2 piece Travel Baitcaster

[Rockhopper]

I bought a 2 piece spinning rod, and looking to add a 2 piece baitcaster. Specific purpose is to be able to remove reels and put rods in a short tube that can fit in a large suit case. Very much for travel and vacations when I want to drag a rod and a few lures with me. 

 

I don't own any 2 piece baitcasters. What do you guys think I should be looking at for size and weight for this specific purpose? Think multi species. But I want light weight rod in the hand. Need ability to throw bank fishing type lures. Nothing too heavy like swim baits. Just basic gear for bass, trout, etc. Frogs, plastics, spinnerbaits, jigs, kastmasters, roostertails, blue fox, etc.

 

I see St. Croix offers 6'8" MXF and also a 7'1" MF (I already own this rod in 1 piece) in 2 piece that sparked my interest. Assuming will lose sensitivity though with a 2 piece.

[FishTank]

I have a four piece travel trout rod from Tenryu that is very sensitive and fun to fish. I feel every tick and small bite there is with this rod.

 

Based on what you mentioned I would look at the Megabass Triza.  Great rods that can be used for whatever.  For the reel I would look at the Daiwa Alphas or the Shimano Metanium.  Both these reels can handle a wide range of lures. I would checkout the JDM sites for the best prices.

[GRiver]

I bought a telescopic bait caster and spinning rig that I keep in the truck…. Got them off Aliexpress, are they top quality…. Heck no, but they get me out there when I see a place to fish.

I don’t worry too much about them, in the heat of the truck.

[ne_dan]

Daiwa Rebellion 2 piece, I believe Daiwa discontinued them this year.  Don’t know if you’ll be able to find one.  Phenix also makes the Feather in 2 piece that’s nice.

[Crankin4Bass]

I use a Daiwa 3 piece Ardito casting rod. Comes with a rod tube. 
https://daiwa.us/products/ardito-tr-travel-rods

[islandbass]

Most 6.5 to 7’ 2 piece rods will not fit in most normal   “large” suitcases. So either make sure that your suitcase will accommodate your 2 piece or  I would highly recommend getting true travel rod that has more pieces like the already mentioned Ardito. Just speaking from experience. 
 

Also, this notion of loss in sensitivity in modern rods is no longer a thing. 😎

[LCG]

Can't go wrong with a Daiwa Aird-X 7ft MH-F Casting rod in 2 piece. Comfortable and sensitive. But remember that 7ft / 2 = 42". I have been eyeing a 5 piece Shimano Zodias travel rod for awhile, but it's more than I want to spend on a very specific use rod.

[Rockhopper]

1 hour ago, Crankin4Bass said:

I use a Daiwa 3 piece Ardito casting rod. Comes with a rod tube. 
https://daiwa.us/products/ardito-tr-travel-rods

What's the tube length end up being on that? 

[Crankin4Bass]

The case is about 29 inches, so probably not going not fit in a suitcase. It's something you carry on the plane and put in the overhead bin.

[bulldog1935]

The Japanese are a travel rod culture - they travel by train to fish, mostly fish from shore.  The Yen is at an all-time low, 160/US$.   Certainly the best suitcase package is 5-pc Legit Design Wild Side - comes in a Meiho box 21" long.  

Inside, theres a zip-neoprene case, with a rod sock inside that.  

For what you're describing, I don't think this rod would disappoint, and will have a familiar bass action.  You won't lose anything with the rod spigot joints.  

Tackle Warehouse has this rod at USM prices.  I bought mine 2 years ago from FishingShop.Kiwi for $234, but they don't have current stock.  Worth looking around.  

 

The All-purpose rod, including baitfinesse, is Daiwa Black Label Travel C66ML-5.  

[Rockhopper]

That's a choice looking little package. I've never heard of such a thing. 

[king fisher]

I own four Diawa Ardito travel rods.  I put them in my checked baggage, and as a carry on.  I use three of them every time I go bass fishing even when I don't need a three piece rod.  Sensitivity is equivalent to my Tatula.

[new2BC4bass]

On 6/29/2024 at 8:28 PM, islandbass said:

Most 6.5 to 7’ 2 piece rods will not fit in most normal   “large” suitcases. So either make sure that your suitcase will accommodate your 2 piece or  I would highly recommend getting true travel rod that has more pieces like the already mentioned Ardito. Just speaking from experience. 
 

Also, this notion of loss in sensitivity in modern rods is no longer a thing. 😎

This was my thought as well.  I have a 2-piece spinning rod and casting rod.  I carry them in the trunk of my car.  No way would they fit in my luggage.

 

EDIT:  Casting: Olympic GraphiteLeader 6'9" MHF weight listed as 3.5 oz.

Spinning: Major Craft Benkei 6'7" LF have to find where my scale is

[softwateronly]

I've bought quite a few 2 piece rods over the last 2 years, and have been floored by the quality of the builds, action, and price of many of them.  Major Craft Days 692M/F, 702X XH/MF, MC Black Porgy 782M/RF, MC Triple Cross 792 MH/RF, and Abu Garcia Kurodai 732 MLS-BF all have a prominent place even when I don't have to break them down to fit in the car.  The MC Days line at >$130 shipped from digitaka is the best rod/price combo I've found.  

 

scott

[bulldog1935]

If you want Crazy-Versatile, and price is no limit, 

Transcendence Pulchra 62+ includes an extra butt section, so you can assemble a 4-pc 6'2" medium-action rod, and a longer 7'3" with the same action:  

https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/product/4592  

Pack length is 21" 

while they call this ML, it matches the range of the Legit Design 6'8" M

 

If you want a quality telescoping rod for moderate price, look at Daiwa BBB - and a price that's hard to pass at current exchange rate.  

The problem with cheap telescoping rods, they don't have near-enough guides, especially for a rings-up bait rod.  Daiwa BBB has floating guides on the 5-section telescope that seat at intermediate positions, improving the number of guides for a quality rod.  

Another nice thing about telescope, you can move from place-to-place with the collapsed rod assembled and baited.  You just have to freespool the reel and stretch the telescope.  

[Bazoo]

Very interesting discussion. I don't have the need for a small takedown rod, but a 2 piece would be something I have in the past needed. I have a Chevy tracker, which I don't drive, and it's too small for my normal sized rods. I have been thinking about what to do should I want to drive it... since I don't have any takedown rods, save for a cheap zebco for casting and a Rhino tough for spinning.

[bulldog1935]

 

@Bazoo - lawn-casting trials with Omega Pro - in case I want to loan a shore-casting combo to a friend on a bike-fish. 

I compared my 6'8" Legit Designs casting result with an 8-1/2' Ali Express rockfish 7-pc.  

The Zebco cast farther on the shorter rod, which I attribute to lower mono friction in the quality Fuji guides on the (much) higher-grade rod.  In fact, the Zebco combo cast 1/8 oz as far as a BFS combo will cast 3 g. 

Also interesting, threadline braid didn't care about friction in the cheap guides - a BFS reel would send 3 g past 130' on the long cheap rod.  

[islandbass]

@new2BC4bass:  We might be twins because I also have a spinning and casting 2 piece rods and they’re also kept in my trunk. Lol. 
 

Shimano Spinning MH Compre 6.5’

Cabelas Casting Magtouch 7’

it’s a bit sad that my real one piece bass rods get so little play during the week. 

 

[Rockhopper]

Anyone have any experience with the zodias travel rod? Looks like it breaks down to 19"

 

https://www.fishusa.com/Shimano-Zodias-Casting-Pack-Rod/

[TOXIC]

I know 6th Sense has been marketing Milliken travel rods that break down into 4 pieces I think.  I am monitoring them since they have been promising a new rod with recoil guides and I have a buddy waiting for them.  

[Rockhopper]

7 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

The Japanese are a travel rod culture - they travel by train to fish, mostly fish from shore.  The Yen is at an all-time low, 160/US$.   Certainly the best suitcase package is 5-pc Legit Designs Wild Side - comes in a Meiho box 21" long.  

Inside, theres a zip-neoprene case, with a rod sock inside that.  

For what you're describing, I don't think this rod would disappoint, and will have a familiar bass action.  You won't lose anything with the rod spigot joints.  

Tackle Warehouse has this rod at USM prices.  I bought mine 2 years ago from FishingShop.Kiwi for $234, but they don't have current stock.  Worth looking around.  

 

The All-purpose rod, including baitfinesse, is Daiwa Black Label Travel C66ML-5.  

Have you every handled the 6'11" MHMF model?

[bulldog1935]

@Rockhopper I don't think you could go wrong with a Daiwa rod in that grade.  

Except I question whether the 3/8 oz low-end is versatile enough - that wouldn't work for me.  

 

I mail-ordered the Legit Design 5-pc that met my pack-size need.  But I suspect the L/D 6'11" MHMF would be a great bass rod.  My L/D feels more like a bass rod than any other multipiece I've handled.  

 

I like the looks of the L/D MHMF, starting at the same 5 g rating of my 6'8" rod.   

I wouldn't pass go on that one - that's a versatile range. (1/6 oz, btw = 3/16 oz = 5 g)

 

 

For most of my shore fishing, I need to sail 1/8 oz into next week.  

One reason I like the Legit Design, rated 5 to 18 g, it fishes well beyond both rated ends - it feels like a substantial rod with a nice blend in fast/moderate action.  

The L/D 6'11" looks like more of everything - same light end, plus extended range.  

 

[Bankc]

I started off using only two piece rods.  And I used them exclusively up until about 4 years ago when I bought my SUV, because I couldn't fit a full sized rod in any of my old 2 door cars.  In my experience, so long as you don't get a moderate speed rod, they two piece rods seem to be pretty much equal to a one piece.  Even moderate fast is okay.  The part that bends is still a single piece, and the ferrules do a pretty good job of transmitting vibrations.  The biggest downside to a two piece is usually the limited selection. 

I've heard that these new multi piece rods are also pretty good, but I haven't used on yet.  I know in the past they were pretty bad.  But that was a long time ago and things have definitely changed since then.  So I won't recommend one until I've used one, but I would not hesitate to recommend a two piece rod in moderate fast or faster, since I have a ton of experience with them and have never noticed a decline versus a one piece. 

 

 

[Rockhopper]

best price i can find.  this place legit?

 

https://fishingshop.kiwi/Legit-Design-Wild-Side-Wsc611mh5/

[bulldog1935]

My favorite US-direct vendor, and where I bought my L/D rod, and several other rods.  

If you can find what you want there, it will be discounted.  

They will send you an e-mail with a total that may include a moderate rod shipping charge - if you don't like it, reply, "no thanks"  

Kirill is in Miami, perfect English, and fields US orders - they don't do anything quickly, because they confirm available from distributor, you pay, then they receive from distributor (about a week) and then ship - when they do ship, UPS is Very Quick - 40 hrs.  

Make sure you register an account - easy to go back through your orders, find the link to pay, etc.  

Great place to build up a $200 lure, lines, and Meiho lure box order -  logged in, your cart will remain indefinitely, so you can come back and work up to $200 free shipping.  They will give you bonus points to cash in next time.  

They're also the Whole JDM catalog - if there's stock available anywhere, it will be them (they buy from distributor).