Why the Right Gear Bag Matters: Inside the Mokelumne Tackle Bag

We’ve fished enough days to know this: if your gear’s a mess, your day probably will be too. It’s not dramatic. It’s just true. You’re out on the water, tying on a fly, fish rising, and you can’t find your tippet or your nippers because they’re buried somewhere under five fly boxes and an old sandwich bag. That’s the kind of problem the Mokelumne Tackle Bag was built to solve.

At Adamsbuilt Fishing, we’ve been designing gear long enough to know what actually matters. We’re not here to reinvent the wheel; we’re here to make it turn smoother. The Mokelumne is the bag we always wanted on the water: compact, dialed-in, and able to take a beating.

We built it as a compact fly fishing tackle bag, but don’t let the word “compact” fool you. This thing holds a surprising amount of gear, without feeling like you’re hauling a suitcase.

 

Function, Not Flash

We don’t load this bag up with gimmicks. Every feature exists for a reason. Take the hidden waterproof cover, tucked away until you need it. You’re mid-float and a squall rolls in? Pull it out, and your gear stays bone dry. No panic, no duct-taped garbage bags.

The same goes for the molded base. It sits flat, even on uneven ground or boat flooring. No sag, no tip. Seven external pockets handle the fast-access gear, hemostats, floatant, and snacks. Two extra web pockets give you quick-grab options. Rod tube loops and heavy-duty Gunnel hooks round it out, giving you reliable tie-down points for boat days.

It’s a workhorse. Not flashy. Just smart.

 

The Inside Counts More Than the Outside

Look, outside features are nice, but the inside’s where a tackle bag either works or drives you nuts. The Mokelumne has fully padded sides and top to protect your reels and boxes from bumps and drops. Inside, there are twelve organizer pockets and adjustable padded dividers, so you can set up the layout that works for you. Want a full row for reels? Done. Need space for bug spray, leader spools, and two backup sunglasses? No problem.

We’ve tested enough fly fishing equipment bags to know most fall apart right here. They either have no structure or they overcomplicate it. We’ve kept it clean, customizable, and intuitive.

 

Comfortable to Carry, Solid When You Set It Down

We added a molded handle for short walks and a padded shoulder strap for longer hauls. Whether you’re hiking into a backcountry stream or just dragging it from the truck to the drift boat, it carries well. Doesn’t dig, doesn’t flop.

And it holds its shape when you set it down. No caving in. No gear avalanche.

 

Also Read: Fish Don’t Care If Your Gear Gets Soaked, But You Should

 

Made for the Way You Actually Fish

You know your routine. So do we. That’s why we didn’t design this bag around what looks good in a catalog; we built it for how you actually use gear on the water. It’s clean, organized, durable, and easy to live with. That’s the whole point.

This compact fly fishing tackle bag is the one we reach for ourselves. And after enough seasons, enough sun-warped zippers and soaked-through duffels, we figured it was time to just make the thing right.

 

Here’s the Bottom Line

A good gear bag isn’t optional. It’s one of the few things that makes your day easier or harder, every single time you use it. The Mokelumne Tackle Bag earns its spot in the boat or on your shoulder. You can fish light or pack heavy. You’ll stay organized either way.

If you’re ready to stop fighting your gear and start fishing more efficiently, this is the bag. And if you need to round out your setup, we’ve got a full lineup of fly fishing equipment bags designed with the same principles: no fluff, just function.

We fish. We build gear that reflects that. The Mokelumne does exactly what it’s supposed to do, and doesn’t make a scene about it.