Transporting Long Rods

[.dsaavedra.]

Hey, just got my 7'0" avid in the mail today. my dad has a small pickup truck and i have to squeeze my 6'6" in diagonally. well my 7 footer isnt gonna fit, so how should i transport it?  

[Lucky Craft Man]

Get one of those rod holders that mount in the front of the truck (very popular amongst saltwater fisherman) and transport your rod vertically in one of those.  You can place several rods in it and you don't have to worry about tackle or other things in the bed of the truck rolling over your rods and breaking them.

[roadwarrior]

If you have bucket seats you can probably transport your rod inside the car/ truck with the rod butt on the passenger-side floorboard, the tip to the back. Otherwise, you are going to need a tube and secure it in the bed or to the roof.

[Pencil Pusher]

You just answered a question that was posted a while back: "what is the advantage of collapsible rods?"  . Seriously, get a Plano Bazooka rod case (or similar) and carry your rods in it while your traveling. You will have to take the reels off and re-rig whn you get to where your fishing. There is no other way to safely carry those seven foot rods in a small bed truck.

[.dsaavedra.]

If you have bucket seats you can probably transport your rod inside the car/ truck with the rod butt on the passenger-side floorboard, the tip to the back. Otherwise, you are going to need a tube and secure it in the bed or to the roof.

thanks for the suggestions guys. im pretty sure my dads not gonna buy and mount one of those rod holders to the front of his truck though.  i was thinkin of just putting it next to the passenger seat and have the tip come out the little slidey window in the center of the rear windshield.

[Lucky Craft Man]

If you have bucket seats you can probably transport your rod inside the car/ truck with the rod butt on the passenger-side floorboard, the tip to the back. Otherwise, you are going to need a tube and secure it in the bed or to the roof.

thanks for the suggestions guys. im pretty sure my dads not gonna buy and mount one of those rod holders to the front of his truck though. i was thinkin of just putting it next to the passenger seat and have the tip come out the little slidey window in the center of the rear windshield.

I didn't want to mount one of those racks on my truck as well, which is why all my travel rods are 2-peice.

[.dsaavedra.]

You just answered a question that was posted a while back: "what is the advantage of collapsible rods?" . Seriously, get a Plano Bazooka rod case (or similar) and carry your rods in it while your traveling. You will have to take the reels off and re-rig whn you get to where your fishing. There is no other way to safely carry those seven foot rods in a small bed truck.

i was thinkin of usin the tube it came in, but that would be a pain to have to constantly re rig them. but i guess its worth it to protect the rod. i'll see if it will work if i stick it thru the back windo...if not i'll use the toob.

[Guest muddy]

Just do what i do. Put it into a car, butt side over the seat with the tip sticking out of the door. Then slam the door closed and there you have it the rod is now 2 easy to transport pieces

[Pencil Pusher]

Be careful sticking it through the window. The wind will whip it around when you're moving and if it bangs against the window frame, it can damage the rod. It probably won't be noticeable until you do a hard hook set and the rod snaps like a match stick.

[bowtech_182]

Why not cut a notch in the side of the tube to allow the rod to fit in it with the reel still attached?  You could probably cover the tube in some wood glue or something else to gain some long term durability.

[ABC123]

Get one of those 5'x8' utility trailers. If you want to get real fancy....get the enclosed one. ;D

[islandbass]

If you have bucket seats you can probably transport your rod inside the car/ truck with the rod butt on the passenger-side floorboard, the tip to the back. Otherwise, you are going to need a tube and secure it in the bed or to the roof.

thanks for the suggestions guys. im pretty sure my dads not gonna buy and mount one of those rod holders to the front of his truck though. i was thinkin of just putting it next to the passenger seat and have the tip come out the little slidey window in the center of the rear windshield.

I don't know how handy you are, but I would construct an apparatus to solve your dilemna. I'd keep it in the truck's bed, butt toward the cab and tip toward the tailgate. You can use wood, felt, and some simple tools to build something that will hold that rod (and others).

You won't even have to take the reels off.

Here is a picture of a quiver I built for 3 rods so that they can all be held in one hand. Build yourself a similar deal for the truck's bed. It could easily be removed and placed back in the truck. I bet you probably have some scrap wood around the house that could be used. A square of felt at WalMart is less than $0.30.

What I envision is a narrow strip of wood fitted to the width of the truck's bed with the slotted grooves like the one in my rod quiver you see that are lined with the felt. The number of grooves you make is up to you. This wooden strip would be placed somewhere in the truck's bed between the middle to rear two-thirds, such that the wood is propping the rod up and an angle that is just above or at the height of the tailgate. Velcro could be used to secure the rod.

Something like this probably won't take but an hour and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you built it yourself.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Sticking it through the rear split window is fine.

Those front bumper rod holders make guys like reelmech cringe.  Personally, I have issues with subjecting my gear to the rocks/salt and debris that comes with being on the front of a vehicle that goes 70 mph.

[.dsaavedra.]

If you have bucket seats you can probably transport your rod inside the car/ truck with the rod butt on the passenger-side floorboard, the tip to the back. Otherwise, you are going to need a tube and secure it in the bed or to the roof.

thanks for the suggestions guys. im pretty sure my dads not gonna buy and mount one of those rod holders to the front of his truck though. i was thinkin of just putting it next to the passenger seat and have the tip come out the little slidey window in the center of the rear windshield.

I don't know how handy you are, but I would construct an apparatus to solve your dilemna. I'd keep it in the truck's bed, butt toward the cab and tip toward the tailgate. You can use wood, felt, and some simple tools to build something that will hold that rod (and others).

You won't even have to take the reels off.

Here is a picture of a quiver I built for 3 rods so that they can all be held in one hand. Build yourself a similar deal for the truck's bed. It could easily be removed and placed back in the truck. I bet you probably have some scrap wood around the house that could be used. A square of felt at WalMart is less than $0.30.

What I envision is a narrow strip of wood fitted to the width of the truck's bed with the slotted grooves like the one in my rod quiver you see that are lined with the felt. The number of grooves you make is up to you. This wooden strip would be placed somewhere in the truck's bed between the middle to rear two-thirds, such that the wood is propping the rod up and an angle that is just above or at the height of the tailgate. Velcro could be used to secure the rod.

Something like this probably won't take but an hour and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you built it yourself.

hey thats pretty clever...could you PM me and maybe tell me a little more detailed what i could do?

thanks!

lbh, i hate them front rod loaders too....i'd be scared to death to use one.

[islandbass]

I put together a very basic idea of it in a word document. I wish I had more time to be specific, but it should be a good start. Good luck!

I will need an email address to send it to. Thanks!

[.dsaavedra.]

I put together a very basic idea of it in a word document. I wish I had more time to be specific, but it should be a good start. Good luck!

I will need an email address to send it to. Thanks!

dsaavedra@md.metrocast.net

[islandbass]

I left the word file at work.  :'( I'll send it to you on Monday.  Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

[.dsaavedra.]

ok thats cool!

i'll just have to find a way to make doo temporarily cuz i think im going on sunday.

but im taking the boat on sunday, and its an aluminum jon boat in pretty bad condition, so i hope it doesnt scratch my rod all up if i lay it in there. cuz i wrap my reel up in a t-shirt so it doesnt get scratched but now that i have a nice rod, i gotta figure out a way to protect it too...maybe i'll wrap it in a bedsheet.

[ABC123]

ok thats cool!

i'll just have to find a way to make doo temporarily cuz i think im going on sunday.

but im taking the boat on sunday, and its an aluminum jon boat in pretty bad condition, so i hope it doesnt scratch my rod all up if i lay it in there. cuz i wrap my reel up in a t-shirt so it doesnt get scratched but now that i have a nice rod, i gotta figure out a way to protect it too...maybe i'll wrap it in a bedsheet.

Old socks with holes in the toes, slid down the rod, and some rubber bands to hold them in place, would make for a low cost rod protector.

[Tokyo Tony]

These are great for transportation.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20325_TGP&rid=&indexId=cat20325&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat20325&id=0037306

[.dsaavedra.]

i think im gonna add a rod and reel cover to my xmas list

[Black Bass]

Another option is to take a strip of plywood wide enough to mount one of the in-boat rod holders to it. That way you can secure the rods fully rigged. Bunge this into your truck bed and you should be good to go.

[.dsaavedra.]

see i cant realy have anything bulky like a rod holder in the boat, cuz its only 12 ft and i have to share it w/ my dad and its pretty tipsy as it is. i dont really have room for anything other than what i have in it. but i'd really like to make a rod holder for the boat...maybe i will try to make something small...