Lose the Tube
By David Caywood
Breakfast in Memphis, Lunch in Miami, Dinner in Manaus, poles in Poland
I got rid of my seven-foot rod tube long ago. I just came to accept that the longer the rod tube, the longer the odds of having it show up as scheduled. Most people prefer one-piece rods and I agree they are nice, light and responsive. But then again most of my international rods are from the broomstick collection and as such whether they are 1, 2 or 3 piece, the sensitivity changes little.
I always carry on at least two 3-piece rods and associated reels. The rest are in a four-foot tube full of 2 piece rods. Commuter jets are so common now and their aft luggage compartment so small that long rod tubes have come to be known as the leading source of high blood pressure among fisherman.
Regardless of what you do, call the airlines and find out what their max rod tube length is. It varies wildly in the industry and gate agents have been quick with the tape measure of late. I have actually reached inside my tube at the counter and broken the tips off of two new 7' 6" rods so as to shorten the rod tube. Another time I was on my way back outside the terminal with my 7-foot tube to give back to my wife when I spotted a friend of mine coming back from a skiing vacation. Grabbed the long bag that contained his skies, pulled out the skies, inserted the tube and went back up stairs to check in. Max length for downhill skies...7".
Next time you are down in Brazil, where there is no snow, and you see some one guy clearing customs with a set of down hill skies, do the math!
All rights reserved © 2000-2008 Worldwide Angling, LLC. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any mean s without permission in writing from Worldwide Angling, LLC.
Breakfast in Memphis, Lunch in Miami, Dinner in Manaus, poles in Poland
I got rid of my seven-foot rod tube long ago. I just came to accept that the longer the rod tube, the longer the odds of having it show up as scheduled. Most people prefer one-piece rods and I agree they are nice, light and responsive. But then again most of my international rods are from the broomstick collection and as such whether they are 1, 2 or 3 piece, the sensitivity changes little.
I always carry on at least two 3-piece rods and associated reels. The rest are in a four-foot tube full of 2 piece rods. Commuter jets are so common now and their aft luggage compartment so small that long rod tubes have come to be known as the leading source of high blood pressure among fisherman.
Regardless of what you do, call the airlines and find out what their max rod tube length is. It varies wildly in the industry and gate agents have been quick with the tape measure of late. I have actually reached inside my tube at the counter and broken the tips off of two new 7' 6" rods so as to shorten the rod tube. Another time I was on my way back outside the terminal with my 7-foot tube to give back to my wife when I spotted a friend of mine coming back from a skiing vacation. Grabbed the long bag that contained his skies, pulled out the skies, inserted the tube and went back up stairs to check in. Max length for downhill skies...7".
Next time you are down in Brazil, where there is no snow, and you see some one guy clearing customs with a set of down hill skies, do the math!
All rights reserved © 2000-2008 Worldwide Angling, LLC. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any mean s without permission in writing from Worldwide Angling, LLC.
