DIY IKEA line tray

A simple DIY line tray

Jesper Barsholm

Line trays AKA stripping baskets can be really handy for people fly fishing from dry land or in the surf. Keeping the loose line in a basket at your waist can save you a lot of trouble having it floating in the waves, stuck in the bottom or simply tangling in grass or bushes.

There are a lot of commercial products available from Brand names like Orvis to lesser known names like the Danish Linekurv to something absolutely no-name.
Prices vary, but as it's almost always the case, fly anglers seem to have to pay a lot for very little, and considering that most line trays are essentially plastic dish washing tubs with a strap, they sometimes appear slightly overprized.
Well, since they look like tubs with a strap, why not make one using a tub and a strap?
Danish angler Jesper Barsholm posted this simple and inexpensive design on Facebook, creating a line tray using easily accessible IKEA items with a price of about 20 US$, which is typically very much less than the trays you can get in fly-shops.

The parts

IKEA

This little project can be a perfect way of fighting the last bit of spring fever here in the northern hemisphere and get ready for the coming spring season.

A tub and a drying rack, both in the Boholmen series and a strap - either from the collection of such straps that many of us seem to have, like an old wading belt - or from IKEA, who can also supply a luggage strap called Frakta.

So the list of parts runs like is:

- Boholmen rinsing tub, USD 9.99
- Boholmen flatware basket, USD 7.99
- Frakta strap, USD 3,99

Apart from that you will need a few thin cable ties and a drill and maybe a cutter or simply a pair of scissors to trim the ties and maybe the strap.
Since you get two straps in a pack from IKEA, you might as well buy two tubs and two racks and get two line trays for almost exactly 40.- USD and you have a nice gift for a fishing friend.

You can make an even cheaper couple of trays by using a children's bathroom stool called Forsiktig also from IKEA, as a replacement for the tub. That might not seem immediately perfect for the purpose, but turn it upside down, and you have an ergonomically shaped basket that will sit tight to your body thanks to its curved shape.

- Forsiktig children's stool, USD 4.99

You will need to drill a few holes to secure the rack in the bottom of the tub with a few cable ties. You might want to dissect the rack a bit, since it has some handle like extensions on the side that you can remove, but you can also select just to leave them on.
The strap can also be fixed on the backside of the tub using cable ties, and four small holes and two ties will do the job. A few more holes and strips can secure an even tighter fit. Play it by ear until you are satisfied.

Some assembly required

Martin Joergensen