Flying with fishing gear

[Motor Fish]

Any pointers? I hope I can eventually get to Florida. Plan was to fly to Tampa on Sat. morning, but I'm not too sure that will happen.

Right now I was planning on packing my reel in my carry on, checking the tackle bag, but I'm not sure what to do with my rod. 8' two piece. I don't own one of those travel bags. Perhaps I can make one out of PVC.

I hope Frances fizzles.

[Surfcastinglife]

u've got better luck bettin it'll strengthen then fizzle :P i bought a rod down in key west and had no probs bringin it up here i put it in pvc and had no probs with it

[Shawn B]

You may want to call the airline you are going on and make sure they will let you take a reel in your carry on bag. I asked Southwest last time I went down to FL and they said I couldn't. I asked them why I couldn't and the lady said that you could strangle someone with the fishing line.......not even kidding.

[BrianS]

We just canceled our flight to Tampa tomorrow...

We were going to leave Tampa on Sunday for Myrtle Beach, but it wasnt worth the risk...

Frances is coming, and hard...

So instead we are just going to Myrtle Beach and will get it a few days later.. As long as I can still fish down there, I am fine with that.

[outfished]

I seriously doubt you'll be allowed onboard with the rods, even if you call ahead and ask. They may say yes on the phone, but once there it could be a different story. DON"T EVER TRUST AN AIRLINE! How about getting your pvc tube or a sturdy cardboard one and fedX it down before you leave? I also wouldn't "check" it onboard, you'll end up with lots of little useless rods!

[Bass Nut]

I travelled to FLA last spring and brought the rods. I got a travel tube at Galyans in Danvers. It was about 35 bucks. Put the rods in with some bubble wrap lightly at the tips and shipped them down UPS ground. I sent them about a week before I left to the hotel we were staying at.

You are better off shipping them, many many rods have gone home with the Samsonite Ape.

[Skip N]

The airlines are all messed up about bringing rods om planes. They refused to let me bring my 4 piece fly rod on as a carry on but on my way back from my trip a gentlemen had his 4pc rod on the plane with him guess its all about what screener you have. now i just use one of those Plano rod tubes and check it in with all my bags. Very durable and can fit a few rods in them with no prob. Thats your easiest way and you wont have any probs with the airlines.

[Arzic Olivier]

Flying from France, I couldn't get my 4-pcs fly rod nor my 5-pcs spin rod IN the plane, but could check it with the luggage.
And the reels were in my cabine luggage.

From Logan to Paris, I just put my new 8-foot 1-pc Tica in a cardboard tube, not even a scratch on it.

You never know what kind of person will check you in, or screen you and your luggage, so my .02 $ advice is that you be prepared for the worse : PVC tube

And if you're a frequent customer and have good relationships with a tackle shopkeeper, you could get one of these factory tubes for free (That's what they use to ship the rods from the factory to the shops, right, so they probably fly sometimes !)

And, by the way, many thanks to mr SALTWATER EDGE for the cardboard tube, it did fine, though inspected and re-wrapped in Logan.

Olivier

[fishweewee]

Motor Fish,

Based on my experience I really think it's a better idea to Fedex bulky items like rods to your destination (with insurance) and back. Don't count on the airlines to accommodate you, especially at the last minute. You might cringe at paying extra, but I just have my own horror stories to tell about broken and stolen rods.

Call ahead to your hotel/motel and ask if they can hold onto your stuff.

Clearly mark your shipping label with "your name, guest of ___ hotel."

Bring your reels with you in your carry-on luggage. You'll get a lot of attention from security, but most likely they'll let you bring your reels on without checking them.

Obviously, any sharps like hooks and other terminal tackle have to be checked. Might as well fedex that stuff too.

If you have a 2 piece rod, go to your local tackle shop and ask them for a stiff cardboard shipping tube (PVC is a lot heavier). Then pack both ends with some soft material like foam.

-WW

[Motor Fish]

Thanks for the help everyone. Since I'm not even sure that I'll ever get down there (thanks to Frances), I'm not going to take the Fedex / UPS route.

I'm going to stop at the local tackle shop tonight and see if I can get one of those cardboard tubes, if not, then PVC.

Thanks again.

[JohnR]

Motorfish - buy a 2 piece Tica if you don't want to fedex.

Assuming you were going to go - if you know where you will be staying and are able to make arrangements, Fedex in a lined PVC is the way to go. I covered each of my 2 rods in that foam insulation for heating pipes, reversed them inside the tubes (tip on one rod same end as butt section of the other), and shipped 2nd day air no problems. Did this a couple times when I was setting up offices on the west coast and wanted to winter fish for Stripers & Sturgeon. Reasonable price, safe and reliable.

[outfished]

Being a photographer, I've had the distinct opportunity to witness baggage handlers at their best. I spent a couple of days on Logans tarmack a couple of years back on assignment and I was appalled at the way the handlers were treating the baggage.
They simply don't care, throw it all in, the faster and harder the better. Also now that all baggage is subject to inspection, can you be sure your precious cargo will be put back together again properly? FedX you can insure, checked baggage though??????

[Thom]

Took a trip last year to Solvina. Put one of my rods in my carry on with all my other fishing equipment and put another in my checked didn't have a problem nobody riased an eyebrow. ThomT

[Swimmer]

I made a PVC four inch tube with a screw on off end and a glued on end. I drilled holes in it because the first time I used it when I arrived at my destination in Califonia the fowm exploded out the end of the tube when I opened because it remained pressurized somehow. Also I drilled a hole sideways through the top so that the drilled hole can accomodate a long-hasped lock. The hole goes all the way through to the tube. Also I covered the tube with all kinds of fishing decals so no one would dare grabbed it from the baggage claim area. Sticks out like a billboard. Fits at least three rods and probably four if I put two in butt first and the other two opposite. The holes also accomodate bomb sniffing machines at the airports.

Blurple flys work awesome