I fly all the time with gear. The TSA may hassle you with some of the carry ons. That is one reason I check most all of my luggage. Do not use metal tubes if all possible! If taking more than one rod, and it will not fit in the luggage, use a rod carrier. You can make one with PVC so as to fit several rods in socks. This way you will not need to deal with the limit your carry ons. There are also some good multi-rod carriers on the market. Fish pond has a good rolling duffle made for gear travel. Madison River has one on closeout. Get to the airport early and have a relaxing time.
Another option is to UPS, FedX, or mail your gear to the destination.