I use a "bazooka" rod case, I think by Flambeau, for one and two piece stand-up conventional rods, and my 2 piece saltwater fly rods (now down to 2 unfortunately). In talking to hundreds of conventional boys over the years going from California to Mexico(seems like 75%+ of them use the PVC homestyle tube) I've never heard of one of the tubes being broken into before. I believe it, just haven't heard of it. In fact, the prevailing wisdom seems to be "why would they break into it when they can just grab the whole tube?". It's not like walking out out of work carrying a bunch of rods won't be noticed any less than a rod tube. I do like the "telescoping" feature of my case, and the handle and flat sides (doesn't roll around, slide off the wall or truck when propped up, or onto things as easily) come in handy, but make sure you use a padlock on the telescoping adjustement hole, and not the supplied coter (sp) pin. Don't want any midflight case length adjustments...
Phil ----- Original Message ----- From: Dell Coppock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 10:43 AM Subject: Re: travel w/fly rods and the budget AK rod tube > 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 > > > > > > > > > >
