Traveling with tackle

[Capt. Michael Mata]

Guys, any recommendations as to the best way to travel with some of my equipment. I will be traveling a lot this season and want to bring some of my tackle with me to certain places. Any recommendations how to pack/ship my rods and reels will be helpful. I know they sell cases for transporting rods but haven’t used them. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

[tom@marlinstar]

Here's a couple of items I use:

Rod carrier: http://www.meltontackle.com/products/skb-rod-pod.html


Reels:http://www.meltontackle.com/products...reel-case.html

http://www.meltontackle.com/search/reel+bags/

http://www.meltontackle.com/categori...ackle-storage/

Lures (not rigged) : http://marlinstar.com/index.php?productID=13

Sorry for being an "infomercial" with all of the links....there are a lot of great products out there. I love the SKB rod transport pod...it's light, tough, easy to secure and lock, and comfortable to carry. Awhile back I had a reel case that had wheels and a handle like typical travelling luggage. This was a nice set up as I could wheel my reels/misc tackle, stack a bag on top of it, and carry the rods in the other hand. Anyways, hope this helps!

[Double D]

1. Make sure my tailer comes back from Vegas (did you get to use it out there?)

2. I use a Bazooka rod carrier, works very well.

3. Reels in a padded reel case, I carry them on


Or just ship all your stuff to me, I'll guard it for you

[tom@marlinstar]

1. Make sure my tailer comes back from Vegas (did you get to use it out there?)

2. I use a Bazooka rod carrier, works very well.

3. Reels in a padded reel case, I carry them on


Or just ship all your stuff to me, I'll guard it for you

Depending on your destination use caution carrying reels spooled as a "carry on". Depending on moods and countrymen they might get denied or have to be unspooled. Try doing that with 4 130's loaded with spectra........

[Capt. Michael Mata]

Depending on your destination use caution carrying reels spooled as a "carry on". Depending on moods and countrymen they might get denied or have to be unspooled. Try doing that with 4 130's loaded with spectra........

That would suck! Any problems putting spooled reels in your checked bags?

[Gmofftarki]

I was reading in Sport Fishing or Big Game Journal that they recommended bringing tackle with you when going to distant locations to make sure you have what you need.

For something like pitching baits to sails, I get that. Need one, maybe two rods/reels.

For bigger-game, do you bring a full 4-6 rod trolling rotation with you with International/Tiagra 80-130's? Strikes me that you'd sort of have to do that to make things work out right, or just use the equipment on the boat? But that's 10 grand worth of equipment in transit, more expensive reels than you can carry on, and a lot of potential for them to be damaged, especially on a long flight like to the Azores?

I can't, at the moment, afford even one 80-130 International setup (have a 30# and a 50# standup setups for party tuna), but curious what the better-off, or those that have their own boats and are just trying a different locale, do about the issue?

[Capt Josh]

When we go somewhere we usually bring a lot of our tricks and tackle with us. Sometimes, in such cases like our trip to Panama, we brought an entire arsenal of tackle with us tallying over $30,000. 5 sets of 80W bent butt chair rods, 4 50W's with rods, etc etc etc.

If you have the means, i'd go with one of the heavy duty Bazooka style rod tubes and a solid check-in style hard case for your reels, etc. Make sure this has a lock so that you can secure it after it's been inspected at check-in.

Believe it or not after all these years of travel with tackle i haven't had any problems abroad. In fact the only case of theft was while traveling through florida, which in hindsight, shouldn't surprise me.

Where are you going dude???

[tom@marlinstar]

That would suck! Any problems putting spooled reels in your checked bags?

Checked in reels spooled have always passed for me...It's amazing what courtesy and a smile can bring. I had a triple surfboard bag loaded with 5 boards and gear and it took two guys to carry but didn't have to pay an extra penny just because we were sweet as pie! Tip well, smile, and a pat on the back goes a long way.

As Josh said...you will end up taking big gear at times and it can seem like a risk. When I take a trip I HAVE to bring my 80n Accurate stand up outfits wherever I go......I'll sit when I'm dead.

[BlueH20Boss]

i cut 4x8 sheets of 1.5'' thick foam board down to a manageable strip and i use it sort of like a cork board and stab my rigs hooks into it. I just make sure my leaders are wrapped neatly, and it works very well, and really cheap. No sharps to get your hand reaching in the bag either. Have a good season!

[Split Bill]

FYI, When i flew out of costa rica, they would not let me bring a spooled spinning reel in my carryon. The choice was check it or unspool it.
Seems pretty stupid to me, but that was their rule and I went along with it.

Have fun on your trip!

Ed