Plane travel with fishing gear?

[Hung up Paul]

I'm flying to upstate NY later this month to go on a fishing trip with some buddies up there.  I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to pack my gear.  I'm hoping I can use a soft sided tackle bag as my carry on.  If I put all my knives/pliers, etc. in my checked luggage will I be able to do it?  Will security get nervous about fish hooks?  I need to get one of those bazooka type hard shell rod tubes as well.  I can imagine the scene now with me carrying a long black object with "Bazooka" emblazened on the side into the airport!

[roadwarrior]

You can save a little money and a lot of hassle

by mailing it to someone you're fishing with.

8-)

[Keri]

My husband and I use a 6" dia PVC pipe about 8 feet long, we installed a handle to make it easier to carry. We plug both ends and really tape the heck out of it, then mail it UPS at least a week in advance. We also mail all our gear except the reels which we carry on the plane. We are able to insure our packages so if they get lost we get paid.

Keri

[islandbass]

Unless you have a true travel rod, the kind that breaks down into multiplie pieces (more than two), your chances of taking it with you as a hand carry is extremely unlikely. I think even a '6' rod broken down into two pieces exceeds the maximum hand carry length or comes to close to call with you at the airport without checking.

RW's recommendation is probably the most hassle free. If you don't want to go that route, but one of the Bazzoka rod holders. The can be secured with a heavy duty lock and can easily fit 7' one piece rods.  You can use towels or bubble wrap to serve as cushion between the rods.

I carry my reels in my carry on however. I would leave all tackle items like hooks and such in the checked luggage. I did this all for my trip to Mexico. If it could take my stuff safely from Mexico and back, I am certain a trip to NY would be just as much a breeze.

[Hung up Paul]

Why didn't I think of just mailing it?

Thanks... that's what I'll probably do.  It's only going to be a long weekend, so I might be able to get away with just a carry on.

[WRB]

With the surcharges today; the airlines are charging some healthy prices for tackle tubes. Delta; $150 each way for a 8'+ rod tube.

You must check all the metal items. My suggestion; UPS the tackle to your friend at least a week in advance to the trip, don't plan to take anything but clothing on a plane.

WRB

[fishinfiend]

Carry on what you can and ship what you cannot... My Dad has worked at airports for many years and I can assure you that the bag smashers could care less if you luggage arrives in one piece if at all. There is little oversight in this area and no incentive for the bag smashers to care.

BEWARE OF THE SULTANS OF SAMSONITE ;D

[Red]

good info as i too am headed to upstate NY the week after next.  where are you headed?  i will be going to my hometown...Greene, NY  it sits about half way between syracuse and binghamton.

Cliff

[Hung up Paul]

I'm originally from Rochester but the fishing trip is on Black Lake near the 1000 Islands & Alexandria Bay.  I'll be flying in to Rochester on a Wednesday evening... my friend will pick me up at the airport and we'll immediately head for a long drive to the lake.

[TENNESSEE NEWSOME]

I just went through this a few weeks ago when I flew to Florida to fish with my dad.

I called the airline I was flying with as well as the TSA, and both said there was no problem with fish hooks.

I took my reels only, and I put the tackle boxes (not the bag) in my Jansport backpack.  I stuffed anything I thought I might use in the backpack too.  I took the backpack on the plane with me.

One thing though.  If you take pliers, you'll get stopped everytime.  They will want to measure to be sure if they're less than 6".  No problems though.  

[Chris at Tech]

Yes, ship them.

The problem is the great unknown.  You can have no idea how much you'd be charged until you get to the checkin.  I had this same question 2 weeks ago and even the Delta website has conflicting info.  I even saw one reference on that site indicating that packages above 80 inches were NOT PERMITTED.

Not to mention the fee I was told by a rep on the phone was also different from fees indicated on the website.

I figured it would actually end up costing me several hundred to travel with my rods, so I decided not to travel with them (took just the reels) and buy myself a new combo at home

[Masshole Mike]

if you're going to fly with a rod tube, DEFINITELY check with your airline's regulations for oversized baggage. i flew airtran airways down to atlanta and didn't get charged a cent for the flight down (on any of my baggage), but on the return flight i was charged $140 for my baggage. half of that was for the bazuka rod tube i had my rods in, and the other half was for my checked bag that was overweight and oversized. at that point there wasn't much i could do except pay and try to deal with it later. an hour-long phone call later and i was offered a $50 voucher towards my next flight. i told them they can keep it, i'll find an airline that won't charge me to fly my rods.

[roadwarrior]

Hey Mike!

Next year you can mail them to me, I'll bring them up to Kentucky

Lake and then mail them back to you. Or, maybe we can make some

arrangements with the lodge. We'll see...It's something we will work

on for next year's roadtrip.

8-)

[Davis]

Those are some crazy fees!

You could buy a new Avid with some of those!

[Chris at Tech]

Those are some crazy fees!

You could buy a new Avid with some of those!

You must have read my mind