Anyone ever fly and check your tackle?

[buickfan70]

I have been considering a cheap airline ticket to fly to a fishing trip. Was wondering about if you can carry on a fishing tackle box and maybe a couple of rods in a PVC tube. I could see if I checked them as regular luggage that they may disappear and ruin the trip. What are your experience or thoughts on this.

[Buccaneer]

I have flown up to Minneapolis many times headed for Leech Lake for Walleye after ice out. Carry two 6.5’ two piece spinning rods in a tube rod holder from Academy. Put the reels in my checked baggage along with Plano boxes of Rapala Shad Raps and Walleye jigs and ancillary terminal tackle. No worries. This is Nashville to Minny, direct either Delta or Southwest.

[FishAddict]

I travel frequently to fish. I have checked tackle but not rods with zero problems. I tend to not take overly expensive stuff with me on trips like this anyhow. I ALWAYS carry my rods on, I have 2 piece rods that I put into a cloth rod sleeve/holder and put them into the overhead after all of the luggage is put into the bins. At the gate and I pop up as quickly as possible and take them down before some bonehead can break them. If you don't check the tackle, pliers over 6" will be confiscated, along with any fillet knife you may forget. Be really careful about fillet knives. Years ago (like more than I want to tell) I forgot one and it was no big deal back then, but it may be an automatic expensive fine now. I am positive a pistol is an automatic fine. Post pics, love them. One thing to add, check what equipment you will be on, regional jets have tiny overhead bins, but do tend to have a closet up front for a rod. And a picky gate agent will call your rods, even if small like mine, a carry on bag. I got hit on this in Buffalo a few months ago and had to check my carry on suitcase since I had a computer bag with me for work. This is the exception though, and you usually can breeze by the gate agent with a rod or 2.

[notorious]

TSA is a joke, nothing but government thugs and thieves. Ship Fed Ex or UPS the week before with a signature acceptance.


ref: Co-worker quit TSA after he saw the light how they stole and harassed people.


TSA stoled my pocket knife in checked baggage last flight to Houston x 1 month.


POS thugs

[thehick176]

I would pack my one piece rods in a PVC tube with a screw on top when we used to go to Canada every other year without a single problem. Just wrap your rods in bubble wrap beforehand.

[SAMBOLIE]

Originally Posted by FishAddict

I travel frequently to fish. I have checked tackle but not rods with zero problems. I tend to not take overly expensive stuff with me on trips like this anyhow. I ALWAYS carry my rods on, I have 2 piece rods that I put into a cloth rod sleeve/holder and put them into the overhead after all of the luggage is put into the bins. At the gate and I pop up as quickly as possible and take them down before some bonehead can break them. If you don't check the tackle, pliers over 6" will be confiscated, along with any fillet knife you may forget. Be really careful about fillet knives. Years ago (like more than I want to tell) I forgot one and it was no big deal back then, but it may be an automatic expensive fine now. I am positive a pistol is an automatic fine. Post pics, love them. One thing to add, check what equipment you will be on, regional jets have tiny overhead bins, but do tend to have a closet up front for a rod. And a picky gate agent will call your rods, even if small like mine, a carry on bag. I got hit on this in Buffalo a few months ago and had to check my carry on suitcase since I had a computer bag with me for work. This is the exception though, and you usually can breeze by the gate agent with a rod or 2.

Don't think I would tell that on here.