Plano FTO Elite Ultimate Angler System

Everything written in the review by Stu is accurate. All of the pieces are very good. But the clear plastic front flap doesn’t stay closed. I was unable to copy his homemade fix, but it inspired me to create a “cigar” from duct tape and jam it under the part of the handle that needs to catch. I made the last half roll sticky side out so the cigar may stay in place without falling out easily. This design flaw could be easily fixed with a fairly minor design change. I am very disappointed in Plano for continuing to produce this expensive product with such a glaring and often mentioned design defect.
An update: The above fix stopped woking after one boat trip. I have been experimenting with velcro strips, but the flap door doesn’t have any flat spots that face the body. I am now using a large bungee cord to hold it closed. I am also downgrading my rating to 2 stars.
2nd update: The bungee works but it also stops you from opening the 2 side opening doors that do stay closed when being transported. So I have reworked a heavy duty velcro strip made for outdoor use by putting Gorilla glue on the top 1″ and adhering it to the body just to the right of the top right clasp. And putting the mating half on the clear door, just using the adhesive that is already on the back of the velcro. I will try to post pictures of what I have done, if it holds during my next fishing adventure.
3rd update: Success. The Gorilla glue did not hold from my second attempt. So I cut a 1″ piece of Velcro and put it on the body and then put the 3″ remainder onto the door. Using only the adhesive backing that is already on the Heavy Duty Velcro strips (made for outdoor use). For the mating half of the Velcro strips I have just left the peel-off plastic backing on. If it ever falls off I am sure that the adhesive will eventually just dry and not become a problem.

It is a big box, and the stowaways are of top quality as well as completely waterproof. Things I don’t especially like: each box has three latches that are not that easy to open, it’s a lot to do to quickly grab something. It does not have dedicated spinnerbait storage. I bought a Plano 3700 size spinnerbait box to replace one of the three inside the main compartment. Overall I would say that this will be my best tackle box to date.
I am editing this review down to three stars. This box is of course made of plastic. But the thing flexes too much. Once i have my tackle loaded into the box, I cannot pick it up without the main compartment “window” falling down/open every time. The box flexes and the latch fails. It is a poor design to begin with, but now I am going to have to find some way of dealing with this problem. I can’t have the box flying open every time I want to pick it up. Very frustrating after going through the almost all day process of switching out my tackle from my old box.
Udate: I managed to “fix” the box front falling open all the time. I simply wedged a piece of plastic up under the latch to provide more force. This seems to do the trick, no more problems with it. But still, should not have to modify the unit to get it to work as intended. Bottom line: Good, big, box, but needs a little work.

Livré en temps et en heure en 3 semaines par Fedex depuis les USA. Je suis un grand fan de la marque Plano depuis que j’ai acheté et commenté le modele 1444. J’ai l’impression que ces modeles 797 et 1444 disparaissent a la vitesse ou ils sont re-stock par les vendeur donc jetez vous dessus! Allez voir des vidéos de demo de ces boités de pêche pour vous faire une idée car c’est un investissement et les photo amazon ne donne pas vraiment un bon visu.

La boite à l’air solide, elle sert selon moi de transporter ses leurres en bateau pas du bord evidement car elle doit etre lourde une fois remplie. Ma 1444 plus petite pèse 7kg mais j’ai tout dedans (peche medium 10-40gr). Dans celle-la vous pourrez remplir les nombreuses et grandes boites a leurres car elles sont profondes donc si vous pêchez en big bait cette boite est faite pour vous. Le systeme Mason permet une bonne étanchéité grace au joint qui fait son boulot. Perso je compte prendre les boite dans un sac a dos lors de mes sortie étang ou rivière pour la pêche du bord. Vous pourrez avoir TOUT votre bordel avec vous ce qui n’est pas négligeable si vous être maniaque comme moi.

Quand je l’ai commandée elle état a 135€+12 de frais de port en paiement 4x avec amazon donc ne patientez pas trop si vous la trouvez a bon prix car certain site la vende a 250€! Juste pour toute les boites en individuelles il y en a pour au moins 100€(systeme Mason=$$$) alors sa vaut le coup de prendre l’emsemble.

Bref cette boite d’une vie me plait, vive le big bait.

It was a gift, he loved it!!!! good quality, arrived quickly and well packaged.

High quality gear box. Difficult to bring out in front of fishing buddies as it engenders a huge amount of “box envy”. the stowage boxes are all high quality and the angled system is great to use. The side compartments provide room for the stowage box and I also store additional leader spools in there, 1 large spool and 2 small flourocarbon spools on the other side. The feet hold the box securely in place and each compartment opens and closes with a feel that exudes quality in excess of any other fishing box I have looked at.