The latest generation of travel fishing rods take high performance on the road.
Brian Grossenbacher
Whether you’re traveling to a dream fishing destination or on a business trip and looking to make a few casts between meetings, the latest generation of travel fishing rods take high performance on the road.
According to the Fishing Tourism Marketing Outlook Report, destination fishing generated $72 million in 2023, and travel fishing is forecast to increase three times in the next 10 years. Anticipating flocks of traveling anglers, the tackle industry responded with new travel fishing rods using premium blanks and components to provide the best fishing experience wherever you wet a line.
Types of Travel Rods
Travel rods come in two flavors: multipiece and telescoping. Telescoping rods, like the name says, collapse like a telescope. Multipiece rods, on the other hand, break down into three to six sections that pack into a case or rod tube.
Telescoping rods are the most compact and easiest to store. Chris Martin, field marketing specialist at Daiwa, packs a telescoping rod when he’s on a business trip. “TSA scans the rod and sends it through as carry-on baggage.” When Martin reaches the plane, the flight attendant will let him take the rod into the cabin if he has to gate-check his carry-on bag.
Martin can stash the travel rod in an overhead bin already packed with other luggage. “The collapsible rod isn’t a problem on the flight,” Martin says.
A multipiece rod in a case or rod tube requires a little more space but provides the best performance. Josh Lantz, communications manager at St. Croix, says a three-piece 7-foot rod provides a good balance between performance and portability. “The rod breaks down to 30 inches to fit the requirements for carry-on luggage,” Lantz says.
The longer blank sections allow the rod to transition from a stiffer butt section to the lighter tip, offering more options for power and action. “We make travel rods for panfish and rods for tarpon,” he says. Each model is dialed in to meet the needs of the target species.
To meet the expectations of an experienced travel angler, the latest travel rods use the highest-grade rod blanks. “A traveling angler is on vacation, doing what he loves, and he wants a rod that is going to elevate the experience,” Lantz says.
Lantz figures a traveling angler is also an experienced angler who knows the value of a good fishing rod.
A travel rod takes a beating, and not just from the fish. Lantz points out the value of high-quality reel seats and line guides. “A broken guide eye could interfere with fishing plans,” he explains.
Species Specific
The biggest trend is travel rods with performance and features designed for light tackle, heavy tackle, jigging, casting, conventional or spinning.
Many anglers travel to a dream destination to target a bucket-list trophy. Shimano designed the Zodias five-piece rods with its best blank and components to handle the biggest fish in the sea. Product marketing manager Blaine Anderson says big tuna, giant trevally and other bluewater brutes test tackle to the breaking point. “I want a casting or jigging rod with power and performance when I need it,” he says.
Traveling anglers on tight budgets will be fishing from shore. Okuma recently released the Rockaway travel surf rods, a series of three-piece rods from 8 to 12 feet long. Jonathan Gayton, marketing specialist at Okuma, explains: “The rods have surf-fishing-specific features like a shrink-wrap grip and EVA butt for greater casting distance.” Stainless-steel line guides are corrosion-resistant in case the angler can’t rinse the rods after fishing.
Making Connections
The weak point on any travel rod is the ferrules between the blank sections. The connection invites damage, and the stiff joint affects the rod’s action.
To reduce the effect ferrules have on the rod, Okuma uses a unique European spigot-style ferrule to join the sections of the Rockaway travel surf rods. Instead of the tip section fitting over the butt section, the tip section has an insert that fits inside the butt section. “The ferrule is low-profile and allows us to maintain performance throughout the blank,” Gayton reveals.
For 2024, Daiwa is investing in its travel rods by redesigning the current lineup and releasing new rods for destination anglers. The Saltiga travel series is built on Daiwa’s own V-Joint ferrule.
“The V-Joint is a flexible connection between the rod sections,” Martin says. Instead of stiffening the rod, the V-Joint allows the rod to flex naturally and eliminates flat spots that hinder the rod’s action and power.
Travel Log
No one is happier about the new travel rods than the folks who make them. Product specialists travel all over the country to meet with dealers and attend trade shows. Lantz has used his Avid Trek medium-action travel rod for snook and tarpon in Florida and at home to jig for lake trout. “I could use any St. Croix rod for trout, but I can’t beat the action of the Avid Trek,” he says. Daiwa’s Martin was impressed with the performance of the Procyon telescoping rod. “Now I don’t hesitate to travel with a fishing rod,” he says.
Okuma Rockaway Travel Surf Rods
Courtesy Okuma
Okuma Rockaway Travel Surf Rods
Okuma stepped outside the box designing a series of three-piece surf rods. The Okuma travel surf rods are available in lengths from 8.5 to 12 feet that break down to only 33.5 to 43 inches. To survive the surf, the Rockaway surf rods include durable tapered shrink-wrap rod grips and corrosion-resistant stainless-steel line guides. To produce long casts with increased fighting power, the travel surf rods use Okuma’s reinforced rod tip that produces 300 percent more lifting power.
Read Next: How to Choose the Right Fishing Rod
Daiwa Saltiga SW Travel Rod
Courtesy Daiwa
Daiwa Saltiga SW Travel Rod
Designed to handle large fish anywhere in the world, the Saltiga SW travel rod breaks down into three pieces and fits in a sturdy travel case. Available in three spinning and three casting models from medium-heavy to heavy action, the rods use Daiwa’s proprietary carbon-fiber weave and nano resin to increase strength and reduce weight. Combined with premium Fuji tangle-free guides, the SW travel rod won’t let you down when the fish of a lifetime is on the line.
Fenwick Elite Travel Inshore Spinning Rod
Courtesy Fenwick
Fenwick Elite Travel Inshore Spinning Rod
The Elite Travel inshore rod combines the durability of 36- and 30-ton carbon fiber with reinforced resin. Taking sensitivity to the next level, the Elite Travel uses Fenwick’s soft-touch reel seat with a comfortable frame and exposed blank that directly transmits vibration to the angler’s hand. The Elite Travel is available in a versatile medium-heavy 7-foot rod with a ⅛- to 1-ounce lure rating to cover everything from finesse fishing to bait fishing.
St. Croix Avid Trek Rod
Courtesy St. Croix
St. Croix Avid Trek Rod
Available in six spinning and one casting model, the Avid Trek line has a travel rod to meet the needs of big-game and light-tackle anglers. The series includes St. Croix’s thin-wall rod blank, premium cork handles and high-modulus carbon fiber to dial in each Trek rod for performance focused on a specific fishing technique. Using reinforced carbon fiber in the blank, St. Croix reduces flat spots and increases hoop strength for a rod with consistent performance throughout the length of the blank.
G.Loomis NRX+Fly Saltwater Rod
Courtesy G. Loomis
G.Loomis NRX+Fly Saltwater Rod
For long, accurate casts, fly anglers demand the best qualities out of their rods, even when using a travel rod. The four-piece NRX+Fly rod starts with G.Loomis’ most advanced Dynamic Recovery System, combining its multitaper blank with high-strength NRX+ carbon fiber to precisely distribute material, giving the rod strength in weak spots and fine-tuning the blank’s response. The result is a travel rod that performs like a single-piece fly rod to take your best cast anywhere in the world.
Shimano Convergence D 4-Piece Rod
Courtesy Shimano
Shimano Convergence D 4-Piece Rod
If you’re looking for a convenient travel rod without breaking the bank, Shimano’s Convergence D 4-Piece is available in medium-light and medium action for under $80. The cork grips, Fuji reel seat and SeaGuide aluminum-oxide line guides are premium features for the best fishing experience at any destination. To get to there, the Convergence D breaks into four pieces and fits into a protective rod tube.
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