Travel Rods

[anyluck]

I am going to Fiji in August and am looking for some advice on wheather or not to purchase a travel rod to take with me. I will be doing a charter or 2 where the gear is provided but would like to be able to throw a line in whilst the missus is off getting a massage.
I will most likely be fishing from a kayak using soft plastics or poppers and hoping to get onto GT or other larger fish.
Is it worth buying a travel rod or would I be best to pick up a combo when I get to Fiji?
Recomendations would be helpful as I have never used a travel rod before.

[Haji]

Hi Anyluck
I have fished in Fiji and other South Pacific areas on a number of occasions. Each time I have taken either one or two spinning rods in a 75 mm plastic tube with one end glued on, the other either taped on or fitted with a screw on cap. You can get the pipe and bits etc from a plumbing supply company.

The first time that I used the plumbing tube system for just one rod I simply cut the length of piping to suit the rod. I put the rod inside the tube thinking all would be aok but on arrival back to Sydney the end of the rod was broken off. (around 180mm of fine tip) We worked out that some idiot had dropped the tube on its end causing the tip to hit the cap with some force breaking it off. The airline ended up paying for it after some hassle.

Nowadays I cut foam to fit around the rods and have about 120 - 180 of foam packing in the end of the rod which effectively cushions the end if is is dropped etc.I also push foam packing at the butt ends so that the rod or rods are tightly held/suspende within the tube. A little trial and error to get the right amount of foam packing and cutting it to suit, should be quite firm to push the rods in if they are packed correctly.

As to buying gear in Fiji, I have yet to find a store that carries anything like the range that our shops carry. In fact each time that I go over there I take all the gear that I want plus some spares and a range of hooks, swivels, lures and other bits and pieces for Fijian friends.

The Fijian's are very friendly and if you are staying at a resort or hotel you will often find someone there who will be only to happy to take you fishing from shore (or canoe/boat if you are lucky), they really appreciate you giving them some gear.

Cheers

[Dog Catcher]

Is it worth buying a travel rod or would I be best to pick up a combo when I get to Fiji?
Recomendations would be helpful as I have never used a travel rod before.

Tackle esp Rods are a personal choice Item.

Allthough I've travelled OS's a fair bit going fishing never interested me but if the agenda was to wet a line & new this B4 departing Oz, I definately would've packed a rod or 2 into the luggage.

I do take my tackle a bit serious & if were fushing OS's I'd definately like to have a decent out rather than buying one of those not so good combo's which may or may not shat itself on the very 1st decent wittle fishy it hooks up to.

[imnotafish]

There are some good travel rods out there, including a loomis one about 10kg, a sage, and innovator, some shimanos and others, but they are still nothing like as good as a one piece or a well made two piece. if you are seriously going over there to fish, take Hajis well put advice and take as much good quality gear from here as you can (and make it heavy!!) and put it in a well protected tube during the flight.
good luck :wiink: