PVC tubes can be made fairly secure by drilling holes thru the tube and cap for a cable with loops for a lock. Dell ----- Original Message ----- From: "rderedfield" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 10:23 AM Subject: Re: travel w/fly rods and the budget AK rod tube
> I just returned from a trip to Utah, and: > > 1) I sat next to a guy that attempted to carry on his 3 piece and 4 piece > rods, and was required to check them. Apparently there is concern the rod > tubes could conceivably be used as clubs. However, on the return flight, I > noticed another guy strolling towards a flight gate with a 4 piece tube and > a 3 piece rod tube sticking out of his backpack. The policy appears to have > some ambiguity. > > 2) My 4 piece XP was stored in my duffle bag, along with my 30 pound > vest, fly reel, waders, and wading boots. I've flown on a number of trips > in the past 8 months where the likelihood was I could not carry on my flies > and reels. When I flew to Puerto Vallarta last Thanksgiving, I was not > allowed to carry-on my fly reels, lines, flies/hooks, etc., like I had been > able to prior to 9/11. And, I found this out at the check-in counter, so it > was a scramble to get the tackle bag all locked and set up for checked > baggage as opposed to carry-on. So, to me, when in doubt, toss the stuff in > checked baggage. You know you'll never have a problem. > > 3) I have also fabricated and used the rod tubes Kent described, but I > don't use them anymore other than for rod storage at home. Although cheap > and simple to make, in my opinion they have a huge down side to them in they > can't be locked. I've known guys who have arrived at their destination to > find their now-empty PVC rod tube arrive. Sure, you can put strapping tape > over the cap to deter theft, but the tape isn't much of a deterrent. A more > viable considerationJust off the cuff, Plano and Flambeau make similar type > (4" round plastic) rod carriers that telescope in and out to accommodate the > rod length (so it you can adjust it to accommodate multi-piece rods, two > piece rods, spinning rods, etc.) PLUS they accommodate locks. Sorry, Kent, > I know you like to save a couple of bucks, but the extra $30 for the Plano > or Flambeau is worth it to protect my rods that are worth many times the > cost of the tube. And, the tube will likely (hopefully!) be used in the > future. Amortize that $40-$50 cost over a 3 trips, and each rod, and it's > pretty cheap insurance. > > My $0.02. > > Richard > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kent Lufkin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 3:48 PM > Subject: Re: travel w/fly rods > > > > I'm headed to Alaska in a couple weeks and plan on taking all my rods > > in an 'Alaska fishing rod case' - a 48" piece of 4" I.D. Schedule 40 > > PVC pipe (1/4 inch wall thickness) with a cap glued on one and and a > > threaded cap secured by duct tape on the other. Checked as baggage, > > it's tough as nails and not particularly attractive to potential > > thieves. I leave each rod in its cloth bag and stuff foam in the ends > > and the middle to keep 'em from rattling around. Since it's > > oversized, it shows up in a separate part of the baggage claim area > > along with skis, golf bags, gun cases, etc. > > > > Kent Lufkin > > > > >Now that we are living in the post-911 world I've found that Alaska > > >at least doesn't allow fishing rods to be taken as carry on any > > >longer. I'm heading to San Diego next week and need to take a rod > > >along and really no luggage holds a 9' 3-piece rod. I could pack up > > >my Sage 3-rod holder with one rod but that seems overkill and > > >advertising for a theft, I've never checked the thing before. Are > > >all the airlines now following this or is Alaska an exception? I > > >could see where a fly rod in tube is equivalent to a baseball bat > > >which aren't allowed on flights either. Makes me re-consider > > >buying a 5-piece next time I get a rod, at least I can tuck it in my > > >luggage somewhere. > > > > > >Tim > > > > >
