Is there a decent baitcasting telescoping rod?

[Cerhardt161]

Im headed down to Austin Texas with my dad and brother to see the F1 race in October. There both huge fans and want to go to practice and qualifying and do as much as possible at the track. I love racing but i love fishing more than they like racing combined and being from New York, Texas in October seems like a fishing chance i cant miss. Im not bringing a full length rod down because its not worth the hassle to just fish from shore and i also dont want to bring a spinning rod for many reasons. So the question is do i buy a nice telescoping baitcasting rod to keep for future trips or is it better to hit bass pro and get a 30-50$ rod to give away at the end of the week? Also if your from around the area and know water around there with decent public access id appreciate it.

[ATA]

The best telescopic rod I have is Black Hawk II by kastking.

[E-rude dude]

Ship the gear to one of them before you arrive.

then you can just get a rod that comes in 2 pieces

[ike8120]

I have a KK Compass

[Fishes in trees]

I've owned 2 telescoping fishing rods, and I used and liked them both.   For almost 2 decades I had a made in America All Star SJ2 - a 6'10" telescoping jig rod - it was my go to 10" worm rod.    This spring, due to operator error this rod is permanently broke.   It is stapled to the side of my fishing shed as a constant warning not to do dumb stuff with quality fishing rods.  The other telescopic casting rod that I have is a 7'5" Kistler All day flipping/pitching rod.  This is my designated bubba drop shot rod.  This rod is always in the boat.   Never had a great day with it ( a great day is 30 or more fish - same rod & same technique), but on a dozen or more occasions it has turned a poor day into a decent day with 4 or 5 decent fish on slow bite days.

I've thought about using this rig for other baits, but I've got jig rods that I like better and pretty recently I got a close out Carolina rig/Biffle Bug rig that I like alot better, if I need to have a back up jig rod.

 

Back to the question, I haven't seen any decent telescopic bait casting rods in person at the various tackle shops that I frequent for a long time.  Good luck finding one that you like.

 

Option A - ship gear down there to where ever you're staying, insure the heck out of it, then you'll have what you need, or think you need.  Option B - I'm pretty sure that in Austin, Texas there are a couple of tackle shops - get on line or on the phone and purchase what you need/want and have it waiting for you there.   Option C - you don't know where you're going, but I'm pretty sure that somewhere near Austin, Texas there are fishing guide who do - find one of them, hire them and use their gear.  Option D - my guess is that there are a few members of this board who live in or around Austin, Texas.  Perhaps one of them could hook you up, take you fishing - maybe in exchange for dinner or something like that.

I don't know - it is an interesting challenge and you've got enough time to plan.   Let us know how it turns out.

[Deephaven]

2pc rods are way better than telescoping.  They pack smaller too.

[Bankc]

30 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

2pc rods are way better than telescoping.  They pack smaller too.

I don't know about packing smaller.  But I definitely like 2pc rods.  A good 2pc will feel like a 1pc rod.  The biggest problem with 2pc rods is selection.  

 

Though in your situation, I'd probably just buy a Berkley Lightning rod when I get down there.  That would probably run the cost of shipping a decent rod.  And while not a great rod, it's definitely good enough to catch fish on.  

[Linewinder]

Are the stores still kind of run dry with available selections?  Lightning Rod = Walmart and such.  I see in my area the Walmarts are without much but the toy rods.  I wonder if this route will mean more driving around.  Maybe call the dedicated shops for inventory?  Take a reel. 

[bulldog1935]

The Japanese are big on telescoping rods - probably has a lot to do with riding trains everywhere and the cultural need to save face.  Asian Portal recently received a stock of Daiwa Blazon telescoping bait rods and sold out just as quickly.  But I'm sure searching each rod maker will find examples, and maybe stock

. 

Standard overall length: 2.08m, Joint quantity: 6 pieces, Closed length: 47cm, Weight: 133g, Tip diameter: 1.8mm, Original diameter: 14.8mm, Luer weight: 5g-18g, Suitable line: 7-16lb, Carbon content: 98%, / HVF is used for carbon rods, a mobile rod capable of pursuing the essence of bass rods. It is the best material for rods that emphasize stickiness and strength. ?? Brading X: Reinforced structure that suppresses twisting that leads to power loss during rod operation by tightening in X shape with carbon tape. ?? With special case

 

If I was set on a telescoping rod, would definitely go high-grade Japan.  

 

Here's a serious Smith multipiece

Smith SS-TT60MII3 Super Strike Innovation Top Water Traveler 3-Piece Baitcasting - Asian Portal Fishing (asian-portal.shop)

The nice thing about this Smith, there's also a range of 1-pc blades offered to complement the handle.  

That's another thought, check St. Croix and Loomis for multi-piece bass casting traveler rods.  

[Deephaven]

1 hour ago, Bankc said:

I don't know about packing smaller.  But I definitely like 2pc rods.  A good 2pc will feel like a 1pc rod.  The biggest problem with 2pc rods is selection.  

 

The 8 piece telescoping rods are all garbage.  The smaller comes from comparing with ones that don't collapse as far.

22 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

The Japanese are big on telescoping rods - probably has a lot to do with riding trains everywhere and the cultural need to save face.  

Asian Portal recently received a stock of Daiwa Blazon telescoping bait rods and sold out just as quickly.  But I'm sure searching each rod maker will find examples, and maybe stock. 

Interesting.  Perhaps they are making better ones, but the ones here are trash.  I'd rather use a $30 lightning rod.  Generally airlines will let you carry on a fly rod or a 2 pc in a small case though.  That is what I'd do.

[schplurg]

I have a BPS $20 telescoping rod that I've caught a lot of fish with. I keep it in a backpack in my van for emergencies. You can buy better ones but for $20 you can give it away before coming home. Or not.

 

But ya I think you can fit a 2-piece one as carry-on.

[fishwizzard]

I have a Daiwa BBB telescoping casting rod and really like it.  I used to travel a ton and the rod packs down to like 20” and comes with a great semi-hard case.  It’s a bit fussy to set up but it’s a solid feeling rod once you do.  

[Big Hands]

This is a pretty versatile system: https://daiwa.us/products/ardito-tr-travel-rods

 

The 5+1 system at the bottom of the table

[Cerhardt161]

Probably just going to buy a rod when i get down there. With the way shipping has been its not worth risking having the rod sit somewhere for a week before they can ship it and after insurance im probably close to 25$.

 

fishes in trees- why would are you choosing to use a telescoping rod while out on the boat? Also im going to look into getting a guide down there if theres someone with a decent price that way i can just set aside a day and get my bass fix out instead of looking at every pond wishing i could fish it.

13 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

I've owned 2 telescoping fishing rods, and I used and liked them both.   For almost 2 decades I had a made in America All Star SJ2 - a 6'10" telescoping jig rod - it was my go to 10" worm rod.    This spring, due to operator error this rod is permanently broke.   It is stapled to the side of my fishing shed as a constant warning not to do dumb stuff with quality fishing rods.  The other telescopic casting rod that I have is a 7'5" Kistler All day flipping/pitching rod.  This is my designated bubba drop shot rod.  This rod is always in the boat.   Never had a great day with it ( a great day is 30 or more fish - same rod & same technique), but on a dozen or more occasions it has turned a poor day into a decent day with 4 or 5 decent fish on slow bite days.

I've thought about using this rig for other baits, but I've got jig rods that I like better and pretty recently I got a close out Carolina rig/Biffle Bug rig that I like alot better, if I need to have a back up jig rod.

 

 

[bulldog1935]

Cabelas sells Daiwa Ardito 3-pc casting rod with travel tube for $130.  

 

You can have it waiting for you in Buda.  

 

Easy to toss in overhead bin, and TSA treat travel rod cases with respect.  

I flew to Alaska on business for a dozen years and always had rods.  

OK, no rods when I went to the North Slope in Dec.  

 

[microotter]

On 6/9/2021 at 7:00 AM, Bankc said:

I don't know about packing smaller.  But I definitely like 2pc rods.  A good 2pc will feel like a 1pc rod.  The biggest problem with 2pc rods is selection.   

My current living arrangement limits me to 2 piece or multi piece rods and you are 100% correct that the biggest problem is the lack of selection. It is frustrating how limited the selections are. As someone else had mentioned, Japan seems to have a lot of options. It might be time to educate myself on shopping the JDM websites. 
 
Also, I too recommend the 3 piece Daiwa Ardito. It is a very nice rod for the price. 

[Tim Kelly]

I have been through the same thing. I need 2 piece rods for when I travel, which I need to do to go to a country with bass! St Croix do a couple of decent casting rods in 2 piece, mojo series. I make my own from MHX blanks too. Also have some Japanese rods, which are decent quality. I saw Tackle Warehouse are doing some expensive multi piece rods from Legit https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/LEGIT_DESIGN_Casting_Rods/catpage-LEGC.html

 

Which might be decent?

[Jaderose]

 

my work here is done

[bulldog1935]

you forgot the Stubcaster

 

 

[Crankin4Bass]

Another vote for the Daiwa Ardito. I have the 7' medium casting rod. It fishes a little heavier than a medium. Comes with tube that you can throw in the overhead bin.

[NYWayfarer]

Favorite makes a 4 piece casting rod for $60 called the Favorite fishing Army Geo rod. Comes in a clear plastic package that doubles as a travel case.

 

Its my stick of choice when flying somewhere I can fish. Fits in my suitcase nicely.

 

[bulldog1935]

One reason to prefer multipiece to telescoping:  

 

With multipiece rods, you can lube the male ferrules with paraffin (Gulfwax), clean both male and female ferrules with alcohol and a q-tip.  

 

My first graphite rod was 7-1/2' Browning Hi-Power with 1-pc telescoping blade that pushed into the rod butt.  

That joint collected everything, and is scarred from the bits of fine sand that ended up in the void space.  

 

Other than that, it was a great rod.  

The rod and later the reel came from Tackle Town in Rockport, back when it was Larry's Tackle Town (I still call it Larry's...)