Traveling Angler Tuesdays Tip #4: Carry-on your rods and reels!

Traveling Angler Tuesdays launched June 26th, 2012 on mattrevors.com. My mission is to prove the concept of fly fishing travel abroad is not just the realm of old rich dudes and magazine writers & photographers. Keep checking back regularly as I share tips & tricks to get you to fly fishing locales you dream of going to. To see past articles & tips, click here.

"32.8 million bags were mishandled by airlines globally in 2008 – an average of 90,000 bags per day,"- from What You Should Know About Mishandled Checked Luggage on Airlines

This stat surprised the hell out of me, and I already knew the numbers were pretty high. I just didn't think they were that high.

With dismal numbers like that, the Traveling Angler needs to put the odds in his favour.

Needless to say, the best way to have the odds in your favour is to have a rod and reel to fish with. You don't want to end up at your destination without a rod and reel, so carry it on.

Clothes can be borrowed or purchased, even if it's a ratty t-shirt and a pair of flip-flops from a street vendor.

Flies, pliers, nippers or knives can be bought or borrowed.

But without a rod and reel, you're pretty much screwed.

I repeat: CARRY YOUR ROD AND REEL ON THE PLANE.

Note: This applies to four piece rods. If you're traveling with two piece rods, you're on your own. I can't help you, other than to say 1982 called and they want their fishing pole back.

If you're taking only one rig, it's pretty easy to carry in a rod tube. Or maybe purchase one of these. You can get similar for two rods & reels right here.

If you're carrying three or more rods & reels, plus spools and such, I highly recommend the Orvis Safe Passage Rod & Gear Case. Mine is pictured above. It can hold up to six rods in their socks, plus their reels and spools. It is within carry-on size limits, and I've yet to have an overhead bin too small for it.

Pro tip: You can read a good review & better description of the Orvis rod case by the guys at Gink & Gasoline right here. You should also subscribe to them. They have probably the best fly fishing blog going right now.

My typical carry-on M.O. goes like this:

• In the Orvis rod case: rods, reels/spools, leaders, camera & charger, MacBook charger, phone charger, iPod cable, ebook cable, sunglasses case, toothbrush/toothpaste, Buff, sun gloves, hat (if not on my head), loose change collected on travels.
• In the Guatemalan Coffee Bag Satchel: MacBook Air, ebook reader, iPod Touch, smartphone, magazine, headphones, passport, wallet, boarding passes.

Note: Yes, that's right, I said satchel.

The above method puts me on the ground in my destination with my valuables AND my rods and reels.

Not to mention fresh breath, too.

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KNOW THY RIGHTS

Typically in air travel, you will come across some busy-body working for an airline or even the TSA or CATSA (that's the Canadian TSA) that...interprets...the rules a little differently than what is published (or makes sense in any civil society). They will say you are not permitted to take your fishing rod on the plane due to government safety regulations.

This is untrue.

Note: I had an very cranky airline agent tell me my rods weren't permitted on the plane as per government regulations. Now if this uppity bitch model employee had told me the airline did not permit fishing rods in the cabin, that's one thing. I would have complied, as the airlines make their own policy. But she had told an untruth, so I invited her to come to the security checkpoint with me. She declined, and so on I went...with the rods.

Here's what they say. I highly recommend you print the webpages these are from & stick 'em in your satchel...or other carry-on bag...

TSA (e.g., the occasionally mean dudes in the United States airports)

• Fishing Rods / Poles: Fishing Rods are permitted as carry-on and checked baggage. However, please check with your air carrier to confirm that it fits within their size limitations for carry-on items. Ultimately, it is the carrier's decision as to whether or not it can be transported as carry-on baggage.
• Tackle Equipment: Fishing equipment should be placed in your checked baggage. Some tackle equipment can be considered sharp and dangerous. Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as fly's (sic) should be packed in your carry-on baggage.
• The website for this information is here.

CATSA (e.g., the barely-above minimum wage earning unarmed folks in Canadian airports that, in larger cities, can barely speak English and have never laid eyes upon a fly fishing rod & reel before)

• This website wasn't really friendly to copying and pasting written regulations, but here it is in screenshot-form (you can view the website here):

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MEXICO

Mexico is a crap-shoot, so it deserves extra attention. I will relate my experiences here so you can decide your own course of action.

When I flew into and out of Cancun, I had zero issues. Not even a glance at the rod case as a carry-on. I am guessing this is due to some relative amount of experience with anglers flying to and from Cancun and then moving to points further on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Flying through Mexico City just four weeks later was a clusterfuck of idiotic proportions.

I was permitted through Canadian security, as usual, and no issues through security and customs upon landing at MEX. But when I went to clear security for my connection to Guatemala City, the fun began. First there were questions, and general handling and fondling of the rods and reels. Then consultations with a supervisor began, with another supervisor coming in for moral support.

General stabbing and clubbing motions with my Redington Predator 6wt butt section soon commenced, followed by a lot of shrugging of the shoulders. Another supervisor showed up with a large binder, which drew the attention of four people. Pointing at the binder and me, and loud conversations over one another went on for about six minutes. I stood quietly with my hands folded while this went on.

With a series of head-nods, the binder was slapped shut and I was told I could go. With my rod case.

But while walking toward the gate, I was run down and scolded by a Mexican lady-hobbit in a supervisor's uniform. She brought back to the security checkpoint and told me to wait. Her scoldings then moved onto two other supervisors and the original officer that opened my rod case.

After a few minutes, an English-speaking supervisor shuffled over to me and sheepishly apologized. I had to check the rod case. I swore. A lot. Fortunately his English wasn't that good.

With four rods and reels, and all the other odds and ends I packed in the rod case, I was nervous about checking the bag. Especially in MEX. I paid the bag-wrapping dude $20US to do a really good job wrapping it. I handed over $3400 in fishing gear and accessories to the airline agent.

Fortunately it arrived in Guatemala City, and intact.

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In conclusion, here are our lessons of the day:

1. Always carry your rods and reels with you on the plane (beware of the sky check system, too).
2. Be prepared to (very politely) argue your case. Print off the CATSA/TSA flight regulations from the links above and carry them with you to back up your story.
3. Be prepared to possibly check your bags in foreign countries, especially those lands unfamiliar with fly fishing gear .

As always, questions, comments, suggestions, or any additional tips and tricks are always welcome in the comments section.

Happy trails.

- MT