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 wefishcane |
Carry on reels |
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Posts: 668 10/01/2008 11:33 |
Planning a fishing trip to Mexico in November. I would prefer to carry on board my reels as well as rods. I've heard some security personnel do not allow
reels due to the possibility of the lines being used as an instrument of bodily harm. What has been your experience?
Thanks, Jim |
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seattlesetters |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 364 10/01/2008 11:39 |
I have never been asked to check a rod....even a 2-piece. However, I've been told at the first security station (the metal detector) that I would need to
check the reels I had in my carry on bag. This has happened twice....both times I tried to carry them on. One time was on Alaska Airlines....the most
fisherman-friendly airline of all.
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bulldog1935 |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 6161 10/01/2008 11:58 Bulldog1935 |
I believe you're in better with the airline and their baggage responsibility than you are either with TSA here, or with their Federale counterparts when
you're wanting to come home.
the rods are never obsolete - the marketing is.
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GrsdLnr |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 161 10/01/2008 13:30 |
This has come up many times before - In TSA own words At the
bottom of the page -
"Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as fly's (sic) should be packed in your carry-on baggage." (italics added) I printed out a hard copy of this page and am prepared to wait for a supervisor if I'm ever told to check the reels and flies. I'm also prepared to check the reel bag if they won't follow TSA's written policy. There's no way to win an argument with them. So far, the only time any TSA personnel have questioned carry-on reels and pack rods is to ask where I'm fishing. Coming back from any foreign country would be another story. I'd plan on checking your stuff and hope for the best. |
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seattlesetters |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 365 10/01/2008 13:33 |
GrsdLnr wrote:It wasn't the reels the TSA agents objected to. It was the fly line (and, presumably, backing) wound on them. |
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winston59 |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 31 10/01/2008 22:06 |
I agree it is the line... I mean you can tie up a boat load of passengers, let alone a plane full.
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GrsdLnr |
Reels... | #6 | ||
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Posts: 162 10/01/2008 22:40 |
Oh, I believe you. Which points out one of my problems with TSA - it's like they make it up as they go along. 
I'm lucky not to have run into any TSA personnel so ignorant as to think people travel to fishing destinations without bringing line. |
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Trouter2.thebasspond |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 35 10/02/2008 14:04 |
As stated before in many other in threads, you are at the mercy of the individual TSA agent who inspects your luggage. Some dont know the difference between a
baseball bat and a fishing rod. And may I add they dont give a rats ass. Very impersonal exchange dealing with the majority of the agents. I have traveled from
Portland to NY, then to Florida and with a Six piece fiberglass rod in my bag along with numerous reels (with lines) and fly boxes and never have been asked a
thing. There used to be an agent in PDX who was an avid fly fisherman who posted on here. Said nothing written in stone, up to the individual agent as to how
he or she understands the written directive. Last time I flew to Houston I had fly reels in my computer bag with 3-4 fly boxes, no one said a thing. I guess it
is what phase the moon is in. Good luck .I am flying at the end of this month with reels and boxes, watch they will check ever one when I get to the airport.
Paul
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cwfly |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 742 10/02/2008 14:32 |
Just the week before last my son-in-law was not allowed to carry-on a 2 piece rod in a plastic tube from NYC to Minneapolis. Got to Minneapolis to change
planes to Montana and found an airport full of fishing rods. It's chance.
Charlie |
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turtledoc |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 2116 10/02/2008 22:47 Moderator |
It is true that some members of this forum have been told by TSA that they could not have lined reels in their carry on bags and were told they needed to
"check them". If you do want the stress of this possibility I'd suggest un-lining them and putting the line in your check
baggage......it's a hassle but will insure there is no problem with security.
I did this for my last Alaska trip and the piece of mind was well worth the time it took to line and un-line the three Salmon reels in question. Mark B |
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Trouter2.thebasspond |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 36 10/03/2008 12:58 |
I dont know that just doesnt sound logical to me. They will let you on board with a belt. shoes laces, sneaker laces, power cords for portable computers, but
not fly lines?. I am going to make a call to the TSA here at Portland airport and find out what the law requires. i will post what they tell me ...just another
note, dont be afraid to express your displeasure to a TSA supervisor, I had an instance where an agent went through a case I had and dumped a digital camera
from the case on the floor. I told the agent he now owned that camera. A supervisor came over took the agent to the side and got all over him. I had to fill
out some documentation in case the camera didnt work, but the point is they will listen, just dont go nuts jumping up and down, screaming at them. Paul
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BigTJ |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 553 10/03/2008 20:11 |
I have had TSA make me check in flies, none of which were bigger than about a size 12. The almost made me check in my landing net (because of its potential use
as a weapon), until one manager came over and told me not to "scoop anyone". I have also on a couple occasions had to go through a major search
because of fly reels, I guess they looked like a bomb or something (spey reels). Since those two situations passed, I always check my fly gear in my checked
baggage. It's too much of a crapshoot otherwise.
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David Dornblaser |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 169 10/06/2008 09:30 |
I think that it depends on where you are flying to/from. For example, I never get a second glance at O'Hare, and I often receive a comment on having a good
fishing trip. Most of the time I am flying into Portland and I receive the same treatment there; I almost always see fellow anglers in the Portland airport.
The last time that I flew into Portland a flight attendant offered to put my rod tube 43" x 4" (spey rods) in a closet, when I went to deplane the
pilot had the tube and I ended up listening to a quick story about how his Dad used to fish for salmon in the PNW! I am sure that Paul, and others, traveling
to Bozeman received good treatment with their tackle. I contrast these reports of good treatment with a flight I took a year ago to Nashville, TN with a rod
tube and reels in my carry on. A couple of the TSA folk were really having a terrible time with my rod tube and I had just been ordered me to stand aside for a
complete search. Luckily a senior supervisor came over and said words to this effect: "that's a rod tube, this guy is going fishing". This is a
wordy way to say that I think that you are more likely to have a smooth TSA experience traveling to/from cities that see destination anglers than airports that
do not.
- David www.UpperMidwestFlyFishing.com - fly fishing in the Upper Midwest. Spring Creeks to Smallies to Steelhead.
Last Edited By: David Dornblaser 10/06/2008 09:32.
Edited 2 times.
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 creakycane |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 1845 10/06/2008 09:52 |
Never have been asked about reels with lines on them in even London, Paris, Milan, Rome in the last 9 mos or so - ditto many US airports, never a problem.....
- just stuffed them in my overstuffed roller briefcase at the bottom and they never said a thing. I didn't remove the lines, but considered putting lines
in checked baggage. Figured, since the lines were old, if they made a big deal about them I would just toss'em and carry the reels through - but no
trouble yet.
As far as rods, I would leave all metal tubes at home, take only mumtipiece - and heavy cardboard is strong enough if the rods are always with you (otherwise light pvc tubing is better or a map/plans carry case). |
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grinnel |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 7 10/06/2008 12:11 |
I have been taken fishing trips to Mexico and Belize a number times in the last 2 years. On three of the trips (Ixtapa, Cancun and Belize City) I had issues
at security in those cities when heading back to the U.S. regarding lines on reels where I was required to check all of my reels (no problem with the rods).
When I inquired why, the response I received was that "I could use the line to tie up people or use the line as a saw to cut people").
Argentina can be another issue entirely. I have been through a couple of instances and heard other stories from there where the "customs inspectors" use the security screening as their own personal fly shop and cherry pick equipment and especially flies. Luckily I haven't had any problems flying in the U.S. recently with reels or rods. In the end, no matter what the country I think it comes down to the individual security screener. |
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Berry Point |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 368 10/06/2008 12:30 |
It's all a crap shoot. Like Creaky and others I've carried many, many reels loaded with lines and backing on board and have never been questioned a
single time in the US or internationally. But I'm sure the day will come when some inspector with an attitude will make me his cause du jour (probably the
same guy who took my 1/2 oz of toothpaste remaining in a 4.2 oz tube because the tube "could carry" more than 4 oz.......No joke--that really
happened at ORD) .
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Trouter2.thebasspond |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 38 10/06/2008 13:24 |
I gotta agree it is a flip of the coin. All depends on what part of the country you are in. Here in Portland the Pac NW, people walking through the airport
with rod cases is a very common thing. I have never been questioned in Portland in all the years I have flown in and out of PDX. My understanding is that the
overhead compartments can handle up to 46 inches. The initial comment on this post was reels and lines. Taking lines off of reels opens up pandoras box for the
TSA, there are so many other things you can use as weapons or to strangle someone that they allow on. But with that said you can never tell with the TSA, I
understand they just changed and are going to change alot of there directives regarding dangerous carryons. They changed the size of the blade size on a knife
recently that you can carry on. They made the blade size bigger. BTW I said I would call the TSA here in Portland last week and get back to you with what I was
told. Got a number of a TSA supervisor from The Port of Portland airport security which controls security at the airport. Left three voice messages on her
phone, no reply as of this writing. Stay tuned I am flying out on the 18th .... Paul
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David Dornblaser |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 170 10/06/2008 13:25 |
Berry Point wrote: I can see the day coming quickly when metal tubes are banned. I am surprised they are not already. - David www.UpperMidwestFlyFishing.com - fly fishing in the Upper Midwest. Spring Creeks to Smallies to Steelhead. |
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Trouter2.thebasspond |
#18 | |||
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Posts: 39 10/06/2008 15:45 |
Just got off the phone with the TSA Supervisor of customer relations here in Portland. She was kinda surprised to hear that we have run into this problem with
lines being asked to be either checked or removed. I got the impression that she was fairly learned on Fly fishing and equipment. Bottom line is she gave me
her phone number and told me when and if it happens to ask for a floor supervisor then give her a call. Not here in Portland does that happen was her comment
to me. Also fails to believe that it happened anywhere in the USA, especially in the west. They are trying to make the TSA more user friendly with the public,
trying to get away from the gestapo tactics. Said if you feel you have been wronged ask for a supervisor, these people who inspect your baggage are not the
court of last resort. we shall see come the end of the month ..Paul
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searun |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 73 10/07/2008 12:24 |
Have "carried on" all my gear throughout the US, Mexico, Fiji and Honduras without any issues. The only place I had to check reels was on my return
from the Bahamas. Greg
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asullivangarner |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 533 10/07/2008 18:14 |
I did not read the entire thread, but DID travel to Argentina in March of this year. My carry on was a rod tube and my personal item was a back-pack, full
of reels, line and backing attached.
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