Best Travel Rod

[ronaultmtd]

OK forum I need some advice and input-
I travel extensively and need a travel rod that will fit in the overhead- most four piece travel rods come apart during the cast or fighting a fish- I have been looking at Browning Safari 7' MH spinning rod and/or the St. Croix Triumph...both rods are in the higher price range- any one with travel rod experiences? I want to use my Pflueger Supreme medium spinning reel on it-I want to use this outfit for everything...Gulf Coast redfish/speck fishing- west coast salmon, etc.

A real bummer when renting a fishing kayak is the tackle you get to use-most time way too heavy-duty-

[J.A. Veil]

Ron -

Years ago I asked my wife for an inexpensive travel rod as a Christmas present. I envisioned a $20 Diawa with 4 or 5 pieces. Instead, she went to Anglers and was talked into buying me a 7', 3 piece St. Croix Premier rod (PS70M3) with a hard travel case. The case is 31" long. I have used the rod many times in FL, LA, and TX to catch redfish, trout, flounder, snook, and various other fish. I took it to Alaska last summer and used it to catch some black rockfish and silver salmon by jigging 3-oz lures in open water.

The rod is rated for 6-12 lb line and lures of 1/4 to 5/8 ounce (obviously I exceeded that for my Alaska catches).

The rod is probably about 15 years old now. I use it just a few times each year, so it still looks new.

St.Croix still makes 3-piece travel rods in the Premier series and 4-piece rods in the Triumph series. They are pricey, but they offer good quality -- and they catch fish.

[ictalurus]

This probably isn't the response you're looking for, but if you're worried about pieces coming off, you could try a telescopic rod. If you ever travel to Canada, you should look in a tackle shop at the telescopic rods. Canadians and Europeans use them for carp, and they're much nicer than the typical ones sold in the US. The only one I've seen in person is this one:

http://www.shimano-eu.com/publish/co..._stc_mini.html

It was pretty sweet. It was out of my price range, but I almost bought it anyway because I liked it so much. There are other brands that are cheaper and still made out of graphite. Jaxon is one brand:

http://newworldcarp.com/osc/jaxon-xt...21m-p-552.html

I used to use a 6'6" medium action Shakespeare telescopic spinning rod when I traveled. It costs around $10, and it shows, but I've caught stripers up to 26" on it (with some patience). That was the first rod I used for kayak fishing. The downsides are that it's made of fiberglass, has crappy guides, and is too floppy for jigging. You'll be outgunned by a big salmon or nice redfish. It'll work find for specks and smaller drum, and it collapses down to 18", which is the best part. It'll cast a big Chug Bug, but working it is tough. I have a stouter one that I took to Florida and caught several specks with:

http://www.muddcreek.com/calypso-mak...ot-mak-7mhs-t/

It's kind of heavy, though, given what it is, and it still wouldn't be good for jigging; however, it handled a 24" striper with ease. The specks barely bent it. It's about 20" collapsed.

I thought about getting a Bass Pro Extreme travel rod when they're on sale (~$60). They're pretty nice (at least in the store), and get good reviews. If something happens to it, you can swap it for another at a store, which is handy if one is nearby.

[Memory Maker]

These have served me well and I have traveled extensively the past few years. One year I was on a plane train or automobile every 2 weeks and I fished in most of the places I visited.

http://albrightflyfish.com/items/exp...nning/list.htm

[Japanesezero]

i have the same st croix premier as above... love that rod. my old boss has the safari and its really a nice rod too. check out cabela's, they have a travel rod in their salt water section that i have been eyeing ($109)... ive thrown 2 oz lures down in florida with my premier rated at 5/8 oz... more of a lob cast but it was effective and i caught a lot of good sized snook, reds, and specks. I am using a shimano stratic 4000 on mine and its a great balance... will be in FL using it at the beginning of March this year.

[ronaultmtd]

These have served me well and I have traveled extensively the past few years. One year I was on a plane train or automobile every 2 weeks and I fished in most of the places I visited.

http://albrightflyfish.com/items/exp...nning/list.htm

Thanks Memory Maker- This is "exactly" what I was looking for- I ordered the ES7124-

This forum ROCKS- best group ever- thanks- I am headed down to Orlando at the end of the month for a week of work in our annual Spring meetings- I plan to spend a day or two in a rental yak- any suggestions from those who have fished the Orlando area?

[Redfish12]

Ron I have a 6'6" mh bass pro extreme that I got on sale for $60. It's 3 pieces and I have caught many redfish and sea trout on it in Charleston. Another good option if you're going west coast would be the charkbait rods. They have some really nice ones that may be more suited to salmon.

I love my bass pro rod though and I take that and a 4 piece 8 weight on most trips south.

[ictalurus]

The place I went to in November was in New Smyrna Beach, which is about an hour away from Orlando. The kayaks are crappy, but I saw some nice redfish and caught some decent specks relatively close to the launch.

http://www.jbsfishcamp.com/

I spoke with another outfitter, but I can't remember the name. I'll look it up in my email tomorrow. In the mean time, I came across this:

http://www.kayakonline.com/florida.html
http://www.floridapaddlingtrails.com...ard&category=9

If you want to go out with a guide, there's two I can suggest. The half day prices were around $150, I think.

[OBX_RAT]

This forum ROCKS- best group ever- thanks- I am headed down to Orlando at the end of the month for a week of work in our annual Spring meetings- I plan to spend a day or two in a rental yak- any suggestions from those who have fished the Orlando area?[/QUOTE]

Check out Port Canaveral it's an hour east of Orlando, should be good for yak rental, I know its good for fishing.

[J.A. Veil]

I am headed down to Orlando at the end of the month for a week of work in our annual Spring meetings- I plan to spend a day or two in a rental yak- any suggestions from those who have fished the Orlando area?

Years ago when my daughter was young, my wife and I took her to Disney World in Feb. I took off for a half day to fish with a guide in Sarasota, while my wife and daughter did more rides. I think that is about 90-120 minutes away, but my memory is rusty.

[ronaultmtd]

The place I went to in November was in New Smyrna Beach, which is about an hour away from Orlando. The kayaks are crappy, but I saw some nice redfish and caught some decent specks relatively close to the launch.

http://www.jbsfishcamp.com/

I spoke with another outfitter, but I can't remember the name. I'll look it up in my email tomorrow. In the mean time, I came across this:

http://www.kayakonline.com/florida.html
http://www.floridapaddlingtrails.com...ard&category=9

If you want to go out with a guide, there's two I can suggest. The half day prices were around $150, I think.

Florida Guided Kayaks list a full day's guided trip at $225- the rental rate for a plain "Jane" kayak at JB's Fishcamp at Mosquito Lagoon is $100 a day- the guided trip includes all equipment and tackle- seems like the guided fishing is a better deal with someone who will put you on fish and knows the baits/lures they are eating-

[ictalurus]

Florida Guided Kayaks list a full day's guided trip at $225- the rental rate for a plain "Jane" kayak at JB's Fishcamp at Mosquito Lagoon is $100 a day- the guided trip includes all equipment and tackle- seems like the guided fishing is a better deal with someone who will put you on fish and knows the baits/lures they are eating-

Yikes! They raised the prices since I was there. I caught the specks on an electric chicken paddle tail Bass Assassin rigged on a weighted swimbait hook. I the guide I went out with liked white DOA shrimp and Cocahoe minnows in a couple different colors.

[medicyaker]

BassPro has a 4 pc Browning Travel Rod but I'm not sure its a Safari. Comes with a nice Plastic case. There is another brand there just not sure what it is. I believe its a Browning also but havn't been there in a few weeks and my memory is failing me. I believe it also comes with a case but its a nice hard tube case and that also sells for about $100. Wish I could help you more.

[ronaultmtd]

Memory Maker hit it for me- I ordered the Albright travel spinning rod for $143.99 plus 12.95 S&H- It has a heavier lure capacity than any other I have reviewed- it has shipped and I should have it Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.

[Redfish12]

Let us know how you like it! Most of my travel is for lighter stuff. My dad has the same BPS rod and has done some fishing in the Caribbean on it with success though.

Here's a link for the Charkbait rods in case anyone else is looking. I am seriously considering one for my next Alaska trip.

http://charkbait.com/cs/charkbait-travel-rods11.htm