BY MIKE STEVENS
MAMMOTH LAKES – Taking a “grab-and-go” approach to Eastern Sierra road trips occurred to me no less than two decades ago after staying up way too late in the garage putting gear together on “getaway day” eve. The solution at the time was a simple Rubbermaid tub one might stuff in the rafters full of Christmas decorations. It did the job well enough for years, but it wasn’t perfect, a bit of an overkill size wise on some Sierra runs requiring less gear. That tub was retired from active duty a month ago when I replaced it with Plano’s new GoNow box, which is perfect.
The Small One
My recent trip was a shortened 5-day run, and I wanted to attempt to get the job done with the smaller 30L GONOW box which has about half the capacity of my old Rubbermaid. While the uses for these boxes are endless, I intended to use it in what I call a “mothership” role.
The Mothership contains anything I may need at some point during a trip, but I don’t want to carry it with me. In my case, that’s a lot of line, lures and terminal tackle for replenishing any that “run light” at any point, stuff for replacing rod tips, maps, tools (braid scissors, extra forceps, split-ring pliers, etc.) and a fair amount of “just in case” tackle. That all fit in the main base compartment (that can be wide open or split into two sections with a removable divider) of the small GoNow box in various Plano StowAway boxes with room to spare.
What I really dig is the tray that rests atop the main storage section and under the lid, even though I was initially stumped on what I would use it for. Also featuring removable dividers that allow it to be sectioned off into up to six sections, or two big ones, I ultimately realized my reels (both 500 and 1000-size) fit in each one. That works for me because I don’t store reels on rods in the offseason (and sometimes not even on the way up or back), and it remains with all the other trout gear. Grab…and…go.
Beyond Mothership Duty
These storage solutions also play a role for me at “base camp” be it a tent site, cabin or condo in Mammoth. When it’s not on the floor in front of the back seat of my Ford Ranger (so in a pinch, I can always run back to the truck for something), it occasionally will serve as a workbench of sorts for rigging. Obviously the lid’s a portable flat surface for staging small parts, stuff you’re going to tie on and otherwise, but the Plano GONOW boxes are also equipped with slots on each corner that accept a variety of accessories. Mine’s packing a rod holder, cup holder and a bottle opener as it stands now. I’ll put a rod in the rod holder which acts as a “third hand” keeping everything tight when I’m splicing light braid to fluoro or rigging up a Carolina rig for one of my kids. It’s a nice luxury you don’t have in the field for rigging, but it makes it easier to have it at camp when getting ready for the next day. The bottle opener and cup holder’s role while rigging should be self-explanatory, and I suggest IPA 395 from Mammoth Brewing or Sky Hazy from Distant Brewing, also in town.
I’m not usually in a position to have the Mothership actually with me while fishing, but for those who do, those particular accessories can really come into play. And the possibilities are endless on a boat.
The Big One
The larger Plano 72L GONOW Box is also in my arsenal, and it will come into play this fall and next spring (and longer summer trips) when I need to bring more gear. I envision that one as a hauler of cold weather clothing, a backpack, chest pack (fly fishing), walkie talkies, hiking shoes, headlamps, a big Stanley coffee tanker (Crowley in October, man), basically, the other half of the stuff that was in my big Rubbermaid tub. Having totally pulled off bringing essential fishing gear in the smaller GONOW box, this ability to bring one or both only makes my Sierra grab-and-go game that much more versatile.
Other features and accessories
Plano GONOW boxes are very stackable, which is a plus because I do plan to get more for other types of fishing. Also, even the underside of each lid can be customized with an optional cutting board or a MOLLE board for attaching pretty much any MOLLE-capable (think military) storage pouches. There’s also a GONOW Lid Keeper (works like one of those stretchy cargo net things for truck beds) that would allow you to secure a hoodie or something on top for easy access.
