Rod tubes

What are you guys using to carry your popping and jigging rods when you travel to these far off destinations.Currently I use a pvc tube sealed off at both ends but I feel when I'm travelling with over 25k worth of rods I ow it to my insurance company to pack them in the best, not only are these rods top off the pops but damn expensive and one is impossible to replace so to leave it in the hands off our airways to toss about eish....Nepps is there anywhere in SA where one can get a Carmate or a Natureboys rod tube or has Jigstar Africa got something in the offering.

I have used the extensible sure think it is the sure catch version. Solid - add a little bubble wrap to stop them sloshing around and it works a bomb. Best thing is that it is around R300.

I transported 2 trolling rods, 3 jigging rods and a popping rod on my recent trip to Seychelles and all good.

Fedu actually has mine to transport the JM he got from Andre back to Angola.

Hi CK, I now use the Bazooka extendable rod tubes exclusively. They are light and very strong. And reasonably priced at just over 450 bucks.

When I cam back from NZ, I had FTF's Kojak Acid Custom that I sent up to him in Harare - in my PVC home-made tube that had served so well all over the world.

It arrived in Harare with the end screw cap destroyed, the PVC tube with holes in it......... and a broken Kojak Acid!!!!

Looked like a vehicle had driven over it....

Hi RB ye it also happened to me on my return from Tanzania when I got off at OR I got my rod tube back with out the top screw on section nearly wet my self luckily all my rods where intact thats when I decided to get something decent for my rods.How many popping rods can you fit in your bazooka tube and is it top loading or can it open along its full length.

Mine is this one I think it is made by Plano and it's the AirLiner 4588.

[*]Unique 3-tier design [/*][*]Extends to 88' in length [/*][*]Collapses to 47' [/*][*]5' diameter easily stores up to eight 7' rods [/*][*]47' - 88' L x 9.75'W x 5.5'H [/*]

I'll check how many popping rods, I use it extensively.

Later I'll take a pic of mine and also of Bluflu one.

On the left mine and on the right Bluflu, both closed.

Fully open, max rod lenght mine on last position goes a bit longer .

BluFlu goes up to 88in and I think plano has a model that goes up to 111in.

Bluflu one has got that "door" on top that allows you to load and unload without unpacking it.

BluFlu one also seems thougher.

Capacity about the same, mine due to be 3 pieces seems a bit heavier.

lots of dust in angola !!

Hey CK,

Such a good point you make about protecting your investments in the form of rods... we all spend damn good money on our gear, and entrusting these investments to the Airline baggage handlers is a scary and risky business!

Thankfully I've been pretty lucky so far, having transported my rods in PVC tubes, Cardboard Tubes and Bazooka Tubes and have not had any problems with breakages, I've just had stuff go wandering for a few days... not great when its thye start of a fishing trip!!

I wish we could get Carmate or Nature Boys cases here as I would definetly purchase one, even though they are pretty extremely priced.
I've looked into biging one in, but the size means you can't use USPS, which means courier service, which is about $400 plus USD!!!!

I've been using a Bazooka, which is a good alternative, but they are a little small for my liking, especially when it comes to popping rods or spinning version jigging sticks...
I also hate the fact they slide around all over the place as they don't have a rubber boot on the base, so standing them up is damn near impossible as they just slide...

They do work though, thats for sure, although the closer mechanism is not the best in my opinion....

I'm gonna see if I can open up a few more options for Carmate/Nature Boys... let me know if you interested CK, I'll see if I can find a deal somehow..

Cheers
Nepps

The Plano 6508 Jumbo Airline has got two intresting details, it extends up to 112" and has got wheels that come in handy at airports.

The Carmate just extends up to 7' but being wider handles much more rods.


@tackle whore - The dust comes from long range, off road traveling through our dirts roads in Angola and also some lack of care ;-)   (properly tested I would say hehehe) 

See the pic has changed - nice photo did the wife take it

 

 Hi Guys,

 I have to give the Bazooka a thumbs down..due to one nearly disasterous experience..

I was flying back from UK via Mauritius to Madagascar, and upon arrival in Tana saw the top section of my Bazooka had been almost fully broken off..

My heart skipped a beat as i could see the tip of my Brand New Ripple Fisher rod, luckily snugly packed and wrapped in bubble wrap, poking out the top..!

Given that there were 5 rods, including two Fisherman spinoza's (one for a friend as well) which were set me back 900 Euro's a piece, in there, i was fearing the worst!

I believe it literally had just happened in Tana, or worst whilist loading onto the Mauritius/Tana flight - my rods turned out to be safe, but it did present a conundrum as i was leaving early the next morning (sunday!) for Nosy Be - lots of duct tape and some improvisation meant the rods arrived safely in NB, but now i am back to a customised PVC tube type device...!

Would also like one of the better tubes - Carmate etc, but agree with you Neps, can't justify the cost...!

RF.

Tauruck built a few Carbon fiber tubes for a custome recently.

Very cool stuff.

Any pics of those?

Big vote here for the Carmate. Tough as hell and nice that its bright orange so you can see when the airport baggage mule brings it out and leaves it nowhere near where your other luggage is coming off the belt.

Would advise ignoring the door for loading and taking the two tube sections apart before loading rods and sliding the two sections back together.

It can take six rods pretty easily. I've packed;

2 x popping rods
2 x med & light popping rods
1 x light and 1 x heavy jig rod

Should be plenty as you can only use one at a time!

Sharpie - I would defintely have a Carmate by now if it wasn't for the $400 USD shipping tag to send one here to SA!!!!!

I like the new one Salty Water has got too, looks awesome... still gotta figure out a cheaper way to get them here though..
Any SA guys interested in a group buy, let me know, maybe we can club together and save on shipping.

Nepps

You probably just need to fly over and pick some up. Buy a few rods and catch a few tuna while you're there.