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Fishing Luggage Must Be Durable
There are some excellent luggage options out there for the traveling angler. There are three major design features to which you need to pay attention. The first is durability. This luggage is going to get tossed around in some pretty tough conditions from baggage handlers in remote airports (not to mention regular airports), tossed in the back of a float plane, to being dragged up a rocky path at the lodge.
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Fishing Luggage Must Be Functional
The second is functionality. Not only does this luggage need to carry your general apparel, but also fly rods, reels, fishing packs or vests, waders, wading shoes, and wading jackets. At some point in your trip, you’re going to have to put wet, muddy gear back in your bag along with your clothes (this is even more important if you’re going from one remote destination to another).
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Fishing Luggage Must Be Lightweight
The third is weight. All that gear can push the limits of airline weight restrictions. Starting with a heavy leather bag won’t help; bringing a lightweight fishing bag is a far better strategy.
Great fishing luggage offers the separation of clothes and personal items from fishing gear and should offer the following features:
- A separate vented compartment in the bottom for heavy gear like waders and boots, wading jackets, packs or vests, and other gear that might need to be packed wet or damp. Also, it’s a great place to organize this gear to ensure you have everything you need.
- Long enough to carry four-piece rod tubes in the bottom if you decide to pack them in this bag (see below on carrying them on).
- Strong, high-denier nylon construction is very light, but has a very high strength-to-weight ratio which will help overcome airline weight restrictions.
Heavy-duty all-terrain wheels make your fishing duffle easy to move through airports and some of the rougher places you may need to go (most remote lodges don’t invest a lot in pavement, which is part of the reason you go there). Cheap wheels will self-destruct almost immediately in these travel conditions.
- A telescoping handle to make it easy to move through crowded airports (which can also be used to attach a smaller bag resting on the larger bag when walking).
- Enough space to carry a solid week’s worth of clothes and fly-fishing gear.
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Four Steps to Pack Your Carry-On
- Take your four-piece rods out of the tube, but leave them in the protective sock. You can easily fit multiple rods this way which is great for trips where you might be fishing spring creeks one day and big rivers the next, or bonefish and tarpon on the same trip: different weight rods plus backup. Tip: don’t ever go without backup rods.
- Put your reels in their neoprene case and pack them in the case. These cases have adjustable compartments so you can customize them perfectly to fit your gear.
- Fishing luggage also generally has pockets in the lid to nicely organize all your tippets and leaders as well as other small things like sunglass cleaners, buffs, sun gloves, or cold-weather hats and gloves.
- Items that you don't want to check with the airlines, like prescriptions, phone chargers, spare sunglasses, or other valuables, can be packed in the rod and reel carry-on. Between this case and your other carry-on, you should be able to keep all your irreplaceable gear in your possession.
You now have a lightweight carry-on with your most valuable items for a fishing trip and no issues with security as these bags are built to be TSA-compliant.
Whatever fishing luggage you choose to buy, make sure it’s going to address these needs. Being able to carry all the things you want and need is essential to your well-being on any trip. Knowing the things that are most valuable are in your possession offers great peace of mind. Being able to do it with style and function is even better. Remember—packing in anticipation of the fly-fishing trip of a lifetime is half the fun. Enjoy every minute.
Fishing Luggage
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