Travel carry on rod cases

[Neal Osborn]

I would appreciate some suggestions on a good system for airline travel and carry on fly rod cases.

[Zach Matthews]

Right here, Neal.

[Morsie]

Neal, I do a great deal of travelling with fishing tackle (probably around 50 flights a year) and these are my observations.

1. Its meant to be confusing so there’s no predictable pattern for terrorists to take advantage of.

2. Forget carry on tackle – save yourself all the stress and hassle – buy 4 piece rods and a big bag that will hold them. I currently use a Sage travel bag that has a hard base – I can easily fit 20 rods in there without tubes but usually travel with half a dozen. I bought this bag in the US in May 2005 and its done probably 150 flights since then with no rod breakages and its still going strong. I lay the rods in the bottom of the base (packed in their socks) and then a towel and clothes over the top. I use the top section for reels, waders, boots, etc, this of course depends on where I’m travelling to. The reels and spools go into a padded divided reel bag that holds a dozen or so – it costs around $20.00 and so far no damage and no lost luggage – except for once, and that was on a return trip.

3. My only carry on luggage is my camera gear and that’s in a waterproof backpack (Wttex).

Morsie

[Zach Matthews]

Incidentally, Morsie’s advice is excellent.

[Cameron Mortenson]

Neal…I second the vote for the Dan Bailey’s Signature Series Carrier.

[Jack Cummings]

I fly with and carry on one similiar to the cases that Zach suggested from Dan Baileys though mine is an Orvis model bought in a blow-out sale.
It’s square PVC covered in nylon that is easily X-Rayed. It hold 4 (or 5) 4 piece rods.
I also carry on an Abel ‘Holds Everything’ bag for my camera’s, reels, books and other odds and ends.

My clothes may not make because they’re checked in but I know the family jewels are with me at all times traveling this way!

[Carter Simcoe]

I think I’ve got that Orvis case.

[Jack Cummings]

Carter, my ‘O’ case has nothing inside but smooth PVC. The cloth lid for it zips shut. The thing works perfectly. I just make sure the rods are in the rod socks they came with.

Yours is probably another Orvis better idea that ain’t… like making their reels in the far east!

[Carter Simcoe]

yeah, sounds like a different one, mine is square pvc.  I did get it for next to nothing on closeout too though.  One of the few products I’ve ever bought that way where I actually understood why it was being closed out…..

[Zach Matthews]

The concept of Carter chinese-handcuffed into his own rod tube while a bait blitz roars around him has me chuckling pretty hard here.

Zach

[Carter Simcoe]

I think it was more like I had a beer I needed to grab.

[Mike L.]

I have a 48″, circular pvc rod tube from cabelas.

[Mike L.]

This is the one I have:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat600026&rid=&indexId=cat600026&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat600026&id=0002072

Not the magnum one, but the samller one.

[Carter Simcoe]

Cabelas has got some nice cordura covered ones with zippered tops too.

[Author]

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