Well, I’m leaving for Indiana this Thursday for my sister’s college graduation, which is great! However, we’re flying there then driving back. We are leaving from Portland, OR (PDX) then into Chicago and a bus ride down to Goshen, IN. While heading back West we will be traveling on I-90 which will go through Rushmore, Yellowstone, and many of my favorite places in West Montana, and N. Idaho. Can’t wait to check out some of E. Montana!
My question is about getting gear on a plane, what needs to be checked what can be carried on? The other alternative is to rent as we go, but then I couldn’t just hop out and fish. I’d be taking my 4pc. rod, waist pack and not sure if I should grab the waders or not?
I heard the only thing you can carry on is the rod? The reel and other stuff needs to be checked, and don’t want to spend $$ on putting stuff under a plane only for them to loose. I thought about sending the gear back to my sister via UPS or the likes but don’t know what may happen once it gets to her dorm (apparently she doesn’t either)? I’ve got a couple grand locked up in these few items and couldn’t bare to have them stolen or lost and afford to replace them. Should I just rent, buy flies, tippet, leader, ect… that can add up quick too and with gas prices for that long a distance we’ll be looking at a lot there too. Ahhhhhh…
Jake;
I’ve always just bit the bullet and checked my gear, so far so good.
Check out “Dakota Anglers and Outfitter” in Rapid City, SD. They even sent me a map of places to fish Rapid Creek right in town when we get there next September (where you can hop out and fish!). www. flyfish@rapidnet.com or www.flyfishsd.com for thier web page.
Both my wife and I fly fish and even when we’re away on business, we almost always have some gear with us. Between us, we log upwards of 230 nights per year on the road. I also hosted several group fly fishing trips each year for over a dozen years for various fly shops.
From Abel’s to Zingers, every bit of our gear goes into our wheeled luggage and gets checked.
We haven’t had anything go missing…Yet. ( YMMV )
I’d like to think that we’ve learned a few lessons along the way, but most of it is common sense stuff and fairly intuitive. 4 pc. rods. Don’t make it obvious or easy.
Could our gear get lost or stolen? You bet, but I truly believe I’ve got a better chance of getting hit by a taxi at the airport or robbed at gunpoint in a hotel parking lot.
Honestly, I’ve known some folks who’ve had a piece or two disappear in route over the years. But I know far more who’ve had gear boosted from the their lodging or cars while away from home and nearly as many who’ve lost all their gear in house or garage fires.
I fly out to Denver through Chicago and check bags with a 4pc rod and gear to visit our son and fish the South Platte. One thing to be sure to do if you do it this way is buy one of those bag locks that the TSA has approved for use. Then lock your checked baggage - the TSA can open the lock but no one else is supposed to be able to do so. If you have big bucks tied up in gear then consider some form of insurance (check your home owner’s policy might even cover it that way). Having just retired and moving to Colorado, we will be making the trip out ourselves in a few months and you just gave me inspiration for fishing along the way, especially in SD. Thanks!
Bob
I flew to Alaska last September and carried on my flies, waders, boots, rod and reels – except for the 4 piece rods, it all fit in a small back pack. I had no problem with TSA ( I thought I might with the flies but they actually suggested carrying them due to their fragile nature) – check out their web site and they will tell you what you can carry and what not.
My reason for carrying on what I did was that I didn’t want to take a chance of losing any of these things because there was no way to replace them where I was going in Alaska. Loose my waders or boots and I was screwed. On the way home, packed everything in the luggage and used the TSA locks and everything made it home OK.
Where you are going, if you did lose something, there are ample fly shops to be able to rent or replace your gear.
Thanks, Jack - now I finally have the time to pursue this the way I have wanted all these years… my Dad taught me the basics in the 1970’s and I sporadically fished over the years but now have the time to go at it. It is good to be here.
Bob
I’m with Orthoman. I just flew to NOLA last month and carried on everything I needed. I do suggest that if you are checking a bag, you should put your forceps in there. If the TSA folk see them, they missed the first time for me and saw them on the way home, they will stop you to search the bag. They didn’t have a problem with them once they realized they were not scissors.
Just ship it to yourself, general delivery at your destination. Show your ID and pick it up.
If you might have a business establishment back there, your sister might be able to get permission to have it sent to yourself at that address.
I pre ship my products to myself when going to shows. Always use the Resort /Motel address. Might take some pre arrangement on your part but sure a lot easier than trusting FF stuff to the belly of an airline or to searching workers. I always ship so my stuff arrives at least 4 days in advance of my scheduled arrival date.
You can ship it insured for full value to a UPS Customer Center to be held for your pick-up. Check the UPS web site for their Customer Center locations. I ship gear and my pontoon all over North America this way.
I usually take my gear as check in, but not sure if the rules here in Oz are any different to the US, I would not think so.
However if you are really concerned about it, and the value of the gear etc etc, I would suggest doing what I did once and buying a cheap traveller combo from Cabelas or similar. I leave mine in the car and it does fish alright for limited spells but will not cause you any grief if you mail it ahead and it never shows up, or you leave it on the roof, slam it in the door or drive over it. Yes I have done all these things but never to my cheap gear LOL.
Never had a problem carrying on anything, but I have to admit that I haven’t tried carrying on flies. Just make sure that your 4-piece rod is in a vinyl or plastic tube. If it’s in a metal tube, like some 'boo comes with, it could be considered a club and not allowed.
Sadly, you’ll be at the mercy of the local TSA authorities regardless of what’s listed on their website. I just reviewed it and it states that rods are acceptable as a carry-on, but reels and tackle should be checked. Several years ago I had a TSA agent restrict me from taking my reel as a carry-on because the line could be used as a garrote. He didn’t have any issues with my shoelaces, though. Your best bet, as others here have said, is to check it or ship it.
I agree, you are still at the mercy of the local TSA official. If you live close enough to an airport, drive over there and show them what you want to carry on and ask them if it will be a problem. This is what I did before my Alaska trip and I will probably do it again this year.
I checked their web site and you have to search a bit, but they suggest expensive reels, delicate flies, etc. be not placed in checked luggage by taken as carry on. I doesn’t necessarily say fly lines can be carried on. I guess you could print out their recommendation and have it available if there is any question.
Tackle Equipment
Fishing equipment should be placed in your checked baggage. Some tackle equipment can be considered sharp and dangerous. Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as fly’s should be packed in your carry-on baggage.
I carried a four piece rod and reel on the my last couple of flights to Florida without any problems. I had my fly boxes in my carry on, too. My nylon web belt would make a much more effective garrote than a fly line.
That’s OK, but if you get the wrong TSA agent, he /she could care less what that piece of paper says. Trust me on this. I fall on the shipping to your destination ahead of time.
I’d be taking my 4pc. rod, waist pack and not sure if I should grab the waders or not?