baits armed with treble hooks we have a tangling problem when the
box is tilted on the side, these boxes really are best for top hook baits
We wouldn’t be doing our
due diligence if we didn’t test the Columbia box’s water tight capabilities. We
tossed both versions fully loaded with swimbaits over the edge of the boat and
both floated. Unless we deliberately pressed the boxes downwards into the water
they remained completely watertight. If you hold the boxes underwater it is
possible to get some water past the seal but this really is an unnatural test
and not something that will occur naturally in the field.
Though a hard swimbait the CL8 is
an example of a swimbait that will work just fine in the 10" version
In terms of durability we
didn’t have any problems whatsoever with either box. We initially had concerns
with the wires breaking but after we repeatedly flexed the wires in the same
section they remained fully intact and malleable. The Plano box shells also held
up well to both impact tests and everyday wear and tear.
The line through swimbait box is
three dollars more than the standard box but we can justify the cost with the
unique implementation
Price & Applications:
Both boxes offer quality swimbait storage but I found the line through model
more innovative as well as easier to use on a surprising range of baits. When it
comes to price the 6” version of both boxes retails for $34.99 while the 10”
versions cost three dollars less. The reason the 10” boxes are cheaper is likely
due to the use of fewer stainless steel components as they have a few less clips
or wires. The Columbia Custom boxes make use of a more expensive and waterproof
base Plano shell then the Markey’s branded boxes but the Markey’s Single
Swimbait Box (which holds seven 10” swimbaits) retails for only $19.99. Markey’s
has a new Super Double Swimbait box which is slightly larger and can hold treble
hooked baits and retails for $24.99. This puts the standard Columbia clip based
box on the high side, the line through version is more exclusive but can it
garner the 35 dollar price point? It is funny how paying 35 dollars for a
storage box seems like a lot but we are willing to shell out up to two thirds of
that for a single bait.
Ratings:
(We've
re-calibrated our
ratings standard for
2008 and have
included a key at
the bottom of the
following matrix as
a guide):
|
Columbia
Custom
Tackle
6"
Swimbait
Box
Specifications
Standard
Version
|
|
Construction/Quality |
Overall
a
quality
modification
of a
quality
Plano
box.
These
design
just
plain
works |
8 |
|
Performance |
The box
is able
to hold
16 baits
but
doesn't
work
well
with
hard
baits
with
hanging
treble
hooks,
it does
work
well
with
baits
with a
single
top hook
or
treble
hook
stuck to
the
body.
The
clips
are a
little
tricky
to
manage
when the
box is
fully
loaded |
7 |
|
Price |
Retailing
for
31.99
the
standard
Columbia
box is
on the
expensive
side
when you
compare
it with
the
competition,
unless
you
really
put a
premium
on
waterproofing |
6 |
|
Features |
The clip
version
of this
box is
simple
and
straightforward
to use.
This box
is best
for soft
swimbaits.
|
7 |
|
Design
(Ergonomics) |
Clips
are
little
difficult
to
fiddle
with
when the
box is
fully
loaded,
on the
six inch
version
the lid
opens
downwards
towards
you
versus
to the
side
which
gets in
the way
at times
|
7 |
|
Application |
Great
for soft
swimbaits,
good for
hard
swimbaits
without
hanging
treble
hooks,
not so
good for
hard
multi
jointed
swimbaits
with
multiple
treble
hooks |
8 |
|
Total
Score
|
7.16 |
Ratings
Key:
1 =
terrible
: 2 =
poor : 3
=
lacking
: 4 =
sub par
: 5 =
mediocre
: 6 =
fair : 7
= good :
8 =
great :
9 =
excellent
: 10 =
unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
The line through version is the
more innovative box
|
Columbia
Custom
Tackle
6"
Swimbait
Box
Specifications
Line-Through
Version
|
|
Construction/Quality |
Overall
a
quality
modification
of a
quality
Plano
box.
This box
makes
use of a
clever
line
through
system
that is
both
easy to
use and
versatile |
8 |
|
Performance |
The box
is able
to hold
12 baits
and is
specifically
designed
for line
through
baits
but we
found it
was also
able to
handle
standard
top tie
soft
bodied
swimbaits
as well |
9 |
|
Price |
Retailing
for
34.99
the line
through
Columbia
box is
on the
expensive
side but
we can
justify
the cost
more on
this box
as it is
the best
solution
we have
seen
thus far
for line
through
type
swimbaits |
7 |
|
Features |
This box
has a
great
implementation
for line
through
swimbaits,
the
system
is
clever,
reliable,
and easy
to use |
8 |
|
Design
(Ergonomics) |
It is
actually
very
easy to
stow and
draw
line
through
swimbaits
and we
found
that the
box
could
also
hold
standard
top hook
soft
bodied
swimbaits
surprisingly
well |
8 |
|
Application |
This box
is
pretty
application
specific
but if
you
enjoy
fishing
line
through
swimbaits
this is
a great
box for
you
|
8 |
|
Total
Score
|
8.00 |
Ratings
Key:
1 =
terrible
: 2 =
poor : 3
=
lacking
: 4 =
sub par
: 5 =
mediocre
: 6 =
fair : 7
= good :
8 =
great :
9 =
excellent
: 10 =
unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus
|
|
J
Durable
construction,
quality
stainless
steel
components |
L
On the
expensive
side
(both
versions
though
we can
justify
the line
through
cost a
bit
more) |
|
J
Finally
a box
designed
for line
through
swimbaits |
L
Doesn't
handle
the full
range of
swimbaits,
best for
soft
bodied
big
baits |
|
J
Waterproof |
|
|
J
Able to
hold
soft
bodied
swimbaits
safely
and
keeps
them
from
bending
or
kinking |
|
|
J
Standard
size,
fits in
many
bags and
tackle
systems |
|
Conclusion:
Columbia Custom tackle saw a niche that needed to be filled with the
introduction of their line through swimbait box. Both models function well and
are able to both organize and protect all but hard swimbaits with hanging
trebles which can tangle. The Columbia line-through model doesn’t
have as much competition as the clip version and while there is a smaller market
for this product just based on the ratio of available standard swimbaits versus
the line-through variety we feel this is the more exciting option between the
two. While both boxes get the job done it is the line-through version that is
the more original offering and wins our Innovation Award.
Dec 2nd, 2009 Update: Columbia Custom
Tackle has informed us that they are working on a hybrid version of there boxes
which combines the best features of both of their boxes with half of the bar
holding clips and the other half loaded with the line-through wires. This combo
box should be a great solution for anglers looking to hold both types of
swimbaits in one box.
Looking for Columbia Custom Boxes? Try
Tackle Warehouse
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