While tackleboxes and flatpacks are nice for storing lures and terminal tackle, you always end up needing to take more than just tackle when you go fishing offshore or on the pier. Having a quality bag to store all your flatpacks, leaders, foul-weather gear, and any other odds and ends you need can make a world of difference when you are out on the water. My go-to has always been a duffel-style boat bag for holding all my gear when fishing in saltwater, so for more than a year now, I have been using the Bote Highwater Duffel Bag as my main fishing gear storage option. A 100% waterproof option with plenty of features, let’s see how it’s held up to a year of fishing.
Review Coverage on AllOutdoor
Specifications: Bote Highwater Duffel Bag
- 100% waterproof-submersible piece of luggage
- 100% nylon seam-welded construction
- Fully waterproof TZIP® main zipper
- Two side grab handles, a removable padded shoulder strap, and a top handle for horizontal carrying
- Interior Side Mesh Organizer Pocket for keeping smaller items separate
- Exterior Pocketing for convenient, non-waterproof, quick storage
- 3D embossed, compression-molded bottom panel for structure and protection
- Dimensions – 20″ W × 11″ H × 13.5″ D
- Weight – 2.6 LBS
- Capacity – 39 L
- Construction – 100% Waterproof Nylon & TIZIP® Zipper
- Colors – Seafoam, Black, Verde Camo, Native Bombardier
- MSRP – $349
Perfect for airports, surf breaks, and paddle excursions, the Highwater Duffel is a 100% waterproof-submersible piece of luggage. The Duffel uses a 100% nylon seam-welded construction with double-sided TPU coating and fully waterproof
On the Water: Bote Highwater Duffel Bag
So for the first trip on the water, I loaded up my Bote Highwater Duffel Bag, full of everything I would need for a full day on the County Pier. So, all my tackle flatpacks for terminal tackle, lures, and jigs, my leader material, a bib, a rain jacket, flip flops, and some extra clothing. Even with all that stuff, there was still plenty of space inside the bag. The internal pocket made a great spot to store all my wire leaders and spools of fluorocarbon. And when the rainstorms did make a showing later that morning on the pier, the fully waterproof TZIP main zipper did its job, keeping my gear and spare clothes dry while keeping the rain out.
Offshore, the Highwater continued to keep performing well. Something as being on the pier, you need to pack everything you’ll need for the whole day because we might not be back till well after dark, depending on how far offshore we’re running. So again, I loaded the bag up with all the offshore gear I needed, and still had plenty of space in the 39L bag. Additionally, as a testament to the waterproof nature of the bag, on a wahoo trip on a friend’s boat. I found the bag floating inside the console storage of the boat. We had been running the livewells without realizing that a fitting on one of the livewells leaked. So we had about 8 inches of water in the bottom of the boat. My stuff stayed in that bilge water, while my buddy’s backpack wasn’t so lucky.
At the Dock: Bote Highwater Duffel Bag
Back at the dock, cleaning the Highwater duffel bag was simple, just make sure the main zipper was closed properly and hose it down. No need to empty out the bag, just hose it off. Even with being hosed, I didn’t notice any water intrusion. The nylon material of the bag also easily sheds fish blood and grime for the most part. With only the most stubborn dirt needing a bit of a scrub to clean. So after the dip in the bilge water after that one offshore trip, the bag did get a bit of a scrub with a boat brush and detergent.
Final Thoughts: Bote Highwater Duffel Bag
My final thoughts on the Bote Highwater Duffel Bag are that while it’s not a cheap boat bag option, it definitely will perform as advertised on the water. It is a rugged and actually waterproof bag that has held up to being tossed around on pier carts, boats, trucks, and onto concrete for the past year now. While I initially had some concerns about the durability of the bottom of the bag, those fears have been put aside now, with the waterproof nylon holding up to abrasion exceptionally well. Additionally, the duffel bag actually does keep water out. I’ve had plenty of “waterproof” bags that only turn out to be water-resistant at best. I can see myself using this bag for years to come, with how well it’s held up so far. And as a final note, these bags are currently on sale on the website, as I’m writing this, for $199, so maybe rush in and grab one for yourself while they’re cheaper.
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