custom surf bags
 

Turns out I know someone with an industrial sewing machine who makes sails and has plenty of extra material. They asked me to get ideas from people about what they look for in surf bags? I know the basics drainage, reinforced seams, belt loops and shoulder strap but what could make these bags better? Thanks for your response

While I still use the A'skinz small and small tall bags, I would suggest you look at the bags made by Tom aka Gattafish, and Numbskull. Both are experienced, hardcore surf fishermen who decided to make their bags with the features THEY found lacking in others on the market. Tom markets and sells his. Numby makes his because he can....

A cool feature is what fbc is doing and having a lot of options that clip on and off, jimmy is the guy who started the custom bag with Hunter, his stuff is top notch

Ebb point makes some custom bags that incorporate, a knife holder, plier sheath,
Water bottle, basically an all in one.

Toms stuff is bullet proof.

Main thing is using top quality parts and components
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Have him make one for less than 8 thousand bucks!

Actually, I made mine because I was too cheap to buy one (a Hunter was the only option then). Turns out it only cost me about $1000. :wall:

I'll say this much, your friend isn't going to make any money building and selling them with a single industrial machine. If he is serious about it he needs 3-4 machines set up to do specific tasks and to do them fast and efficiently. It also turns into repetitive piece work. Building one at a time is fine as a hobby, but way too time consuming to be profitable.

Could be said for plug making as well......

I don't really think she has any plans making them for sale. Im just trying to get her to make me a couple and was looking for ideas. I'm not trying to bust in on anyone's business model. I just want a solid bag with some options I wouldn't have thought of myself
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Just buy one. They are on the higher priced side but worth the money and have all the options you could think of and have been tested.
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Damn who would have thought surf fishing would turn out to be so expensive. Last year I smashed fish using a $150 set up. Jay you saw me catch that 40+ on an okuma bait runner and Ande rod. This year I'll have a $1100 set up. Factor in a $500 dollar bag and the couple hundred in plugs/terminal gear and I'll be well over 2 Grand just for a night out. Ah the joys of having a good job.

Funny thing is I still haven't got one idea from anyone but chef chris. Just people telling me the facts about not making any money off it. Guess it was just a pipe dream
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I think the best thing to do is think about everything that bugs you about your current bag, and try to remedy that with your design... think about the way that you personally fish (ex: how many plugs you carry on average... the length of the plugs, do you use buck tails, do you carry a leader wallet, do you wetsuit, carry rigged eels or not, carry your bag on your belt or shoulder strap, etc...

Then set out to make a bag that suits your exact needs... if you end up making a bag that fits these characteristics, you will love it... it will truly be custom.

For example... one of my current bags that I use 99.9% of the time is a small 2-tube bag. I wear it on belt loops, and I swing it around my belt to access plugs and rigged eels... one issue I had with my belt loop bags before this, was that I also have my pliers and knife on my belt on the same side i slide my bag to front. so everytime I needed to access my bag, I first had to slide pliers, and knife over... THEN finally my bag. Then to fish again i was sliding: bag, then knife sheath, then plier sheath. WAY too much shuffling!

I always wanted my knife in the same exact place, and minimize gear on my belt... So i asked to have a small custom loop of webbing built into the side of my bag so my wenoka sheath attaches directly to the side of my bag...
This solved 2 of my problems: i now didnt have to slide my knife over every time i needed my bag (belt de-cluttered), and my knife is always exactly in the same place where i can blindly access it in an emergency.

Now my point is... no one except myself could have told me that this is what I should build on my bag unless they personally experienced the way that i fish and my current setup... The ideal bag and custom features should come directly from the way that YOU fish, and should make your outings more efficient and less frustrating.

I would also think about every part of your previous bags that has ever torn, worn out, etc. and reinforce the hell out of the one you build.

Not sure if these are the suggestions you had in mind, but it's what makes sense to me.

NOW... that being said, I dont think I could ever build a bag built as solid as the commando 2- tube bag that i own. It continues to exceed my high expectations after multiple seasons.

there should be rfid tags sewed solidly into
a secret compartment so that you can track it
should it ever mysteriously disapear

1. Tubes w/dividers to eliminate plugs from getting tangled
2. Detachable shoulder strap
3. Pouch for discarding line/leaders
4. Bucktail pouch with bottom so bucktails/tins don't fall to the bottom of bag.
5. Separate pouch for soft plastics
6. Overload alarm; so I don't put too much crap in it.


I have a Mak ($150.00 "cheap" model) and an old Aquaskin. I use the Mak for plugging nights and the Aquaskin for eels, rags and a few plugs.

X2

I could care less about custom features on a bag. At the end of the night/day I use two or three plugs a couple jigs. If someone can makes bag for 100 or under that serves our community with out having to spend ten minutes pulling hooks out of material they will sell thousands of em.
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Your initial post sounded much like someone launching a commercial venture and looking to tap the market for ideas to profit from.

What size bag are you looking to build?
What are you planning to carry in it other than plugs?
How big are the plugs you want to carry?
You wading or swimming with the bag?
How far you walking with it when you fish?

A bag for a guy who fishes the canal is different than a bag for a guy who wades and casts plugs, and that bag is different than a bag for a guy who swims to a rock throws eels, rubber, or jigs and carries a few plugs he never uses, which in turn is different than a bag for a guy who walks sand tossing metal and small plastic swimmers on light tackle.

Keep in mind also the bigger the bag and the more you put in it and on it the heavier it gets.

It will prob. take you 10 - 12 hours per bag to make them.

Thanks everyone for the ideas this morning. I just want to clarify. I AM NOT LOOKING TO SELL SURF BAGS. I just want to have something made that will last me for years.

I would love to have a well made sling bag.
I do an awful lot of walking and casting. Shoulder bags are a pia, always spinning to the front on me.
A lot of the time I'm deeper than my waist so belt bags don't help me either.
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I have my original canvas surfcaster belt bag, from the mid 1990's that still works. The inserts have been replaced with PVC, but what the hell, they still work fine, and didn't cost $300

I have 3 surf bags. All are more than 20 years old and I use to do 100+ night in the surf. They all hold 8 or 10 plugs, assorted jigs and leaders. None cost more than $40 which is probably $80 today. All 3 bags are still usable.

even if you say 8, thats only $37.50 an hour for a $300 bag, without considering materials and equipment overhead. tough to make a go at that.

as far as making the bags better, i think the bags on the market cover most needs. everybody can probably think of some minor tweek that would fit them better, the the improvement would be minimal and someone else probably would not like it. Working the Commando booth at shows taught me that everybody wants some tiny tweak to everything. Added durability and reduced weight are really what someone should be chasing if they are trying to improve on existing designs. If you can do it at a reduced cost, all the better as far as selling them. However, as stated above, $300 for a bag hand made in the USA really isn't that high. Only way to reduce cost would be mass production overseas, and that would come with its own challenges.

waterproof compartment for keys and phone might be a good addition.

there are some nice bags out there that don't cost $300 too. Its not something you have to have.

MAK makes EXACTLY that bag, both in a tall and a short, made in the USA, both under $100.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31-Stc%2BBTmL.jpg

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/tackle_2269_44300587

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31WxEzrhe3L.jpg

Here's one of the bags I have had for over 20 years. It is $45 now. I think I paid $25 with the inserts

I bought that exact bag 2 years ago Pete, great little bag. Wear it right on my belt. Very lightweight & durable. Room for bucktails and leader material. I also use a second smaller pouch with plastic insert, on my belt for some riggies. I found it made me think more about the areas I fish, and what I'll be throwing, and plan accordingly on what I carry. I end up with 7-8 plugs instead of 25+. That doesn't work for everyone and a lot of guys feel better knowing they have any plug they want, at any time. I just found that when I carry that many plugs to some of these places, I end up reaching for the same 4-5 "confidence" plugs anyway. I will say that it's not my every night bag, and there are nights when I'm going to be a long way from my truck, when I would just rather carry my plug bag to be sure I have what I need, but it is a very versatile bag.

I put together a 3 tube skins bag on a belt with a small nylon utility belt to hold plyers, boca & few small tools. Great for surf.

Unless the design changed in the last year only the middle picture is the $100 angler. Top and bottom are the $200 surfcaster. My angler has gotten a lot of use the last 2 seasons and looks like it may holds up a couple more.
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I have that exact bag - my inserts are black - love it

Then contact Numbskul directly, pm, and contract with George to make you one. Best bag I have ever had or ever will have. No hooks have ever penetrated the matterial, none. It three season of use so far. I beat them up, the bags, big time. At some point I am going to ask George to make me another one, they are treasures.
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Couple hundred dollars buys quite a few eels

:hidin:

Thanks for the kudos, its nice to know the thing held up.

Just to be clear, I don't sell bags (or plugs). I build stuff for fun and my own needs. Making a business out of it would kill that fast.

Good catch - updated accordingly.