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Does anyone that travels to fishing destinations know of a type or brand of reel protection. Either on the rod or removed off the rod. I will be traveling to GS in July and my rod/reels/gear will be in the back of the pickup for a 12 hr. ride and would like to protect them some how.
Not sure they really need it unless you are worried about the getting rained on? Or stolen.
I use a rod carrier so I remove the reels and use a softsided tackle bag to store them in for the trip down and back.
I set up all my rods and reels at home (don't want to waste the time assembling when I first get down there) so I to have them all ready when I get down there, hooks and all.
I have them in my van wrapped on a couple of cheap tarps held together with a few bungees.
Unroll them and I am set to fish.
Going home the reels come off and get put in bags in a bucket so the rods take up less room wrapped in the tarps.
If you expect them to bounce around the truck bed I would wrap a towel around the reels or make sure something soft is under them.
I travel with my rods in the back of my pickup truck a lot of the time. Rain won't hurt them. They shouldn't bounce around. I'm not sure what it is that they need protection from. I take them out if when there's a chance they could be stolen, but that's NEVER happened, so I don't worry about that a whole lot, either.
I took a 4" piece of pvc pipe and put 2 caps that screw in, I cut some foam for both ends. I cut the pipe to a little over the length of my longest rod when it is broken down. I take the reels off the rods and put them in a storage tote wrapped in bubble wrap. I put all my saltwater rods in the tube. I think I have 3 or 4 rods in there.
Thanks everyone for your protection advice, I don't have really expensive equipment but i don't want to treat it like a Zebco 202
We use a small cooler to hold the reels, then use the cooler for live shrimp or bull minnows when we get here. Cooler works great with battery operated aerator. Rods are two pc. and stowed inside nylon tote that used to hold a camp chair.
Years ago when I had my 20'CC, I built a rod rack that went into the "divider board" slots in the bed of the pickup. Mainly to keep them organized and out of the way.
Other than that, protect your rods from sliding around and getting banged up/tips broken and you are good..
I packed my reels in a Tupperware container with clothes to cushion them, also cut a length of 4" sched 30 with screw on end caps for the rods. 26 hour trip to Maine in the Honda civic and all was good.
Of course, rod protection might not have been needed at all if they weren't sitting beside my girlfriend the entire trip... Lol
i bought one of those bazooka tubes that adjusts in height to accommodate different length rods. Holds 2 10' surf rods (2 pieces) and a 7' rod (2 pieces) no problem. I put my reels in a soft tackle bag. I think the bazooka tube was like $40 at Academy Sports here in Dallas. We do a 12ish hour trip down there as well.
My family mocked me for years about dragging almost every bit of fishing equipment into the motel room every night. It was not that my equipment was valuable, but not only would losing it ruin my vacation until it could be replaced but it would have ruined every future vacation as I obsessed over it.Quote:
Originally Posted by witler
Just do like me and buy junky looking crap and the thieves will pity you and leave you a few weights and hooks by your Chinese reels.
5 gallon bait bucket with the reels wrapped in rags each.....rods in a bazooka rod tube that holds full one piece 8ft+ rods, if the 9fter comes I have a extra hole drilled for the pin......now transported on the roof rack......all still fits in the suv to and from the condo-pier rigged and ready to go......pier cart and cooler on the stainless reese hitch carrier I made
I think I have solved my problem. I am putting the reels in empty 'Crown Royal' bags and then placing the bags in a backpack or cooler.
But if I buy anymore reels, I will have to buy more 'Crown Royal' for the bags, which can be a good thing.
One of my pier friends was all upset a couple of days ago. He told me somebody had stolen a rod and reel off his pier cart. I commiserated with him and worried about my own. An hour or so later, he told me that senility had begun---he'd left the rig in his car.
I understood completely. More and more often, now, gangs of thieves have invaded my house and stolen my reading glasses, car keys and, once, even a peanut butter sandwich I'd just made. My darling wife is obviously paying the ransom since these objects tend to reappear.
that's what we do but use a plastic tote for the reels. i don't have the most expensive equipment but it is mine and all i have. i don't want it damaged on the trip down/home.Quote:
Originally Posted by ShallowWaterAngler
I pack my reels for travel and bungee rods together, uhm several bundles:o. Spinning reels go into a plano padded pistol case, baitcasters go into padded rifle cases. Both purchased from Academy for cheap, like $15 each.
Rod bundles are last to go in the van, onto a mattress pad atop everything else packed, and covered with a blanket to hold down rattles.
YMMV