Hi,
Getting ready for my fishing trip which involves flying through several airports.
One of my rods is a 9.5 footer. I think the pieces are longer than 9.5 divided into 4 sections as there are ferrules.
Anyway, I have this really big duffle bag style suitcase that it fits into. That bag is a real burden though.
I will not try to carry the rod on with me as my trip is long with many stops.
Anyone know of a good suitcase for a rod of this length?
PS. I know Orvis sells a rod/reel case that would fit, but I want something I can pack other things in; I.e., boots, waders, pants, shirts, etc…besides, the Orvis one that would fit is $179…
I have used a GI sea bag available from the army surplus. rod tube in center , gear packed around it . they are water resistant, and you can reasonably toss the bag over you shoulder to maneuver around the airport . about 40 bucks.
Go to any hardware store and get a piece of 1-1/2" PVC Tubing plus 2 end caps. Cut the tube to a length equal to the rod sections plus 2 or 3 inches. Glue one of the caps to one end. Sand the inside of the other cap and outside of the other end just a little and smoothly. The cap wil still fit snug but it’ll be easier to remove when needed. Sand the exterior and spray paint if you desire. This rod case is just about indestructable and costs about $6. I just made one yesterday for a small rod I built. Had to buy a 10’ tube, used 3’, and have 7’ left over. Guess I’ll have to build a couple of more rods, lol.
^^^^what he said. Plus! I line the caps with foam. I use those coozies you get from the dollar store. Press the cap into the foam and cut around the indentation. Insert into cap.
FedEx has these really cool triangular boxes. But try Goggling duffels with zippers, I did and a 18" x 50" duffel with a zipper is available from Campmr, put the rod in a PVC tube in the duffel.
If I am undertanding you, you have a rod case for the rod but want a better suitcase to put the rod in.
I have a rollind duffle bag that is has wheels and a solid bottom but the rest of the duffle is of ballistic nylon. Mine is an earlier version of Eagle Creek luggage. I got mine on sale for a really good price.
The rod is in its metal tube. As I said, I need a suitcase that it will fit in as well as other rods, wading boots, waders, other clothes, etc.
Thanks Silver. I may look into those. As I said, I currently use a hard bottomed duffle bag type bag but it is really unruly to get around with.
Although Costco is closed today, I understand they have one which is only 30" long. Gotta see if maybe it would fit in that if put in diagonally. Any math majors here? If it is 30" long and 17" wide, how long is it in diagonal?
Of course, those, I assume, are outside measurements…
I found the formula and calculate the diagonal as 34" based on 30" X 17" X 4"…
Byron,
If your flights are on a boeing 737 or larger aircraft, there is a large compartment right in front of you as you enter the aircraft. It is used to hold
garment bags and will take a large fly pole case. However, do take the advise from Allen, above. The PVC tube is easy to handle in a car or pick-up or van.
The reals you will have to cary on in your “carry on luggage”. The airport inspection might ask where you’r going fish’en, but they get this all the time.
Good fish’en
Crunchy
I store all of my fly fishing gear in a duffel bag that is about 32" long. It easily fits any multi-piece rod tube and holds my wading boots waders, vest, net, wading staff, etc. I usually put the rod tubes on the bottom along the sides as they are stronger than the net, etc. When traveling by air, I fill it up with fishing clothes, hat, etc. and check it as baggage. I have yet to have anything broken or lost --knock on wood.
One of the advantages of storing this stuff in a single duffel bag is that I never arrive at a stream to find I’ve left an important piece of gear at home.
As for lugging it around an airport, I either use the duffel bag’s shoulder strap or just balance it on top of a large rolling suitcase.
I travel for a living. I carry my stuff rather than hope the airline gets it to my destination. I’m off to Singapore tomorrow thru Atlanta and Tokyo. In the past year I’ve been thru Rome, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Moscow, London, Tokyo, and Singapore. American, United, Delta, Emirates, Gulf Air, etc… I have not had ANY problem with any of my rods, reels, or fly boxes going thruogh security. I carry a rollaboard, a small computer case, and one or two rod tubes. No worries.
If you want to check them, that’s cool. But don’t be afraid to carry them on. They fit on RJ’s to 747’s. I like knowing where they are, and not having them end up in Madrid when I’m in Sydney. Just my .02.
As somebody who travels a lot, I have to agree with Fr8dog. Many stops is a reason to carry as much stuff as you can with you; not a reason to check it in baggage. More switches, the better the chance it winds up in the wrong location.
Take at least a rod and fully-lined reel with you. Worst case, at least you have something to fish with.
Metal tubes are a problem, however. TSA can think that they can be used as a weapon. Go with PVC or a softshell.
Unfortunately, anything that is long enough to hold a rod and large enough to hold the other gear and clothing you describe is going to be big and bulky. I have found a 32" or 36" rolling duffel to be the best solution. If you get one that has a hard lower compartment and a soft upper compartment you can put rods in their rod socks in the lower compartment and dispense with the bulkier hard tubes. Several different outfitters including Orvis, Fishpond, Cabela’s, and LL Bean make them specifically designed for fly fishing. You can also get more generic versions from other makers like High Sierra, Eagle Creek and Coleman. Snoop around the internet and you can usually find a discontinued model at a good markdown. Try to find one that is relatively lightweight when empty – with such a big bag it’s not hard to load it so full that you exceed the weight limit and incur excess-weight fees.
Thanks everyone. I found a lightweight 29" “regular type” suitcase at our Macy’s. I took my longest rod tube in with me. It is an 8.5, but only a 3 piece. It is longer than the 9,5’ rod. It BARELY fits diagonally, but also has plenty of room for other fishing things. It is quite large, but, empty, weighs only about 11 pounds - 39 pounds to go…
I never have a carry on bag when I fly so I always carry my 4 piece rod and put it under my seat. I flew to Chile last Feb on three different planes with no problem. I put two rods in the case and the reels in the orvis bag with wheels.
I know what you mean. I have been to Southern Chile twice. Most of my rods are 5 piece and when I went there those are the rods I took. They fit very nicely in a normal suitcase. Since then, I have acquired some “favorite” rods which are not 5 piece rods.
I just like to have my gear stowed away so I don’t need to mess the gear on the flights. For me, Chile was a 6 hr flight to LA, then change planes for a long flight to Dallas, change planes again for flight to Santiago; then change planes for flight to Southern Chile…
Times two, for coming home. And, the layover in Dallas alone was a 6 or 8 hour one. Like to not be carrying gear around airports, especially on long layovers.
