Washington Fly Fishing Forum banner

Stripping Buckets/Baskets

2129 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  mtskibum16
Really delighted to see the Sea Level line of stripping buckets and baskets has been sold and they are now being manufactured locally by a new company who actually delivers them--a problem with Sea Level. Saw them in a fly shop this week, same light and durable foam construction, best I've ever seen anywhere. You can of course make your own as I have, but these are so much nicer and look much better too. I'm going to drop $180 to get one for my Whaler soon.

Looks like it's the same price direct (plus shipping) or from a retailer. If you're a boater stripping fast lines or a beach angler using a basket, have a look at these.

https://www.thebucketworks.us/
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
I'm going to drop $180 to get one for my Whaler soon.
I think Boston Whalers demand the good stuff :D.
I think Boston Whalers demand the good stuff :D.
Well OK, got me on that one. I'm pretty bad about making that skiff look good :) These really are the chit though.
I had nothing but excellent service from Sea Level the times I bought things from them.

To bad the owners health didn't allow him to continue to run his business once he became ill to do so.
SF
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I had nothing but excellent service from Sea Level the times I bought things from them.

To bad the owners health didn't allow him to continue to run his business once he became ill to do so.
SF
My first bucket showed up crushed because it was just thrown in a cardboard box. Of course an open bucket won't survive shipping. It needs a lid or other support to keep from crushing. Sea Level told me there was insurance on it so I went down to the post office at his insistence. Post office said no insurance was paid for which Sea Level obviously knew but was trying to stall me on. Back to Sea Level who now wanted me to send broken bucket back on my dime. Finally said you've got pictures so ship another one or I'll cancel with my credit card. Another properly packed bucket showed up. Bucket worked fine for about a year before the bottom fell out. So mediocre service and a poorly built product means never again for me.

Try a square cross section bucket and you'll never go back to round..
A regular pail would work for you in the bottom of a boat. That a lot of bucks to spend on a bucket with no handle on it.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
My first bucket showed up crushed because it was just thrown in a cardboard box. Of course an open bucket won't survive shipping. It needs a lid or other support to keep from crushing. Sea Level told me there was insurance on it so I went down to the post office at his insistence. Post office said no insurance was paid for which Sea Level obviously knew but was trying to stall me on. Back to Sea Level who now wanted me to send broken bucket back on my dime. Finally said you've got pictures so ship another one or I'll cancel with my credit card. Another properly packed bucket showed up. Bucket worked fine for about a year before the bottom fell out. So mediocre service and a poorly built product means never again for me.

Try a square cross section bucket and you'll never go back to round..
Sorry to hear about your bucket experience.
I never ordered a basket or bucket, but order other things from them multiple times.
All were delivered on time and as promised.

I don't believe he produced the baskets himself, which might explain the lack of availability.

To the OP,
Is the new company that is producing these Tony Buzolich's company or a totally different company?
SF
I too made quite a few orders from Sea Level and had no complaints
But I never ordered a bucket either


These are cool but at first glance I wish they were bigger around. After using the ones Bart has in his boat I've come to appreciate a large bucket for multiple reasons. Easier strip into, and doesn't seem to have anywhere near as many tangles.
In the specialized buckets there is a "yak bucket" that's shallow. I might make one out of cardboard to test the size and see if it will work for me. Timely post as I'm trying to figure out a line management solution on my yak.
Old Matt Burke used a rubber made dishpan. He cut slots in it for a web belt and used heavy panduit ties for the fingers. It worked for him. He told me it worked better than the commercial ones out there.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Old Matt Burke used a rubber made dishpan. He cut slots in it for a web belt and used heavy panduit ties for the fingers. It worked for him. He told me it worked better than the commercial ones out there.
After using both, that's simply not true in my opinion. That's just something you tell yourself if you don't want to spend $60 on a commercial one. :D Are the dish tubs workable? Absolutely. Better than the good commercial ones? Hardly.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
After using both, that's simply not true in my opinion. That's just something you tell yourself if you don't want to spend $60 on a commercial one. :D Are the dish tubs workable? Absolutely. Better than the good commercial ones? Hardly.
I'm inclined to agree with this...

that said, I still like my homemade one cause it's the only one I have (I used the IKEA stool flipped over with toy traffic cones for the cones).
I'm inclined to agree with this...

that said, I still like my homemade one cause it's the only one I have (I used the IKEA stool flipped over with toy traffic cones for the cones).
Yeah, totally not saying everyone has to go buy one and a homemade one doesn't work. If it works for you then that's all that matters. I spend enough time with mine strapped to me, that the small details a commercial one gets you add up to the point it was worth the $$$. It's a lifetime investment as long as you don't lose it or run it over. I am planning to make something for my kayak though as I can't find an off the shelf product that does what I want.

I've never dried these foam ones, but the foam would be nice in the boat so it's not clunking around so loudly.
Unless you are fishing the surf, baskets with holes are a no go.....
SF
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Unless you are fishing the surf, baskets with holes are a no go.....
SF
This.

Against the advice of several here, including SF, I drilled holes in mine years ago. What a hassle.

I won't go into the many reasons why I hate having holes, but just take my word for it... Listen to SF and avoid them like the plague.

So glad a kind forum member gave me another one so now I have a second without holes.
^^^that. although I mostly fish the surf, so I have holes in mine. anywhere else...forget the holes.
This.

Against the advice of several here, including SF, I drilled holes in mine years ago. What a hassle.

I won't go into the many reasons why I hate having holes, but just take my word for it... Listen to SF and avoid them like the plague.

So glad a kind forum member gave me another one so now I have a second without holes.
Sometimes you have to learn lessons the hard (annoying) way.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top