Having a cooler than not only looks cool, but stays cool, is an important piece of gear for many different outdoor activities. When your fishing keeps you out on the water all day on a hot day or even for multi-day trips, having a quality cooler is important for storing food and maybe even bringing home pounds of fish for fillets.
Comparison Chart of the Best Fishing Coolers and Bags
Product | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
Silver Horde Katchkooler II Bag  | ||
CANYON Insulated Fish Cooler Bags  | ||
Reliable Fishing Products Kill Bag  | ||
ENGEL USA Cooler/Dry Box  | ||
Coleman Coastal Xtreme Series Marine Portable Cooler  | ||
YETI Tundra 65 Cooler  |
What is a Fishing Cooler?
While any insulated cooler can technically be used for fishing, there are now products on the market catered specifically towards anglers and hunters. Generally speaking, most outdoor enthusiasts use coolers that fall into one of two categories. Traditional chests and insulated bags; both of which serve anglers well and are versatile enough for other types of activities.
Insulated Chest Coolers
Insulated Chest are the traditional go-to cooler for any activity, particularly fishing. They come in a variety of sizes and can accommodate large amounts of stuff. They serve a dual purpose as a great sturdy sitting surface (a nice addition on some boats). However, most are big, bulky, and take up a lot of room in and out of use. I use ithem for both food/drink and storing fish.
However, if you are storing uncleaned fish, it is often better to have a dedicated fish cooler so you don’t have to scrub out that fishy smell all the time. Better yet, consider a fish bag to compliment your food cooler.
Insulated Fish Cooler Bags
Insulated Fish Cooler Bags are a much more portable and packing-friendly option for casual anglers. It can do nearly as good of a job, if not better, at keeping its contents cold than a chest cooler. They are generally flat in profile and as such, are great at holding whole fish. The flat profile doesn’t quite allow them to free-stand and thus, using it as a food cooler isn’t as ideal. However, they can still be a dual purpose option and are very packable in use and are easy to store when not in use.
Key Features of our Favorite Fishing Coolers
Selecting a cooler for fishing can very much come down to a set of personal preferences. Taking into consideration many different variables such as size, features, rod holders, extra storage, wheels, etc, it is easy to get lost in the spectrum of choices. While most of the choices come from these sorts of “personal preferences”, there are a few things to take into consideration.
Insulation
Insulation is perhaps the biggest consideration and directly relates to ice/cold retention ability. If you need a cooler for multi-day excursions, consider getting something with over an inch of insulation. However, for quick day trips, you can get away with a lighter weight and more compact option with less than one-inch thick insulation.
Coleman Coastal Xtreme Series Marine has Insulated lid and walls provide 6 full days of ice retention at temperatures up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit
Drain Plug
Drain Plug is another feature to consider. Decide whether you need one or not. Generally, smaller models don’t have a drain plug and larger ones do.
Size and Portability
Size and Portability are other big factors. What size you choose depends on your needs. If weekend camping excursions with the family are common, try looking at a 50 or 65-liter at a bare minimum. If day trips are more your style, you will likely benefit more from a size of 50-liters or less.
Quick Take | Best Fishing Coolers
Just looking for the top three best fishing coolers? Here they are:
Review of the Best Fishing Coolers
Now we are going to switch gears and take a look at the models on our list. Let's start with the best insulated cooler bags, then dive into the the best fishing coolers of the year.
Best Overall Bag:
Silver Horde Katchkooler II Bag
PROS
CONS
The KatchKooler II insulated bag by Silver Horde is designed specifically to hold fish and keep them cool. It is not so much designed as a food/drink cooler, though it can always be utilized for such.
What makes it more intended for holding fish is the shape and profile of it. This insulated bag doesn’t quite have a flat bottom to allow it to stand up. This bag is more flat-shaped with dimensions of approximately 40” by 16”. The shape and size of this show its intent to use for storing and cooling fresh fish.
With the size, you can load it up with ice and stack fish in it all day long. Simply bleed your large fish out before throwing them in the bag on ice. The outer and inner fabric layers are sealed and made of waterproof fabric to make cleanup/disinfecting a breeze. Additionally, it features two reinforced grab handles to make picking up that heavy load of fish even easier.
Bottom Line
If your main objective is to stack loads of whole fish into, this might be your best bet. At a convenient size, it is handy to have for a handful of trout all the way up to 50 plus pounds of salmon. This no-frills, insulated, and waterproof cooler bag is a safe bet.
Best Overall Cooler:
ENGEL USA Cooler/Dry Box
PROS
CONS
There are times you need to keep things cold or dry, and sometimes you need both. Engel has produced their coolers to be airtight, insulated, and lightweight, making them essential pieces of gear for all sorts of outdoor adventures. The airtight seal is sure to keep the hot air from getting to the contents while keeping the inside icy cold.
The tight seal keeps them totally waterproof up to a depth of three feet. The primary use is keeping food cold and fresh, while tight seal also makes it a perfect place for cameras, temperamental electrical equipment, medines, or safety equipment.
The expanded polystyrene insulation is encapsulated in seamless, reflective, and non-absorbent molded plastic, not only giving it an attractive design but maintaining total functionality and ease of cleaning. Being a product designed for use around boats and water, it is built with marine-grade hardware to keep it durable and corrosion-resistant.
One of the great features is that it features four vertical rod holders. These can serve as excellent storage space for rods on your boat. However, if fishing from the shore, this makes a great combination seat and fishing rod holder to keep you hands-free and comfortable. Use the shoulder carrying strap, load some food/drinks, and pop some rods in the rod holders and you will have an easy walk to the water’s edge
Bottom Line
This portable and attractive cooler by Engel makes a great addition to the gear stash of any outdoor enthusiast. For the angler, this is great for a day out on the boat or fishing on the bank. It makes a great food/drink cooler foremost and can store smaller fish or fish fillets as well. It makes a great seat, is totally airtight to keep stuff safe, and features four fishing rod holders to top it all off. Did I mention it is available in some fun colors?
Bag Runner-up:
CANYON Insulated Fish Cooler Bags
PROS
CONS
Canyon Brand coolers have made a reputable name for themselves in recent years. This company is a made in America company based out of Flagstaff, AZ; the hub of all Grand Canyon River activity. Canyon developed their brand for river trips through the Grand Canyon desert. As such, they became well-versed in properly insulated coolers that are highly functional and packable.
In addition to the hard-sided models that gave Canyon Cooler their reputation, they produce several other insulated cooler-type products. One of which is a fish cooler bag meant for anglers to easily store whole, dead fish in for quick preservation on ice.
This fish bag is well-insulated with one-inch of foam and features a reflective white, heavy duty, fiber-laced outer fabric that remains waterproof, keeping your boat clean and your inner contents safe. Heat-sealed seams mean no stitching to soak up blood, grime, and odors. Additionally, it has two sewn-on 2” webbing handles to make transport and carrying simple.
One of the best features is the wide range of availability in size. This bag comes in nearly a dozen different sizes that hold anything from small trout and bait to large swordfish up to eight feet in length. Canyon Cooler designed a bag specifically with storing whole fish of all types in mind.
Bottom Line
Canyon Cooler, an American-based company, has developed a reputation for building insulated coolers built to take a beating and keep stuff cool in some of the harshest environments out there. If you are looking for a fish cooler bag, particularly a very specific size, this comes highly recommended and is a safe bet with a lifetime warranty.
Cooler Runner-up:
Coleman Coastal Xtreme Series Marine Portable Cooler
PROS
CONS
A simple, no fuss, no fancy, working-class cooler. Despite the Coleman Coastal Extreme series looking like any other you can pick up at Walmart, it features higher building standards, making it more suitable for rugged outdoor use. It doesn’t look too fancy though. This is what helps keep it at a nice budget price. It’s a simple molded plastic cooler like most people are used to and it gets the job done.
This large 120-quart capacity cooler is an excellent for multi-day camping or a big boat. With it being this size, you will have plenty of room for food and drinks to coexist with whole or filleted out fish in there as well. Coleman claims this is able to retain ice for up to six days at 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Being a Marine-rated cooler, it features corrosion-resistant and heavy-duty hardware to stand up to years of abuse. Being so large, you will appreciate the integrated drain plug.
Bottom Line
This serves an excellent role as a large chest cooler for weekend or boat getaway that is still affordable. You don’t have to spend big money on a big name brand cooler. Conversely, buying a cheap option at your local store is not a good long-term investment. This Coleman cooler fills the middle ground with a well-built yet affordable chest cooler.
Best for the Money Bag:
Reliable Fishing Products Kill Bag
PROS
CONS
This plus-sized fish bag is great to have on your boat and is able to fit pounds and pounds of whole fish in it. The heavy-duty, marine-grade vinyl is waterproof, mildew-resistant, UV-resistant, and easily washable. The insulation comes from flexible closed cell ½” foam, protected by durable vinyl inside and out.
Unlike other dedicated fish bags which are flatter in design, this cooler bag features a gusseted bottom, allowing it to free-stand. This, in my opinion, also makes it a good candidate for a food/drink cooler. The overall size is approximately three feet by one foot at the base. The top opening is larger to making loading and unloading your catch easier.
Bottom Line
For a high capacity fish bag that conveniently free-stands in the bottom of your boat, here is your answer. With a flat bottom, wide mouth, and durable design; it is a great addition to your boat if you plan on taking fish home.
Best for the Money Cooler:
YETI Tundra 65 Cooler
PROS
CONS
From the name that started the recent cooler fad, YETI is now a product synonymous with insulated coolers of all types. However, one of the designs that started it all, the classic Tundra 65, is one that can now be found in the backs of vehicles nationwide.
The attractive Rotomolded construction is not only what gives it the iconic attractive look, but it is a serious coat of armor that is virtually indestructible. The Tundra line also hosts the T-Rex Lid Latches made of heavy-duty, yet flexible rubber to ensure a quick and tight seal of your lid and don’t have to worry about breaking it.
It is tough to name all the great features of the Yeti Tundra line but here are a few. An Interlocking lid system keeps it airtight and cool. Tie down slots allow you to secure it to a boat, truck, or raft while still being able to open and close it. It also has lip grip handles along with rope handles which allow for different carrying configurations. These are just a few of the features that make the YETI Tundra a great choice.
Bottom Line
Whether you are loading food for a week-long excursion, stacking up walleye in your boat, or cooling food and drinks for a weekend BBQ, the YETI Tundra 65 is sure to impress. There is a reason it is one of the most popular coolers out there right now.
How to Clean and Care For a Fishing Cooler
For normal cooler use, a quick rinse before and after is good general maintenance. Most are designed with slick and resistant plastic on the inside to aid in cleaning.
If you are using your cooler for whole dead fish or it had something spoil inside of it, a little deeper cleaning might be in order. Any sort of disinfectant and/or degreaser is a simple way of cleaning it. Give it a good scrub down and final rinse and you should be good to go. Baking soda also helps to absorb any unwanted odor.
Conclusion
Now it is time for you to make the decision on whether you need a fish bag or a chest cooler to add to your gear arsenal. While fish bags are an excellent tool to have for storing fish, they don’t serve many other purposes. A hard chest cooler can be the best of both worlds but is generally bulky and heavy. The one you end up with will hinge on your own preferences and needs. Armed with a little knowledge, the decision should be easy.