Cheap Travel Rod Recommendations

I’m heading to Florida this February and would like to take a rod down there with me to fish the piers. Last year we had a great time catching sheepshead off the pilings but the rod I rented was like using a PVC pipe with line attached to it. And I don’t really want to bring any of my rods for fear of the airlines snapping them. So I’m looking for recommendations on cheaper travel rods that break down into 3-4 pieces that I can bring as my carry on.

So far I’m looking at the Ugly Stik GX2 spinning pack rod and the Daiwa travel rod. It doesn’t need to be nice, just nicer than the rental poles.

Before I had a boat with rod storage I’d put my expensive rods in 2″ sch 40 PVC when traveling. Solid cap one end and threaded cap the other. No idea what they would charge for luggage fees on that.

The fenwick HMG has 2 tip sections. The older discontinued Methods travel had 5 pieces, with a more moderate mid section and heavier tip, so it was a mf and mhmf if desired. I see they are available for less than $80 some places.

I have a 4 piece st. Croix triumph that is snappy, but the guide frames corroded out and needed to be replaced after a few years.

Not cheap but really work well for saltwater are the St. Croix Tidemaster Travel rods, 3 piece 7 foot medium action handles most inshore fish. If you keep an eye on Ebay you may be able to get a reconditioned one for around 100 bucks.

I travel I fish but I don’t fly with my fishing gear. I UPS my rods and gear to the resort in m staying at. Works great when it’s time to leave I just pack it up and ship it to my work address. Got fed up with airlines misplacing my gear. Good luck I’m heading to Florida in February!

I have been to Alaska many times and on each flight I brought on my 2 pc 9 foot spinning rods in a cloth rod case, actually brought 2 rods in the case. They take up little room and you could simply wrap them around and tie them, about the same size as the rods were. I put my Series 4000 Shimano’s in my suitcase. Never had an issue bringing them on as most of the dual door overheads were over 5 feet long, so I just waited till they were full and laid them in the front, retrieving first when I was departing. These were expensive rods, medium heavy for 12 – 18 pound salmon, and I never had a problem with breakage, getting through security or boarding. Once the flight attendants put the wrapped rods in the front closet where they hang 1st class passengers jackets. My cloth rod “socks” (what I call them) came with a couple of fly rods that I had. Here is an example: https://www.amazon.com/Cotton-Fishing-Protector-Sleeve-Storage/dp/B01LZYR0J1/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=cloth+fishing+rod+sleeve&qid=1574196494&sr=8-9. Good luck.

Daiwa Ardito is a great travel rod although not the cheapest. If you travel a lot it might be worth it.

I’ve also ordered Abu Vengeance rods off TW and had them free shipped to my destination. I now leave it with a relative there for when I visit. Great rod actually, can’t believe it’s $50. Cheaper than doing a carry on than some airlines…

FryDog62 wrote:

Daiwa Ardito is a great travel rod although not the cheapest. If you travel a lot it might be worth it.

I’ve also ordered Abu Vengeance rods off TW and had them free shipped to my destination. I now leave it with a relative there for when I visit. Great rod actually, can’t believe it’s $50. Cheaper than doing a carry on than some airlines…

Ah, That Abu sounds like a good idea. We are staying on Clearwater beach but I have relatives in Dunedin like 5 minutes away so I could ship it to their house. Good idea! Thanks for all the ideas everybody!

Last year I packed a couple reels and some tackle in my suitcase , and bought a couple cheap ugly sticks when I got there . Just left them there when we left .

I did the same as the last few posters… I looked for a cheap medium powered rod, took two reels, a 2500 and a 4000, 20# floro, jigs, plastics, a couple 1/4 oz. gold Johnson Silver Minnows, a couple husky jerk style minnow baits, 1/2 oz. sinkers for the surf and circle hooks.

Left the rod ($25) I spent on it. Rinse everything every time you fish the salt, especially the stuff you’re bringing home. I also took my oldest pair of knee highs to wade in. Tough bottoms if you end up close to oyster bars or sharp bottoms and high enough to protect your legs from stinging things. Water’s warm enough to go over the top too. Have Fun!!!

Mark

I’ve done the exact same thing on some work trips that may have involved some extracurricular fishing.

Buy a cheap rod there and give it to a kid or someone you meet there.

It’s a win-win for everyone involved (the tackle shop, you, and the donee)

No headaches traveling or extra baggage.

B-man wrote:

I’ve done the exact same thing on some work trips that may have involved some extracurricular fishing.

Buy a cheap rod there and give it to a kid or someone you meet there.

It’s a win-win for everyone involved (the tackle shop, you, and the donee)

No headaches traveling or extra baggage.

This is along the lines of what I was thinking after seeing these responses. Thanks everybody.

I love fishing so much at the time of travel.

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>B-man wrote:</div>
I’ve done the exact same thing on some work trips that may have involved some extracurricular fishing.

Buy a cheap rod there and give it to a kid or someone you meet there.

It’s a win-win for everyone involved (the tackle shop, you, and the donee)

No headaches traveling or extra baggage.

This is along the lines of what I was thinking after seeing these responses. Thanks everybody.

So I have an Abu Vengeance with my in-laws in Florida, another one I left with my daughter in Denver… and I had one shipped a few years back on a business trip to South Carolina. Didn’t have a place to keep it in SC so gave it to a kid on a public fishing pier. He seemed quite pleased with the donation, me too..

I just ordered the LL Bean Travel Rod. I got the one rated for 10-20 lb line. It should arrive soon. I sure hope I like it.

I already have a reel I can use with it that I will spool with 17# mono. The rod is 7′ long. I would have preferred 8′ like my 2 piece light surf rod, the one I used to use for travel when the airlines allowed you to check a rod tube for free.

I’ll be on the gulf side of Florida and plan to throw lures in the 3/4 oz to 2 oz range from the beach.

The rod lists for $99, but once when I looked, up popped a $25 off coupon. That nudged me to buy it.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/77033?page=travel-series-spinning-rods-four-piece

Bob P

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>B-man wrote:</div>
I’ve done the exact same thing on some work trips that may have involved some extracurricular fishing.

Buy a cheap rod there and give it to a kid or someone you meet there.

It’s a win-win for everyone involved (the tackle shop, you, and the donee)

No headaches traveling or extra baggage.

This is along the lines of what I was thinking after seeing these responses. Thanks everybody.

We are going to Gulf Shores, AL this summer and I was researching the same thing.. I like this idea!! Good post. thanks guys.

I now have another $50 rod I left behind in the garage of a friend on Marco Island. I had thoughts of getting a travel rod again, but looked at the price of buying something of decent quality, plus the airlines charge more if you can’t fit in your carry-on bag. The free shipping on a $50 rod from Tacklewarehouse is hard to pass up.

I got a 5 piece Medium spinning rod that came with it’s own bag that I used last spring in Clearwater for sheepshead and trout and it worked flawlessly. I will try and find the link for it. I would highly recommend it.

Four Piece Fiblink Travel Rod:

Fiblink 4 Pieces Travel Spinning Rod Medium Graphite Spinning Fishing Rod Portable Fishing Rod

Here it is in action. I honestly was surprised at how sensitive it was. Also if you plan to use anything in saltwater, remember to either use a reel you don’t care too much about, or make sure to thoroughly rinse and clean your reel after using it or it will corrode.

mahtofire14 wrote:

I got a 5 piece Medium spinning rod that came with it’s own bag that I used last spring in Clearwater for sheepshead and trout and it worked flawlessly. I will try and find the link for it. I would highly recommend it.

Looks good – curious if it all fit in your carry on bag… and second if it comes in a baitcasting version?

I put a couple reels in my checked bag last year. Bought some 2 piece rods at Walmart $20 a piece. They were just fine for bank fishing. I forgot to give them away before we left and decided to try and get them on the plane with my personal item (backpack.) I wrapped them neatly together with a rubber band. To my suprise not one single person at the airport questioned the rods. In fact, there were several other people traveling the same way.

Now these rods reside on the pontoon for friends and family to use.

FryDog62 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
I got a 5 piece Medium spinning rod that came with it’s own bag that I used last spring in Clearwater for sheepshead and trout and it worked flawlessly. I will try and find the link for it. I would highly recommend it.

Looks good – curious if it all fit in your carry on bag… and second if it comes in a baitcasting version?

Yes and yes.
i’d estimate its about 18 inches long in the bag.