FYI Travelling

I'm preparing for an up-coming trip and was wondering what the
*official* restrictions are on fly rods, reels, but especially flies.
I have two large boxes with very big streamers as used in Kamchatka.
Even though I have gone through air port security with fly boxes on
previous trips, they were always small flies - 14 - 22, never big ones
like I have from Russia. So I went to the TSA site and found that not
only can you bring your fly rods regardless the size of the rod
holder, but also reels AND, most importantly, flies are legal. So, my
carry-on will be a backpack with vest, fly boxes, two Lamson 3.5s, my
trusty GS3s, boots, medicines, change or two of drawers/t-shirts,
etc., and my two four piece rods (7 and 8 weights) will be in a
carrying case.

Stopped by my local library this a.m. to get an audio book. I have
trouble reading on an aircraft and thought this would be a good idea.
I planned on down-loading it onto my I-pod, along with lots of jazz.
To my surprise they have books on "Playaway." It's a small MP3 player
half the size of an I-pod. Such a deal. I picked out a couple of
dramas and should be well entertained even if I am beat when I arrive
at my destination.

Dave

On Jan 6, 9:17*am, Dave LaCourse wrote:
I'm preparing for an up-coming trip and was wondering what the
*official* restrictions are on fly rods, reels, but especially flies.
I have two large boxes with very big streamers as used in Kamchatka.
Even though I have gone through air port security with fly boxes on
previous trips, they were always small flies - 14 - 22, never big ones
like I have from Russia. *So I went to the TSA site and found that not
only can you bring your fly rods regardless the size of the rod
holder, but also reels AND, most importantly, flies are legal. *So, my
carry-on will be a backpack with vest, fly boxes, two Lamson 3.5s, my
trusty GS3s, boots, medicines, change or two of drawers/t-shirts,
etc., and my two four piece rods (7 and 8 weights) will be in a
carrying case. *

Stopped by my local library this a.m. to get an audio book. *I have
trouble reading on an aircraft and thought this would be a good idea.
I planned on down-loading it onto my I-pod, along with lots of jazz.
To my surprise they have books on "Playaway." *It's a small MP3 player
half the size of an I-pod. *Such a deal. *I picked out a couple of
dramas and should be well entertained even if I am beat when I arrive
at my destination.

Dave

Take it from me...the 'official' policy is meaningless. Be prepared to
have to check in your rods, flies, reels, forecepts and nippers....it
all depends on the security personnel. Coming through Prague once I
had a woman stop me at the x-ray machine and open my rod tube to see
my 5-piece 5 wt. She asked what it was, then insisted that it had to
be checked in, but I noticed supervisor looking over at it and asked
him if that was okay. He was a fisherman, admired the rod, and said to
go ahead and carry it on. If he had not been there, I would have had
no recourse.

Personally, I'd come prepared with a photocopy of the TSA guidelines
and have your gear packed in such a way that IF you had to check it
in, it would be well-padded. Then try to talk your way through any
obstacles, starting with the check-in counter, airside/landside
security, gate security and finally boarding. I've gotten stopped for
various items at each level...having some nitwit right outside the
plane stop you and take something away after 5 other people have
approved it is the worst. Don't produce the photocopied TSA guidelines
unless its a last resort.

And even if you have a 10 hour layover, don't leave the transit
terminal! You'll have to go through all levels of security again.

--riverman

On Jan 6, 9:38*am, riverman wrote:
On Jan 6, 9:17*am, Dave LaCourse wrote:





I'm preparing for an up-coming trip and was wondering what the
*official* restrictions are on fly rods, reels, but especially flies.
I have two large boxes with very big streamers as used in Kamchatka.
Even though I have gone through air port security with fly boxes on
previous trips, they were always small flies - 14 - 22, never big ones
like I have from Russia. *So I went to the TSA site and found that not
only can you bring your fly rods regardless the size of the rod
holder, but also reels AND, most importantly, flies are legal. *So, my
carry-on will be a backpack with vest, fly boxes, two Lamson 3.5s, my
trusty GS3s, boots, medicines, change or two of drawers/t-shirts,
etc., and my two four piece rods (7 and 8 weights) will be in a
carrying case. *

Stopped by my local library this a.m. to get an audio book. *I have
trouble reading on an aircraft and thought this would be a good idea.
I planned on down-loading it onto my I-pod, along with lots of jazz.
To my surprise they have books on "Playaway." *It's a small MP3 player
half the size of an I-pod. *Such a deal. *I picked out a couple of
dramas and should be well entertained even if I am beat when I arrive
at my destination.

Dave

Take it from me...the 'official' policy is meaningless. Be prepared to
have to check in your rods, flies, reels, forecepts and nippers....it
all depends on the security personnel. Coming through Prague once I
had a woman stop me at the x-ray machine and open my rod tube to see
my 5-piece 5 wt. She asked what it was, then insisted that it had to
be checked in, but I noticed supervisor looking over at it and asked
him if that was okay. He was a fisherman, admired the rod, and said to
go ahead and carry it on. If he had not been there, I would have had
no recourse.

Personally, I'd come prepared with a photocopy of the TSA guidelines
and have your gear packed in such a way that IF you had to check it
in, it would be well-padded. Then try to talk your way through any
obstacles, starting with the check-in counter, airside/landside
security, gate security and finally boarding. I've gotten stopped for
various items at each level...having some nitwit right outside the
plane stop you and take something away after 5 other people have
approved it is the worst. Don't produce the photocopied TSA guidelines
unless its a last resort.

And even if you have a 10 hour layover, don't leave the transit
terminal! You'll have to go through all levels of security again.

--riverman- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Last pieces of advice....put your nippers and forecepts in a plastic
bag at the top of your pack for inspection (like your fluids). They
tend to raise the most eyebrows. Also, if you have anything that looks
tube-like or bullet-like (such as a fly sharpener in a pen-shaped
tube, or a thermometer in a metal sleeve) have that easily
accessible.

When you approach the X-ray machines, look for the operator who most
likely is a flyfisher. Whether or not your bags get opened and
inspected is entirely up to the machine operator. Whether or not you
have to check in your gear is up to the inspector, but the machine
operator is the first line of defense.

---riverman

On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:38:33 -0800 (PST), riverman
wrote:

On Jan 6, 9:17*am, Dave LaCourse wrote:
I'm preparing for an up-coming trip and was wondering what the
*official* restrictions are on fly rods, reels, but especially flies.
I have two large boxes with very big streamers as used in Kamchatka.
Even though I have gone through air port security with fly boxes on
previous trips, they were always small flies - 14 - 22, never big ones
like I have from Russia. *So I went to the TSA site and found that not
only can you bring your fly rods regardless the size of the rod
holder, but also reels AND, most importantly, flies are legal. *So, my
carry-on will be a backpack with vest, fly boxes, two Lamson 3.5s, my
trusty GS3s, boots, medicines, change or two of drawers/t-shirts,
etc., and my two four piece rods (7 and 8 weights) will be in a
carrying case. *

Stopped by my local library this a.m. to get an audio book. *I have
trouble reading on an aircraft and thought this would be a good idea.
I planned on down-loading it onto my I-pod, along with lots of jazz.
To my surprise they have books on "Playaway." *It's a small MP3 player
half the size of an I-pod. *Such a deal. *I picked out a couple of
dramas and should be well entertained even if I am beat when I arrive
at my destination.

Dave

Take it from me...the 'official' policy is meaningless. Be prepared to
have to check in your rods, flies, reels, forecepts and nippers....it
all depends on the security personnel. Coming through Prague once I
had a woman stop me at the x-ray machine and open my rod tube to see
my 5-piece 5 wt. She asked what it was, then insisted that it had to
be checked in, but I noticed supervisor looking over at it and asked
him if that was okay. He was a fisherman, admired the rod, and said to
go ahead and carry it on. If he had not been there, I would have had
no recourse.

Personally, I'd come prepared with a photocopy of the TSA guidelines
and have your gear packed in such a way that IF you had to check it
in, it would be well-padded. Then try to talk your way through any
obstacles, starting with the check-in counter, airside/landside
security, gate security and finally boarding. I've gotten stopped for
various items at each level...having some nitwit right outside the
plane stop you and take something away after 5 other people have
approved it is the worst. Don't produce the photocopied TSA guidelines
unless its a last resort.

And even if you have a 10 hour layover, don't leave the transit
terminal! You'll have to go through all levels of security again.

--riverman

Yeah, make sure you have a copy of the TSA guidelines in both Czech and
Russian when traveling from Russia to Prague...

HTH,
R
....hmmm...what's "hee-hee-hee" in Cyrillic...?

On Jan 6, 9:52*am, wrote:
On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:38:33 -0800 (PST), riverman
wrote:





On Jan 6, 9:17*am, Dave LaCourse wrote:
I'm preparing for an up-coming trip and was wondering what the
*official* restrictions are on fly rods, reels, but especially flies.
I have two large boxes with very big streamers as used in Kamchatka.
Even though I have gone through air port security with fly boxes on
previous trips, they were always small flies - 14 - 22, never big ones
like I have from Russia. *So I went to the TSA site and found that not
only can you bring your fly rods regardless the size of the rod
holder, but also reels AND, most importantly, flies are legal. *So, my
carry-on will be a backpack with vest, fly boxes, two Lamson 3.5s, my
trusty GS3s, boots, medicines, change or two of drawers/t-shirts,
etc., and my two four piece rods (7 and 8 weights) will be in a
carrying case. *

Stopped by my local library this a.m. to get an audio book. *I have
trouble reading on an aircraft and thought this would be a good idea.
I planned on down-loading it onto my I-pod, along with lots of jazz.
To my surprise they have books on "Playaway." *It's a small MP3 player
half the size of an I-pod. *Such a deal. *I picked out a couple of
dramas and should be well entertained even if I am beat when I arrive
at my destination.

Dave

Take it from me...the 'official' policy is meaningless. Be prepared to
have to check in your rods, flies, reels, forecepts and nippers....it
all depends on the security personnel. Coming through Prague once I
had a woman stop me at the x-ray machine and open my rod tube to see
my 5-piece 5 wt. She asked what it was, then insisted that it had to
be checked in, but I noticed supervisor looking over at it and asked
him if that was okay. He was a fisherman, admired the rod, and said to
go ahead and carry it on. If he had not been there, I would have had
no recourse.

Personally, I'd come prepared with a photocopy of the TSA guidelines
and have your gear packed in such a way that IF you had to check it
in, it would be well-padded. Then try to talk your way through any
obstacles, starting with the check-in counter, airside/landside
security, gate security and finally boarding. I've gotten stopped for
various items at each level...having some nitwit right outside the
plane stop you and take something away after 5 other people have
approved it is the worst. Don't produce the photocopied TSA guidelines
unless its a last resort.

And even if you have a 10 hour layover, don't leave the transit
terminal! You'll have to go through all levels of security again.

--riverman

Yeah, make sure you have a copy of the TSA guidelines in both Czech and
Russian when traveling from Russia to Prague...

HTH,
R
...hmmm...what's "hee-hee-hee" in Cyrillic...?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Actually, it was from Latvia via Prague, so I would have needed the
guidelines in Latvian, Russian and Czech. :-)

Worse yet, I have seen it explicitly stated at one check-in that
fishing gear was NOT allowed on planes. My interpretation is that the
airlines/airport/crabby woman at the x-ray machine all have the
ability to impose restrictions greater than the TSA guidelines, but
not lesser. I suspect that these guidelines are for the airlines, not
to ensure any rights for the passengers. That's why I suggested that
Dave not produce any paperwork unless it was a last resort.

--riverman

On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:44:58 -0800 (PST), riverman
wrote:

Last pieces of advice....put your nippers and forecepts in a plastic
bag at the top of your pack for inspection (like your fluids). They
tend to raise the most eyebrows. Also, if you have anything that looks
tube-like or bullet-like (such as a fly sharpener in a pen-shaped
tube, or a thermometer in a metal sleeve) have that easily
accessible.

I always put the nippers and forcepts in my checked luggage. Nothing
else is suspicious.

I have gone through security many times with rods and reels, and a
couple of times with flies, but some of these flies are enormous, and
could (with a little imagination) be used as weapons.

Got my books, music, noise-cancelling earphones, rods/reels/flies,
waders/boots. Now all I have to worry about is the weather.
d;o)

Dave

On Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:52:58 -0600, wrote:

.hmmm...what's "hee-hee-hee" in Cyrillic...?

XEE-XEE-XEE.

On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 18:04:54 -0800 (PST), riverman
wrote:

On Jan 6, 9:52*am, wrote:
On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:38:33 -0800 (PST), riverman
wrote:





On Jan 6, 9:17*am, Dave LaCourse wrote:
I'm preparing for an up-coming trip and was wondering what the
*official* restrictions are on fly rods, reels, but especially flies.
I have two large boxes with very big streamers as used in Kamchatka.
Even though I have gone through air port security with fly boxes on
previous trips, they were always small flies - 14 - 22, never big ones
like I have from Russia. *So I went to the TSA site and found that not
only can you bring your fly rods regardless the size of the rod
holder, but also reels AND, most importantly, flies are legal. *So, my
carry-on will be a backpack with vest, fly boxes, two Lamson 3.5s, my
trusty GS3s, boots, medicines, change or two of drawers/t-shirts,
etc., and my two four piece rods (7 and 8 weights) will be in a
carrying case. *

Stopped by my local library this a.m. to get an audio book. *I have
trouble reading on an aircraft and thought this would be a good idea.
I planned on down-loading it onto my I-pod, along with lots of jazz.
To my surprise they have books on "Playaway." *It's a small MP3 player
half the size of an I-pod. *Such a deal. *I picked out a couple of
dramas and should be well entertained even if I am beat when I arrive
at my destination.

Dave

Take it from me...the 'official' policy is meaningless. Be prepared to
have to check in your rods, flies, reels, forecepts and nippers....it
all depends on the security personnel. Coming through Prague once I
had a woman stop me at the x-ray machine and open my rod tube to see
my 5-piece 5 wt. She asked what it was, then insisted that it had to
be checked in, but I noticed supervisor looking over at it and asked
him if that was okay. He was a fisherman, admired the rod, and said to
go ahead and carry it on. If he had not been there, I would have had
no recourse.

Personally, I'd come prepared with a photocopy of the TSA guidelines
and have your gear packed in such a way that IF you had to check it
in, it would be well-padded. Then try to talk your way through any
obstacles, starting with the check-in counter, airside/landside
security, gate security and finally boarding. I've gotten stopped for
various items at each level...having some nitwit right outside the
plane stop you and take something away after 5 other people have
approved it is the worst. Don't produce the photocopied TSA guidelines
unless its a last resort.

And even if you have a 10 hour layover, don't leave the transit
terminal! You'll have to go through all levels of security again.

--riverman

Yeah, make sure you have a copy of the TSA guidelines in both Czech and
Russian when traveling from Russia to Prague...

HTH,
R
...hmmm...what's "hee-hee-hee" in Cyrillic...?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Actually, it was from Latvia via Prague, so I would have needed the
guidelines in Latvian, Russian and Czech. :-)

Worse yet, I have seen it explicitly stated at one check-in that
fishing gear was NOT allowed on planes. My interpretation is that the
airlines/airport/crabby woman at the x-ray machine all have the
ability to impose restrictions greater than the TSA guidelines, but
not lesser. I suspect that these guidelines are for the airlines, not
to ensure any rights for the passengers. That's why I suggested that
Dave not produce any paperwork unless it was a last resort.

--riverman

I'll repeat the advice I have offered in the past - if you ask, the
answer will likely be "NO!" No one at a checkpoint has the ability to
impose jack **** beyond the "letter of the law," but that doesn't mean
they might not try to do whatever they wish. I've found that a friendly
but politely authoritative attitude tends to work wonders in situations
involving most things in life where one deals with any level of
bureaucracy - YMMV. That is not to say that such a posture will allow a
clear security risk/violation - say, a hunting rifle into the cabin -
but it has avoided nonsensical prohibitions on flies, rods, etc.

As to Louie's specific situation, the TSA guidelines aren't the
practical rule in South America, but you might wish to consider getting
back as well as getting down. IME, getting _back_ in to the US is much
easier than getting out, but again, YMMV...esp. if you plan on
attempting to bring back a load of Peruvian Cruex or something...

TC,
R

Dave LaCourse wrote:
On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:44:58 -0800 (PST), riverman
wrote:


Last pieces of advice....put your nippers and forecepts in a plastic
bag at the top of your pack for inspection (like your fluids). They
tend to raise the most eyebrows. Also, if you have anything that looks
tube-like or bullet-like (such as a fly sharpener in a pen-shaped
tube, or a thermometer in a metal sleeve) have that easily
accessible.


I always put the nippers and forcepts in my checked luggage. Nothing
else is suspicious.

I have gone through security many times with rods and reels, and a
couple of times with flies, but some of these flies are enormous, and
could (with a little imagination) be used as weapons.

Baggage check the flies. If they get lost you must rely on the kindness
of your traveling companions, or of strangers.

Carry your rods and reels and fly lines, leaders, etc.

The most prudent course is to ship crucial stuff ahead of time.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"rw" wrote


The most prudent course is to ship crucial stuff ahead of time.



I guess you mean ship it to your outfitter/ guide for the trip? Is there
a way to ship stuff to yourself when you don't have a contact of any sort in
your destination?

Larry L ( who got sidetracked by family milestones this downunder season but
still hopes to spend a few months 'troutbumming' in Patagonia and New
Zealand in future seasons and is trying to figure out all the logistics.
For instance, I'd want to take my WaterMaster and backpacking tent/ stove/
sleeping bag etc etc ... what is the cheapest and safest way to get a
fairly large quanity of stuff to a place where you can collect it after
getting a rental vehicle ...... I'm pretty much travel ignorant.. 'cept in
my truck )