Traveling with your Fishing Gear

Angling has undoubtedly become one of the most popular times of Americans over the years. It’s estimated that there are about fifty million fishermen and women in the United States alone, so that’s a good pointer that can tell us just how popular the sport can be all over the world.

If you’re an avid fisher and you want to go on a trip for several weeks, you might find it hard to tackle the challenges of traveling with your fishing equipment. Sure, if you are planning to go by car, you might not find it so hard than if you were to go by plane.

Let’s look at some tips and tricks that might be able to help you.

Pack wisely

 

The last thing you might want to do is to realize you’ve left something really important back home. We recommend creating a checklist at least a week before you hit the road because in this way, you will be able to add stuff to the list without worrying about forgetting about an item or another.

If you intend to go by plane, it goes without saying that things that could potentially hurt other people are not to be packed in your carry-on. You can use the checked luggage to store your forceps, hook sharpeners, knot tools, as well as your pliers. Your fishing knife should also be kept there.

Since flies are only allowed in carry-ons if they’re under a certain size, we would instead suggest you also pack them in your checked luggage.

Rods and reels

Since these two items are probably the most important pieces of your fishing equipment, it might be a better idea for you to keep them on hand at all times. Again, for flights, you might have to purchase rod cases where you can also place your reel. For traveling purposes, it might be better to take your favorite multi-piece or telescopic rod instead of the one you use especially for bait casting.

Because some airlines might not allow you to take rod tubes, we would advise packing your rod in socks and bind them together with an elastic. Reels aren’t a problem and can be carried conveniently in your carry-on.

Choose the right kind of clothing

Depending on how much time you’re going to spend at your travel destination, you might have to bring along several extra clothes that you can use while you’re angling. It stands to reason that it needs to be in accordance with the weather forecast. If you travel to Alaska for a week of fishing, you’re going to need thicker and warmer clothes than if you’d do the same for a week of fishing in the Bahamas.

For cold weather destinations like British Columbia and Alaska, you might have to take fleece pants and long underwear so that you feel comfortable while wearing your waders.

For tropical destinations, you should bring along a quality hat and a pair of polarized sunglasses for fishing. You can get sunscreen locally.