Okay gurus of TFF, I need to draw upon your combined knowledge of any and all things, both big and really, really tiny. Does not included FFS!!

I am flying to Minnesota next week to fish as a co in the BASS Open there. I am lucky, my cousin and her husband have a place up there.

Anywho, I have a rod tube to carry my sticks, my reels I will hand carry, but my question is tackle. Can I carry my terminal tackle box with me in my backpack? I am flying on Delta from Houston. I've read through both their website and TSA, not really clear. One place said no hooks over 7"!!

Thanks in advance for your sage advice and for dispensing your wisdom upon this poor soul.

The TSA will not let you fly with knives or pliers. They will find something wrong with the contents of your tackle bag. I would put an Apple Airtag or similar device in it and check it at the ticket counter.

That's a good idea, thanks.

Nothing with hooks!

You have to check everything, and you will have no problems. Just cannot carry it on the plane with you. Zippers are your worst enemy with luggage. Pelican case with a lock.


if you want to prevent theft from your luggage, get rid of luggage with a zipper. You can open zippers, and then close them without ever knowing.

if you bring your reels in your carry-on bag, you cannot have fishing line on them. better to pack all of it in your checked bag.

I flew American to San Diego to fish with a friend of mine in the marine corps

I brought my two reels on carry on, line and all, and didn’t have an issue. All my tackle I just packed in my checked suitcase. Didn’t have any issues.

I didn’t fly with rods though. I just used a few my buddy had with him out there in Cali

Not sure I understand that one. No where on Delta or TSA have I seen that. All hooks are going to be checked along with my rods. Guess I'll find out tomorrow.

I have made 20+ trips to El Salto and have always left my line on the reels. I always carry them in my carry on no issues

I've made close to 20 trips to fish MX lakes. I fly American into Mazatlan every trip. Flying in has never been an issue but flying out is a different story. I tell all of my friends not to have reels with line in their carry-on. Most listen but three different times over the years someone has been pulled out of line and had to remove the line from their reels. Twice they threatened to keep the reels. Just saying.

happened to a group of us flying down to Mazatlán. Had to strip 20+ reels before we could board. Most of them were just respooled the night before the trip.

Check it. Avoids any hassles. Rules can change at the worst time. What they allow one time they may not the next.

I would have shipped a tube of rods to my sisters . Significantly less hassle.

Mexican TSA differs.
Flying to Mazatlan, no problem.
When I gone through Tijuana to Los Mochis, who knows 😬