When looking for the best travel fishing rod, one needs to factor in not only portability and lightness but also sturdiness and durability. A flimsy rod might be great to travel with but not desirable to actually fish with. Here we take a look at the best rods to travel with.
Fishing is a universally popular hobby for a reason. Crossing language barriers and any divide that one can imagine, this humble pastime requires only one skill – the ability to relax and enjoy the tranquility of open water, but leap into action once your baited hook manages to attract a bite.
Of course, another advantage of fishing is that it can be partaken in just about any body of open water. Be it the open sea, one of the nation’s many great lakes or just a local creek; aquatic life is everywhere and will always be on the hunt for a juicy worm, with the compliments of an accomplished fisherman or woman.
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The ability to fish anywhere with a water source makes it the ideal hobby to build a vacation around, but what of your equipment? Everybody serious about the art will need to ensure they have the appropriate equipment, with the most important element of all being the fishing rod itself.
This guide will help you find the ideal rod for your travelling needs, ensuring that your equipment begins to feel like an extension of your own casting arm.
Our Top 5 Choices…
KastKing Combo Spinning Reel
Crafted from graphite and modestly priced for even a small wallet, this is a hugely popular all-rounder fishing rod and reel combo that is fantastic for travelers – it even comes bundled with a travel bag and a spare reel.
The KastKing rod comes in six different sizes and the model we are reviewing and linking to here is the combination pack for the KKBH-S1110M, which is the longest length at 11’10” and weighs 11.5oz – smaller and lighter models are available, starting at 5’10” and 5.5oz.
This particular model will comfortably hold the weight of any fish up to medium-heavy, and the rod will stand firm in the event of attracting the attentions of anything larger, even if the line snaps.
PROS – Aesthetically pleasing, easy to compact and hide in the car or luggage, light to the touch without sacrificing build quality and reasonably priced – there really isn’t much not to love about the KastKing Combo.
CONS – Some experienced fishermen and women may prefer to purchase a rod and reel separately, tailored to their own specifications, as opposed to utilizing the basic models included in this package.
Sougayilang Spinning Telescopic Fishing Pole
One of the strongest fishing rods available, the Sougayilang Spinning Telescopic Fishing Pole is crafted from graphite and available in a number of sizes – the smallest being a little under 6’, and the largest almost double that.
Suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fishing and best used for medium-light catches, and very reasonably priced, this pole is a great opportunity for beginners to build their first rod. For the avoidance of doubt, no reel is included in the package but any conventional tool will be compatible.
The pole is also packaged with a small carry case, and a protective cover that ensures safety from the point.
PROS – Easily retracted into an extremely small package that takes up almost no space without sacrificing the strength of the pole, the Sougayilang is also simple to thread with line – it would take anybody with some degree of fishing experience less than five minutes to have the equipment ready for use.
CONS – The pole is strong and sturdy, but the eyelets less so – the price point is extremely reasonable, but with that comes the risk of some of the elements of the product being of lower quality than rival products.
Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit
Another combination pack, the Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit is the embodiment of convenience, containing everything that you’ll need to get started all folded up into a small, lightweight carry suitcase.
Containing a 6’ foot rod and reel, this is the perfect package for beginners looking to engage in a little light fishing in freshwater areas; it’s not ideal for ambitious expeditions to the open sea thanks to the comparatively small rod and basic reel, but you will struggle to find a more compact and user-friendly model of travel rod.
Best of all, you’ll get change from a $50 bill should you choose this product.
PROS – This is the perfect starter kit for a fishing novice or young angler; the whole package is easy to put together, the price is extremely reasonable meaning that there is no substantial drama if the worst should happen, and you can even manage to slip a few more items into the supplied carry case. As an all-in-one fishing experience, few consumer products are more comprehensive.
CONS – Professional or experienced anglers may go frustrated with the reel included in the package, as it’s a very basic component. The rod, while serviceable, is also really only suitable for light fishing – definitely one for the hobbyists over the hardcore as it’s safe to say that you’ll get what you pay for.
Daiwa Minispin Ultralight Spinning Reel and Rod Combo
If weight – or the lack thereof – is your biggest priority when choosing a travel fishing rod, the Daiwa Mini System Minispin is the way forward. Just 4’5” in length and weighing in at a mere 1.4lbs, the rod breaks down into five pieces and is packaged with a solid carry case that conveniently slips under a car seat or even the saddlebag of a motorcycle or a hiker’s backpack – perfect for those on the move regularly. The pole is also sturdy despite its lightweight nature, ensuring that those who enjoy a challenge when fishing for heavier fish such as bass will still enjoy success.
PROS – The small size makes this rod great for children, and few rods will be able to compare when it comes to matching performance with weight and size.
CONS – Size isn’t everything but some people may grow frustrated by the small stature of the rod, which makes this product only really suitable for diminutive bodies and water and lightweight fishing – just because the Daiwa Minispin Ultralight can catch heavier fish, it doesn’t mean that it should. As if often the case with combi-packs, the reel may also be found lacking and necessitate the purchase of a replacement to get the full benefit of the rod.
PLUSINNO Telescopic Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
Another combination pack that bundles together and is perfect for any traveling fisherman or woman may need in a handy carry case; the PLUSINNO Telescopic Fishing Rod and Reel Combo provides all accessories alongside a graphite rod of four different sizes – 5’9”, 6’9”, 7’9” or 8’9”, with a highly reasonable sliding price scale depending on your preference.
Suitable for freshwater or sea fishing there is plenty of flexibility offered by this rod, and the simple construction process means that anybody hoping to enjoy some spur-of-the-moment fishing will not begrudge wasting time in assembly.
One of the higher quality combination packs available, this model from PLUSINNO is well worth a look regardless of your experience level.
PROS – Light to carry, flexible to use and sturdy when attracting fish, this is something of a full package – both experienced fishers and beginners will get a great deal of joy from this product. Even the reel, so often a cause of complaint, is of a high standard.
CONS – Some people may prefer a longer rod than the 8’9” that this item peaks at.
Travel Fishing Rod Buyers Guide
As the average fishing rod is at least seven feet in length, the ability to temporarily reduce size is a hugely important element of travel rods that are designed to be moved from one location to another.
Travel Rods VS Telescopic Rods
Travel rods are sometimes compared with telescopic rods, which can be shrunk in size by folding into themselves in multiple parts much like a telescope. A travel fishing rod, however, will take this one step further by enabling the user to break the rod down into smaller segments and placed into some kind carry case.
There are pros and cons to both of these designs. A telescopic fishing rod can usually leave the reel fitted and line threaded, ensuring that less preparation time is required when you’re ready to cast your bait.
A travel rod, however, is frequently able to be broken down into a smaller, lighter number of pieces for transportation. A travel fishing rod is typically a more solid piece of kit when the time comes to actually use it; a telescopic rod may bend and flex while in use if it is not crafted to a suitably high standard.
Overall, when it comes to travel fishing rods, the lighter the better – though don’t sacrifice strength and sturdiness in the pursuit of a featherweight article, or you may find yourself staring down the barrel of a broken piece of kit halfway through your trip.
Weight
Weight is a major consideration when it comes to choosing a travel fishing rod, and not just in terms of carrying the equipment from place to place.
Fishing rods tend to vary in weight from ultra-light to ultra-heavy, with the former suitable mainly for freshwater baitfish and the latter ideal for excursions into the open sea (overall, travel fishing rods are best used for fish weights of medium and below – shark or salmon fishing may well be out of the question for your own safety).
Once you’ve settled on a weight for your rod, you’ll also need to think about the appropriate weight for the line that you are going to thread and apply, and how heavy a bait you will be able to apply. Most travel fishing rods work best with a spinning reel.
Material Of The Rod
Where you plan on spending your time will play a major role in deciding which material of rod is best for you; most rods will be constructed from graphite, fiberglass or a combination of the two. Graphite rods tend to be lighter and stiffer, and thus more expensive than fiberglass, but the trade-off is that they may end up more brittle.
The excess weight of fiberglass rods makes them a little sturdier and harder to break, but you may start to feel that extra weight when you’re dragging your equipment around.
Purchasing a combination rod is always advisable if possible for an experienced fisher, as this will often allow you to use the same materials in whatever surroundings you may find yourself in, but fishing novices may be better served by starting with a comparatively stable and cost-effective fiberglass option.
Length
The length of rod that you use is largely down to personal choice. A longer rod will usually result in a longer, deeper cast, but a shorter rod may drop deeper into the water at a closer locale.
Again, finding something in the middle may be the best of all possible worlds when it comes to a travel fishing rod, ensuring that your equipment will be every bit as useful to you at the banks of a local creek as when being cast from the docks of a great lake pier.
Bearing all these factors in mind, above are five of the finest best travel fishing rods that you can pick up easily online.
