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TOP 5 BEST FISHING BAGS FOR CARRYING ICE-COLD BEER AND FRESH FISH

 

Fishing is a hobby loved and enjoyed by many and what makes it more enjoyable is when you have the proper fishing gear. You need a cooler on a long fishing trip to pack food supplies and your favorite drinks. And if you are planning to take your catch home for dinner, you need some sort of storage for that as well. If you’re looking for a cooler to store your fish and drinks, we have got you covered as we have put up a list of the five best fishing bags for you.

Keeping all fishing scenarios in mind we carefully examined that different fishing coolers are required for camping and boat fishing. There are fishing bags, and cooler containers, and all have different carrying capacities and ice retention, durability, materials used, easy to carry, and many more. We took into consideration all their functionalities and properties. We narrowed them down to determine the best ones, and if you read this article till the end, we are sure that you will have chosen your fishing bag by then.

To know more about fishing cooler bags, here is our top 5 list for you.

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Why Need to Fishing Cooler Bags

You will need Fishing Cooler Bags for a few reasons.

In addition to the main points mentioned above, Fishing Cooler Bags can, in many cases, be considered an essential component of the fishing industry and sports. It is essential to keep the fish you are carrying and carrying fresh.

 

Top 5 Best Fishing Cooler Bags for Carrying Fresh Fish

1.Opah Fathom Fish Kill Bag

To keep the nice big fish you just caught fresh for dinner, you need an Opah Fantom Fishing cooler bag. Opah was born out of necessity to store more fish and keep it cold for a long time. Now it is a dedicated fishing cooler bags manufacturer from California.

The Fantom fish bag is completely handmade with marine-grade lead-free vinyl polyester. This material is extremely durable, UV resistant, and water and leakproof. It measures about 36 inches in length, 18 inches high,and 12 inches wide. 

The total storage capacity is measured at 52 quarts or roughly 49 kg of carrying capacity. The Interior has a fillet bag that can store your fillet fish or your beverage can. The exterior has another storage bag to keep your fishing gear intact. 

When filled, it wouldn’t trip over due to its gusseted bottom that stays upright. You need some resilient carrying handles to carry all that weight, and the Fantom has it all. 

Opah promises that these fishing bags can keep your catch cold and fresh for four days when it comes to insulation. If it stays cold that long it might be some great insulation, and that comes here as two inches of dense closed-cell foam insulation—so no need to carry a separate cooler for ice on your long fishing trips.

Cleaning this fishing bag cooler is very easy. It has a drain plug at the side bottom to completely drain it, and it is washable, so no bad odours and mildew for this fishing cooler bag.

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2. Igloo BMX

Igloo is one of the big names camping cooler manufacturers in the world. With tough and durable construction, it can be your first choice for a fishing trip. Ideal for food and drink storage, you can also convert it to keep your fish cool and fresh.

The BMX structure is a blow-molded construction that is lightweight and durable at the same time. Its exterior dimensions are L 20.08’’ x W 13.19” x H 16.34” and the interior has a 23L storage capacity. Carrying this cooler box is easy due to its reinforced handle and compact design.

This fishing cooler can retain ice for up to four days thanks to its thick double walls and lid with dense insulation. Its cooler raiser technology keeps it above the ground for air circulation to keep the ground heat away. And the rubberized “T” latches on the lid keeps the heat away from the cooler.

As you will be carrying it around, it has tie-down loops at the lid corners for secure transport, a feature many fishing bags might not have. The skid pads will keep it secure on a flat surface and protects the corners from damage.

Another utility that Igloo BMX provides is that its lid comes with a fish ruler to measure the catch. You and your friends can have a bit of a size competition and have some fun.

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3. SEEHONOR Insulated Cooler Backpack Leakproof Soft Cooler Bag 

The SEEHONOR fishing cooler bag is next to our list, and it comes in a backpack configuration. It is ideal for camping and fishing in remote and inaccessible areas. Now you can carry your food and drinks everywhere and keep them hot/cold for hours.

SEEHONOR fishing cooler bags are made of high-quality Nylon that is tear and scratch-proof. The internal storage capacity is 25L and measures L 13” x W 8.6” x H 14”. It has enough space for your beverages, food, snacks, and anything else you need for your fishing trip.

 

You will find a lot of features on the outside, such as the adjustable foam padded shoulder straps for carrying the fishing backpack. There is a large storage pocket at the front to keep utensils, an elastic bungee cord for storing fishing gear or sleeping bags, two side mesh pockets, and two “D” shaped hooks for attachments with a bottle opener. 

Let’s take a look at the insulation provided by this SEEHONOR fishing bag. The inner insulation on these fishing bags has a dense foam and leakproof PEVA lining. PEVA lining is an eco-friendly material that has anti-microbial properties. 

The insulation foam and anti-leak materials keep the temperature cold/hot for a long time, and you wouldn’t be worrying about any spills.

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4. CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag: 

If you are a fan of space-saving, then Clever Made Tahoe fishing cooler bags are for you. The foldable design of these fishing bags is perfect for a beach trip or camping in the wilderness. It will keep your beverages cold and food hot or convert them into a fish storage bag.

 

With size dimensions of 18.25 x, 12.25 x 12 inches has a compact size with an empty weight of just two pounds. Its internal size is 30L by volume and has a load-bearing capacity of 50 pounds. It means you can carry 50 cans of beverages with ice on your fishing trip.

This Tahoe fishing bag is made of high-grade polyester materials; it has a metal structure hidden inside. The metal frame provides sturdiness, and with patented hinges, the structure can be collapsed inside to fold the bag inwards. The folded size is merely 3 inches.

The interior of these fishing bags comes with a leakproof lining, and the thick layered insulation keeps your drinks cold and can also be used to store hot food. You can also convert it into carrying your catch and keep it cold for hours.

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5. Frabill Magnum Bait Station

Last on the list is the Frabill Magnum Bait Station. If you are going after a catch with alive bait, then this Fishing cooler is your perfect choice. With an aerator, your bait will be alive and healthy for a long time when you are out on your fishing trip.

 

The Frabill bait fishing cooler has an injection molded structure with round corners to protect from impacts. Its dimensions are 27.7 x 14.5 x 13 inches. The side-mounted large carrying handles makes it easy for two persons to carry, and the non-skid base helps to transport it easily.

The one-inch thick insulation all-around keeps the temperature at optimum degrees. It can be used to live bait, store fish, and cold beverages. With a gasket lining in the lid, you get long hours of cooling for your needs. You get a 30 qt storage capacity for your drinks or live bait.

To keep your bait alive and healthy, the lid has dual aerators that can be powered by 12VDC batteries or a power supply. On the inside, there is a separator to keep different types of bait at different temperatures. 

If you want to measure the size of your catch, you can use the fish measuring scale moulded on top of the lid.

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Buyers Guide

In this article, we put on a list of the top 5 fishing bags for you and explained their functions in detail. But before you take your wallet and go for the purchase, we believe there are a few things about fishing bags you need to know. After reading this buying guide full of more information that will help you in purchasing of your fishing cooler bags according to your needs. We took into consideration various factors that we are about to explain it to you.

Type of fishing cooler bag

To begin with, you need to know about what type of fishing bags suits your needs. There are two main types of fishing cooler bags. The injection moulded polymer coolers or sometimes known as chests and fishing bags made of fabric and layers of insulation materials. 

The fishing bags are made of Nylon and polyester materials. Mostly the fishing bags are carried on trips to remote areas where you can take them by wearing the shoulder or backpack straps. They are extremely light weight, offer more storage and offers easy storage. Some of the fishing bags offer folding options to make storage even easier.

On the other hand, the fishing coolers have a solid injection moulding with an insulation foam sandwiched in between. The coolers can be used for fish storage, food and beverage storage, and even in some coolers, you can keep the bait fish alive as well. Fishing coolers can be carried on fishing trips without a problem and provide better insulation even in the hot sun.

You can go for either fishing bags or fishing coolers, depending on your fishing trips. If you are looking for space saving and more storage, then fishing bags are ideal and if you want more ice retention, then go for the coolers.

Durability

Durability is one of the key features you might need to look into while choosing your next fishing cooler bags. Because it has to spend its life in a harsh environment being exposed to UV Rays of the sun, saltwater and the stress of carrying it around. Cheaply built fishing bags will not stand a chance in the harsh environment.

You should always check for UV protective materials which will provide longevity. Check for reinforced hinges, tough handles, corrosion resistance and bump protection. Suppose you want your fishing cooler is working for many years to come. In that case, you should have a durable one made of heavy duty materials.

Insulation 

Insulation is the most important factor of them all because fishing cooler bags are constructed around them. You cannot afford to overlook this factor because this might be the difference between having everything crisp cool, or stale and warm if it’s your fish or a can of beer. The degree of insulation will also affect the ice retention of the fishing cooler.

When checking for insulation, ensure that there are no cracks, gaps, or spaces in the air. Suppose there is a small amount of air getting inside. In that case, that will affect the insulation and ice retention of your fishing bag resulting in stale fish and warm beer.

You should look for fishing bags with insulation no less than 1 inches thick. Foam insulation is also a good choice. This will keep your fish and drinks cool for hour’s even days.

Ice Retention

If you are planning a fishing trip far away from home or shore, then a few hours of ice retention will not be enough. You should always go for the coolers with a longer ice retention time. Some models offer 4-5 days or even longer ice retention. How long your cooler keeps ice depends on two factors: insulation and the way you pack it. 

So always choose fishing coolers with the correct type of insulation for a longer ice retention time, pack your cooler with the right type of ice, and use the correct method of filling, leaving no gaps behind.

Size 

Fishing cooler bags come in all shapes and sizes. The size normally depends on your needs, but it is important to have a look at sizes before you purchase them. By size, we mean the outer dimensions of the cooler. If you are going on a fishing trip for a short period of time, the smaller size will do the job and will be easy to carry and bigger for longer fishing trips. The bigger the size means more fish or food and drinks you can carry, but it also adds more weight.

So go for the size which you can carry with ease because extra weight means spending extra energy.

Capacity

The capacity of a cooler is different from the size as capacity means the internal volume and weight capacity. You might think that a bigger cooler will have a larger capacity. Still, due to extra insulation, most of the time, the internal volume is relatively small. On the other hand, fishing bags provide more internal volume because of the small amount of insulation.

So always go for the fishing coolers, which have a volume larger than 20 liters. That way, you will be able to carry more fish or cold beverages on your camping trip.

Drainage

The drainage system is also an important function to be considered while looking for a new fishing bag. Having a proper drainage system leak proof in your fishing bag means you can easily empty your cooler and clean it. You should consider this factor because proper cleaning will result in smell and mold-free fishing bags.

The drainage system also comes in handy when the ice melts in your fishing bag, and it’s about to spill all over the place you can drain some excess water out. In some extreme cases, you might need to drain water from the fishing bag when you run out of water in the middle of the salty sea. We do not recommend it but if needed, always treat the water before drinking.

So make sure your next fishing bag has a leak proof drainage system.

Maintenance

Maintaining your fishing bags after a trip to the sea is really important because all the water and fish remains left inside could inhibit mildew and stinking smell. You should always go for those fishing bags that have an easy cleaning surface. If your bag doesn’t have a drain, you might face problems maintaining your fishing bags.

Price and Warranty

Finally, we come to the price and warranty as these are also one of the important factors to look into. Most of the time, people go for cheap fishing coolers that do not last very long. But that also doesn’t mean that you have to blow all your money away. You should go for those fishing bags that are affordable to your wallet and have maximum functions.

Checking for a warranty is also an important part of a purchase because if the product is faulty on arrival or doesn’t stand according to the standards, you should return or replace it. That’s why always go for those fishing bags that offer maximum warranty coverage.

FAQ’s

Q. How long will the fish stay fresh in the fishing cooler bags?

Ans. This will depend on several factors like the ice retention capability of your cooler, the duration of your fishing tour, and the level of insulation, among other factors. If the cooler is functioning normally, you store your fish for up to 4 days. External factors also depend as if it’s too hot, then the cooling might not last very long, and it also depends on how you fill the ice and which type of ice is used.

Q. Is the fishing bag suitable for storing fish?

Ans. The fishing bags on our list are suitable for storing fish as they are flexible and can easily be hanged on the side of the boat or yacht. It keeps the fish cold and fresh for a long period of time.

Q. How can I clean my fishing bag?

Ans. Cleaning is the best maintenance practice to keep your cooler functional. You need to get rid of the fish odour in the cooler and some sticky spots. Use mild soap, baking soda, and a sponge or soft brush to clean it. After cleaning thoroughly, dry the bag before storing it.

Q. Can I use the fishing cooler to carry fish and drinks?

Ans. You can choose to store fish or drinks in your fishing cooler according to your needs. Carrying both together might not be a good idea. Still, when returning from a fishing trip, you can fill your cooler with your catch the only thing you will need to do is get rid of the fishy odour.

Q. Can I carry live bait in these fishing cooler bags?

Ans. To carry live fishing bait, you need an aerator to supply oxygenated water to the bait, or they will expire before you reach the fishing spot. We recommend the Frabill Magnum Bait Station, which has dual aerators to keep your bait fish alive and healthy for a long time.

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