I'm traveling to El Salto later this week. I've never traveled with fishing gear, so I'm in need of some guidance on safe packing so nothing gets broken. Also, I am assuming the Customs people will root thru everything and create potential damage to my items?
I was planning on taking 4 rods but then I read somewhere that Mexico allows only 3? Anyone know for sure?
I will put my (all about 7') 4 rods in a Plano expandable rod tube. I have them in fabric rod socks and then a couple of large rubber bands around all of them. Ends of rod tube have bubble wrap.
I plan to take 4 baitcasters each in a ziplock bag and bubble wrap around each one. I plan to put them in my tackle bag -with my soft plastics - and use the tackle bag as my carryon. Will fill the remaining room in the tackle bag with clothes. I plan to put all lures and hooks in a separate bag with clothes and check it.

Thoughts?

Carry your reels in your carry on bag. You will have to check your tackle. They won't allow hooks on the plane. You can carry on plastic if you want. Be sure to wrap both ends on the rods so there is no movement inside the tube. I take two rods the same length and tape one rod tip to the butt of the other, then tape the other tip to butt. It creates a single piece slightly longer than one rod but has a butt at both ends. Never had a broken tip. Been to Mexico at least ten times.

Pack a lot of heat.

What kind of a goofy [censored] response is 'pack alot of heat'. You are pissed cause your old lady would never let you out of the house for the trip of a lifetime, so you sit around all day making snide remarks about someone's trip. Get real!

Befuddled,

Now a response to your inquiry. First, I've been to Mexico 5 times over the last few years. I think you are spot on by checking your terminal tackle as it would never make it through security. The last time I was down I packed 5 rods and did not have any issues.

HOWEVER, I took every precaution to pack my rods in a manner in which they would not be broken. Towls, bubble wrap tips, etc. When I dropped the rods at the check station, they made me take the lock off of the case and pulled every single rod out. If I would not have noticed, I would have had some yahoo re-packing my rods, so I was actually glad I was around when this happened. They let me re-pack the way I wanted.

One small tip that may say you alot of room with your packing situation. Take about $40 worth of singles with you. Pack light from a clothes perspective. Each morning, I would fold all my dirties from the previous day, leave $2 - $4 bucks on top of the pile with a simple note to please wash. They will come pack washed, dryed and folded each day before you are finished fishing. I learned this on about my thrid trip down and it goes a long way.

Have fun!
Ron

Aww... Dont cry over a joke. You must really need to go fishing!

Pack up on life insurance before you go and be sure and try the local eateries while you are there.....I read they can be full of excitement!!!

Careful there. Someone dont like jokes and may need a doobie

Pack lots of Tylenol. The tequila down there is muy bueno!!!!

Pack your clothes in your carry on, pack as many soft plastics as you can in your carry on. In your tackle bag everything else goes including your doc kit, with any liquids. Make sure you pre weigh your tackle bag. I usualy put in like 47 pounds just to leave room for error. They are correct in how to pack your rods.. take care to secure the tips and they will open your rod box. I even stuff packs of soft plastics in my rod tube to help secure and to take weight out of my tackle bag.

TigerBlueFan;

I'm all for stuffing the rod tube with bubble wrap and towels, etc. But when customs goes thru and pulls everything out of the tube, who and how is it put back?? I know I can pack my rods and reels to protect them during flights, but I have my doubts the customs employees will have equal concern?

"befuddled"

Txstoby;

In your experiences, did customs take out all of your rod tube "stuffing" and CAREFULLY put it back? Or do I have the ability to observe and repack myself? I can see them jamming everything back inside the rod tube and without caution so they can get to the next luggage to inspect...

I have planned on using my tackle bag as my carry-on with my reels in it, but since I have all terminal tackle and lures in one Plano box, just put the Plano box in with my checked bag. Does the gate/ticket person designate the "tackle bag" by appearance or content?

BigMikey;

I like the idea of taping the rods like you described. If I also put my rods in rod socks (before taping), do you suspect the custom employees will want to cut the tape to get inside the rod socks to see nothing is present? If so, then they are no longer taped together for support.

"befuddled"

If you are flying on US Airways the rod length limit is 84 inches. They are a real stickler about the length. with the rod holder you are over. I have lived here for 5 years and have never had a problem.

Marietti;

We're flying American Eagle. They have a 126" limit...I read it on line and also called them.