Best travel rod or 2 piece?

[Ksam1234]

So I started hiking a lot more and along all these trails are nice little ponds or rivers etc and I use a backpack and want to know the best travel rod in your experience ? Doesn’t have to be anything crazy expensive. 150$ is fine, but something I can use to throw some baits around! Also your input on your best fishing backpack , not just for lures but in general, to hold tackle box and other essentials while hiking.  

[jimmyjoe]

   In my mind, there's a big difference between travel rod and backpacking rod. If you've ever had a rod in a long tube catch on a tree branch while you're sliding down a hill, you'll realize what I mean.

   There are 3-pc. and 4-pc. rods on the market. The ones I'm thinking of are on the auction site, and some are made overseas.

   https://www.ebay.com/itm/FAVORITE-FISHING-GEO-TRAVEL-ROD-74-MEDIUM-HEAVY-4PC-CASTING-ROD/174321675689?hash=item289661ada9:g:8qoAAOSwIrtex-Vh

 

   .... and some aren't.

   https://www.ebay.com/itm/St-Croix-Triumph-Travel-Casting-Rod-66-Med-Hvy-Fast-4pc-TRC66MHF4/141933537777?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D227673%26meid%3D940090ffadfa43ff82d9bf194c0a7ed4%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Des%26sd%3D312775862468%26itm%3D141933537777%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithBBEV2bDemotion%26brand%3DSt.+Croix&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

   Personally, the only experience I have with 4-pc. rods is fly rods. You might want to consider those, and you might not.

 

   Good luck!       JJ

[MN Fisher]

Well, you didn't say spinning or casting - so here you go.

 

Ardito travel rod - 5+1 pieces - the extra piece changes it from a spinning into a casting rod - $140

 

MH/F - 1/4oz to 1oz lures - 8#-17# line

 

https://www.fishusa.com/Daiwa-Ardito-TR-Spinning-Casting-Combo-Travel-Rod

[Ksam1234]

On 7/18/2020 at 11:35 AM, jimmyjoe said:

   As usual, @MN Fisher is way ahead of me.    ??   Here's the 4-pc. Triumph family ..... in spinning.

 

   jj

Thank you! I will look at both ! And it can be either spinning or casting, either is fine with me. @MN Fisher I’ll check those out too!

[PaulVE64]

I would recommend a 6.5' st croix med lite fast tip (triumph or premier) spinning 2 pc rod. 

 

For packs i use an Umpqua 650

[NYWayfarer]

Think telescopic. I use the Bass Pro Shop Adventur1 and the Kastking Blackhawk 2 telescopic spinning rods for hike and fish expeditions. They are small when closed and pack easy. Depending on the rig they can be tied in advanced and collapsed so a quick extend and they are ready to go.

 

I pack light when hiking to a fishing spot. I use the Samurai Tactical Iwashi sling tackle bag from Dick’s Sporting Goods. Plenty of room for tools, soft plastics and terminal tackle. It fits a 3700 box in the main compartment and has room for another 3600 or 3500 box. 
 

If you want a 2 piece travel rod my recommendation is the St Croix Triumph or the Kastking Perigee 2 rods. Both have given me years of great service.

[LCG]

Fenwick has a travel rod, methods I think. Looks interesting. 

[Brayberry]

I think the St Croix travel rods are amazing. I have 3 and each perform perfect. 

[Born 2 fish]

I’ve used this in Florida for 3 years now with no problems.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Fiblink-Graphite-Baitcasting-Portable-Baitcaster/dp/B019TWHSGS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=fiblink+4+pieces+travel+casting+rod&qid=1595113345&sprefix=fablink+4&sr=8-2

[schplurg]

I have a $20 Bass Pro telescopic spinner with a Trion reel. My friend has the same rod (not sure if they are made exactly the same) and it has lasted him over 10 years. I use it in my Kayak too.

 

I use an $11 book backpack I got at Walmart. Rod fits in, one or two Plano 3600s, water, scale, small bag o' plastics, small terminal box. Camera equipment for GoPro, food and sunscreen. With room to spare.

 

I keep this kit in my truck ready to go.

[A-Jay]

14 hours ago, LCG said:

Fenwick has a travel rod, methods I think. Looks interesting. 

 

13 hours ago, Brayberry said:

I think the St Croix travel rods are amazing. I have 3 and each perform perfect. 

I had several M,  MH and H St Croix Tidemaster travel casting rods.  They all suffered blank failure on hooksets.  Replaced them with G Loomis Escape travel  rods. They have been great. 

I also have and use Fenwick Methods travel rods.  They have been very good as well.

A-Jay 

 

[RoLo]

8 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

I had several M,  MH and H St Croix Tidemaster travel casting rods.  They all suffered blank failure on hooksets.  Replaced them with G Loomis Escape travel  rods. They have been great. 

I also have and use Fenwick Methods travel rods.  They have been very good as well.

A-Jay 

 

I was almost convinced that my displeasure with St Croix blanks was personal.

Without getting personal about their non-travel blanks, thanks for your experienced opinion.

 

Roger

[A-Jay]

20 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

I was almost convinced that my displeasure with St Croix blanks was personal.

Without getting personal about their non-travel blanks, thanks for your experienced opinion.

 

Roger

You're welcome Roger.

I am a St Croix fan and still use several full length blank sticks.

I was surprised when the first couple failed and replaced them under warranty; which St Croix did painlessly. However they all eventually blew up.

I traded them all in for LTB sticks, so that was decent.

A-Jay 

[fishwizzard]

45 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

However they all eventually blew up.

Did they break at the joints or between them?  

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

Did they break at the joints or between them?  

Right at the ferrule joining the top section with the middle section.

Every one.

A-Jay 

 

[DogBone_384]

I give another vote for Diawa's Ardito casting rod.  I have a 7' M/F.  It's rated 1/4 to 3/4 oz., so throwing smaller jigs and soft swimbaits is no problem.  Overall, a great rod.

 

I also have an Okuma 7'2" ML/F spinning rod too.  Both come with semi-hard tube cases.  I keep them in my truck for those 'hey, I'll stop here for a few' trips.

 

When I was on the bank, I used a Spider Wire fishing backpack that has two rod holders.  I kept it simple with two piece rods, and never had problem hiking or riding my MTB through the woods.

[NJBasstard]

The Falcon Lowrider Travel rods are right at your budget. They're 3 piece rods with a case and come in a 7' M/M spinning or a  7' MH/F casting. 

[fishindad]

On 7/18/2020 at 8:39 AM, Ksam1234 said:

So I started hiking a lot more and along all these trails are nice little ponds or rivers etc and I use a backpack and want to know the best travel rod in your experience ? Doesn’t have to be anything crazy expensive. 150$ is fine, but something I can use to throw some baits around! Also your input on your best fishing backpack , not just for lures but in general, to hold tackle box and other essentials while hiking.  

I don't own these rods but if I were to do some bushwacking into small waters, I would strongly consider these 4-pc rods. They each come with two tip sections that you can swap out depending on what lures you decide to throw. The other choice I'd consider are the Falcon 3 pc Lowrider rods as NJBasstard mentioned.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-ABURODS.html?from=basres

[MittenMouth]

I use to have a lot of free time when I traveled and decided to buy the 3 piece BPS Pro Qualifier sets for both casting and spinning since I could pack a small tackle box in my bag and carry the tube on the plane. Both rods did well - no complaints.
 

one year I used them in IL, MI, MO, WI, MN, CA & FL with no issues other than the cost of my fishing licenses that year was crazy.  
 

I think they were originally like $100 but got them during one of their sales for like $80 or something each. 

[king fisher]

13 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

I give another vote for Diawa's Ardito casting rod.  I have a 7' M/F.  It's rated 1/4 to 3/4 oz., so throwing smaller jigs and soft swimbaits is no problem.  Overall, a great rod.

I also highly recommend the Ardito.  I have had two for over a year now.  One medium, and one medium heavy.  I take them everywhere I go and use them for multiple species of fish.  I don't notice any significant difference in sensitivity or any other category of performance between the Ardito and my Tatula rods.

[slimjim1135]

On 7/18/2020 at 8:15 PM, A-Jay said:

Replaced them with G Loomis Escape travel  rods. They have been great. 

I also have and use Fenwick Methods travel rods.  They have been very good as well.

Considering an upgrade from the Methods to the Escape rods. I've loved my Methods for the past few years but did break one of the top sections on a hookset not too long ago. Between the 2nd and 3rd guide. I have the other top section, but it's still made me start thinking about upgrading for trips. For over double the price, have you found the Escapes worth the cost over the Methods? 

[Kjruiz]

On 7/18/2020 at 1:37 PM, MN Fisher said:

Well, you didn't say spinning or casting - so here you go.

 

Ardito travel rod - 5+1 pieces - the extra piece changes it from a spinning into a casting rod - $140

 

MH/F - 1/4oz to 1oz lures - 8#-17# line

 

https://www.fishusa.com/Daiwa-Ardito-TR-Spinning-Casting-Combo-Travel-Rod

I have the ardito and I absolutely love it. Never thought I would get such sensitivity on a travel rod. 

[A-Jay]

6 hours ago, slimjim1135 said:

Considering an upgrade from the Methods to the Escape rods. I've loved my Methods for the past few years but did break one of the top sections on a hookset not too long ago. Between the 2nd and 3rd guide. I have the other top section, but it's still made me start thinking about upgrading for trips. For over double the price, have you found the Escapes worth the cost over the Methods? 

@slimjim1135

I have older model Escape rods. 

A version that unfortunately G Loomis no longer produces.

They are heavier actions than what is available new now and they where a little less $$ as well.

But I Love Them (and would buy a coupe more if they offered a Heavy action) 

These are a fiber blend blank that is very forgiving yet plenty stout when needed.

I've used them to land several Double Digit green bass in Mexico.

As for are they worth it - that's a personal choice.

The Fenwicks were quite a bit less $$ and still do the job.

However my Method sticks are long blanks and the Escapes are shorter,

which is more my style - so I lean that way. 

A-Jay

 

[Tizi]

I have 2 Arditos:  casting and spinning.  Fantastic rods.

[Bankc]

23 hours ago, MittenMouth said:

I use to have a lot of free time when I traveled and decided to buy the 3 piece BPS Pro Qualifier sets for both casting and spinning since I could pack a small tackle box in my bag and carry the tube on the plane. Both rods did well - no complaints.
 

one year I used them in IL, MI, MO, WI, MN, CA & FL with no issues other than the cost of my fishing licenses that year was crazy.  
 

I think they were originally like $100 but got them during one of their sales for like $80 or something each. 

I have a 2 piece BPS Pro Qualifier 2 rod.  I like the rod.  It's sensitive, light, and strong, and it fishes really well.  The price was right.  But it snapped on a cast my third time out with it.  And it didn't snap at the connection or at the tip, but rather in the middle of the top blank.  Actually, "snapped" probably isn't the appropriate term.  More like "exploded".  

 

Of course, it being a BPS rod, getting a free replacement was easy.  And my second rod has held up well so far.  Still, it makes me wonder if there's a problem with the rod's design, or if was just a bad sample.  In any case, the fact that you can return it to the store for an immediate replacement is really nice, assuming you live near one.