In May I bought the Abel "Standard" rod carrier. I liked it because it was square and wouldn't roll, and because I often carry a couple of rods with me when I travel and wanted the space for up to 6 rods. I've taken two tips on aircraft with it so far (both on Horizon Air, once from Seattle to Bozeman, once from Seattle to Boise) and have had no problem carrying it onboard even though it is 62" long. The people at the X-Ray check have had me open it up and show them the contents, but were then OK with it. I like the carrier a lot and would highly recommend it.
I was prompted to buy the carrier after a bad experience last fall. I was one of those guys traveling with 4 rod tubes all duct taped together. On a return flight from Butte, I was forced to check them as luggage. When I retrieved them in Seattle, the tip sections on two of the rods were broken, and the airlines weren't interested in fixing them since they said they were fragile and not appropriately packed. With the Abel case I'll be able to pack them well in case I need to check them in again. Bruce > > > > > > >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 > > > > > > > > > >
