- Alaska Fishing Today

Because there are so many places in the world that offer different kinds of fishing experiences, it is often necessary to travel to a far away area to experience the best fishing. Not all of us fishermen are blessed with world class fishing in our backyard, or even within a few hours car ride. I now reside in a big city in the Western US, with access to fly fishing waters about 3 hours away by car. But even those fishing locations are pretty crowded, so I often find myself wanting to plan an Alaska fishing trip. When traveling to a faraway location to fish, it is important to pack the right fishing equipment. The equipment you bring along will most likely need to be travel friendly. Lets look at the different options, specifically for fishing rods (which are usually the most bulky item you will need to bring).

When considering travel rods, there are a lot of options to think about. There are obviously collapsible fishing rods. These telescoping fishing rods allow you to take along a very compact fishing rod kit. Telescopic fishing rods are ideal for backpacking trips into the mountains, where weight and size limits are the most stringent. Click here for a great, cheap option of telescopic fishing rod. But if you are a fly fisherman, there isn’t such a thing as a telescoping fly fishing rod. You will need to look for a fly rod that is capable of breaking down in to multiple pieces, ideally 4 or 5. It is important to note that fly rods that break down like this often give up some of their fluidity, especially with the older models. A constant taper is essential to being able to cast a tight loop, so the more breaks, the more broken that taper becomes. Higher quality fly rods have been able to make very good fly rods even with multiple pieces. Just keep this in mind. Redington makes a great 4 piece kit that is very affordable. I love these rods, and find them almost on the level of Sage, Orvis, and Winston rods. Click here or the image below to buy the Redington CT classic combo.

When traveling far distances to fish, make sure that your fishing rods are protected along the way with the appropriate fishing rod tubes or fishing rod bags. You will definitely want to protect your investment, especially if you are getting on a plane. The best travel rods will pack into a small enough package for you to be able to carry it on your back. Look for good collapsible options or break down options that fit this criteria.

When shopping for travel rods and reels, make sure you read plenty of travel rods reviews online, as this will allow you to find the best possible options for the best costs. A lot of telescopic fishing rods are cheap travel rods options, because they just don’t usually cost that much. This is great if you are going into an area that they might get damaged, lost, or stolen. Shimano makes better quality travel rods than most companies, but Shimano travel rods usually cost more money. Make sure you do your homework when shopping for the right travel rod options.

Even though we are all not lucky enough to have world class fishing in our neighborhood, we all have the option of traveling to a great fishing spot. Make sure you have the right gear for your travels, and especially the right travel rod. Good luck and as always, happy fishing!