Rods, Reels, and Airlines...

[llPa1nll]

I was wondering since I am heading down to Hilton Head SC in Feb, that I might bring down some rods and reels and do a little fishing. Does anyone know if there are any restrictions, guidelines, or general rules for transporting Rods and Reels while flying. Now I do own the Plano Black Plastic Rod 'Bazooka" Carrier. Will that work? Id really like to take the Reels with me in my 'Carry on' as I have a few that Id hate to part with (1 TD-Z, 2 Fuegos, 4 C4 4601 to name a few). Any info on this would be great thanks.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

the rod tube has to have a lock on it

[wareagle]

I just flew to Florida and back for 5 days of fishing.  I carried on a rod tube (40" or so, 2-piece rods) and a bag full of my reels and tackle.  I had a pair of small pliers in my fishing vest that I also had in my bag and they checked everything when I went through security on the way down, but not on the way back and I never had a problem at all.  Indianapolis Airport and Tampa International.

We had a good couple of days down there, the weather was fantastic.

You can check out a little about it on our club website.  www.tristatefishing.org

WAR

[Guest avid]

The carrier sounds ok, but you might want to consider leaving the bazooka.  

[Long Mike]

Avid, don't you know that bazookas are great rod carriers?  You can carry at least four rods in them and they will be perfectly safe.  As long as you carry the rockets in a separate piece of checked luggage, you will be fine.  After all, at $7.00 (or whatever) an hour, our vaunted security "experts" are not permited to think, which would require some obtuse individual to put two and two together.  We all know that ain't gonna happen.

Mike

[Clayton]

yeah i dont know the rules and stuff but you better have a good hard case and lock.  wouldnt want to get down there with busted stuff

[Clayton]

Get a good lock and case but other thatn that yuo just need to check with the airlnes.

[Redlinerobert]

When i went to Brazil I too took my Bazooka and Shimano reel case.  I carried on the reels, 12 Chronarchs, Daiwa's and a couple Calais' were NOT going to be checked.

The rod case was a hassle.  Security checked toe rods, didnt close it correctly and bent some of my guides back. >  Atleast nothing was broken by them.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Last year for Fork, we packed the bazooka pro. Don't bother locking it, they will make you remove the lock in place for a colored zip tie.

Now, with no lock, somehow the zip tie was removed and they broke the latch off the carrier. Doesn't matter though because what I learned (on the ride home) is that wrapping the latch end in duct tape keeps them out of it and will secure the latch from getting caught on somthing and being torn off like mine was.

Reels go in the carry on, stored over your head.  Those would be a prime item for a luggage handler to fence.  

[Painter Dude]

I just recently took a trip to Florida. I recieved a rod tube for my birthday for the trip but did not use it. The airline (AirTran) allows you two free checked bags under 50 lbs and size limitations. The rod case with my one piece rods were over the 80 in limit and according to their website it would have cost me 65 dollars extra. I left them at home and when I got there went to Walmart and bouht a medium spinning rod and a MH casting rod for less than fifty bucks. and left them there. I carried my tackle bag as carry on with 4 bait casters and a spinnin reel and with all the weird shapes and sizes the ran it by the Xray twice. I had some clippers and dikes in there and did not have a problem. But I would stay away from any form of Knives or long scissors.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

on that note, Eric had a note taped to his tackle box which was loaded in a big duffle.  He had been chosen for a random check.  They retained a lighter, his $2 pocket knife and MY baitcaster backlash pic

>

[llPa1nll]

OK so got off the phone with Delta. Not great news. It seems anything under 42" is ok and is free to go as Checked Baggage, which clearly my fishing rods dont fall into. The next size is 62"-80" which my rods do fall into come with a hefty charge of $100 each way. Lastly anything over 80" is not allowed. So what I am taking away from this is that I am going to UPS my rods down to my Time Share Condo before I leave and pick them up at the desk when they get there. $200 Round Trip for transporting a Rod Tube seems very steep to me.

[Gatorbassman]

Have you thought about mailing just the rods to your distination. I should cost around 20 or 30 bucks.

[Sam]

I know people who always UPS their luggage and gifts to their hotel/motel so they don't have to check them in with the airlines and you know that UPS does a better job securing and protecting the property.

These individuals have NEVER had any problems shipping their belongings via UPS.

When I go down to LSU for a conference this summer, I may use UPS, and do the same.

I always have all of my LSU stuff that I buy shipped back to my home via UPS and have never had any problems.  Everything arrives within three days of my return home and in excellent condition.

I only carry a book with me and check my luggage which makes flying much easier and simple.  I have been known to leave notes in my suitcases written to the inspectors asking them not to steal any of my stuff.  So far, no problems.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Fork note-

Guys, Art has offered to recieve your gear at his house for you should you decide to ship it. He lives in Dallas, anyone interested, PM me and I'll set it up.  

Norman and cigarlover, we can use my tube for all of our rods, holds 10-12 or so but I am bringing very limited gear myself.  You guys will need to get your rods to me a few weeks prior.  Perhaps we can all meet up for lunch one day.  This will be great to not have to lug the rods, worry about the airlines sending them to Alaska,etc.  Plus, if we split the shipping 3 ways, it's pennies.

My bazooka pro rod case is huge, it had a 1 piece 7'10" rod in it also (to give an idea of length). No surcharge. (American Airlines)

[Guest Bountiful_Waters]

Do not put a lock on your rod case. They will remove it. I always carry my reels on the plane (usually get stopped through x-ray. I guess reels look dangerous. You may wait until you arrive to add line. I have had some who had to remove the line prior to carrying on. Only one airline, Continental, ever charged me extra for the rod case. The next 3 times I lfew that airline, they didn't charge any extra. I guess it is situational? Rod case only lost once and it found me a day later. Luckily the lodge had loaners and I used my own reels, so it wasn't too bad.