Fishing line not allowed as carry on luggage

[Fisherman1]

Greetings folks,

Out of interest, I am travelling from Capetown to Lusaka (via jhb) for a mixture of business and pleasure. I packed my Shimano 4000 baitrunner with 17lb mono (spooled to the reel) into my carry on luggage.
The security check at Capetown wasn’t an issue, however, on arrival at the security at OR Tambo security refused to allow me to proceed as the reel had line on the spool. I had to removed the line off the spool and dispose of it in the security dustbin.

Just curious if anyone out there has experienced the same ?

 

[Spool-Song]

Never heard of that, and I'd be mighty angry if I had to dispose of my brand new braid.

I remember on a Domestic flight in Australia, I was forbidden from taking my 4 piece #4wt fly rod on the plane in my hand luggage. I told the lady at security that "The only way this tiny fly rod could be considered a danger on this flight, is if the pilot was a trout." She didn't think I was very funny☹️

 

[Zeebo]

Greetings folks,

Out of interest, I am travelling from Capetown to Lusaka (via jhb) for a mixture of business and pleasure. I packed my Shimano 4000 baitrunner with 17lb mono (spooled to the reel) into my carry on luggage.
The security check at Capetown wasn’t an issue, however, on arrival at the security at OR Tambo security refused to allow me to proceed as the reel had line on the spool. I had to removed the line off the spool and dispose of it in the security dustbin.

Just curious if anyone out there has experienced the same ?

Utter BS. Sometimes they make up rules just to see if you will discard the items so they can make some extra cash.

 

[busanga]

i understand the airlines concern. you could take out your reel while everybody sleeping and garotte the cabin crew, then hold the braid to the pilots neck and threaten to garotte him/her if they dont fly you to your fishing destination of choice... perfectly understandable.

 

[Bosbok]

I have travelled extensively with fishing equipment, you can be sure to encounter many different interpretations on what you can take in check in luggage. I have had all kinds of issues, even on the number of reels I am taking (you are selling reels) etc. Friends have had to leave some expensive braid behind while others have had no issues at the same airport.

The TSA guidelines says “Fishing equipment should be placed in checked baggage. Some tackle is sharp and dangerous. Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as flies should be packed in your carry-on baggage.”

The recommended guidelines from fishing operators are “Reels should be no problem to stow in your carry-on bag, while fishing line and tackle should be packed away in your checked luggage”.

My general approach is as follows (spinning, popping, jigging) :

I don’t have 3 or 4 piece travel rods, only 2 piece rods. Check pack lengths of rods on purchase. Rod tube total length may not exceed 1.9 m. Most airlines don’t check this, until you get to the last flight which is normally a smaller plane, then you are stuck – have had to leave some rods behind in the past.

Rods gets packed in a bubble wrap roll in a rod tube. Despite fragile stickers all over the tube still gets handled roughly – stood on or dropped point first out of the plane. True story.

If I don’t have luggage weight issues then reels go in check in luggage. Lures are heavy, so I normally try and take reels in carry on to allow for more lures.

Line always go in check in luggage. If I have time to prepare lines are spooled on plastic spools and go into check in with spare lines and other equipment. Then the complete reels goes in carry on. Pain to respool at your destination. Or if time is an issue then I pack the reel spool with line on in check in.

Last tip. Have some fishing pics on your phone, helps with explanations if questions are asked at check in.

 

[Dr halibut hoffman]

Good post Bosbok,
Ja since 9/11 you haven't been able to take line officially in carry on luggage, last time I went fishing overseas which was years ago, I put my spools of line in check in luggage and took my reels in carry on luggage..