4 piece travel spinning rod

Best Travel Fishing Rods for 2024

Jason sealock.

• Oct 09, 2023

The product recommendations on our site are independently chosen by our editors. When you click through our links, we may earn a commission. 

Choosing a travel rod for anglers who like to pack light and carry a fishing rod in their luggage on every where they travel requires a little planning and view of the options and fish you think you might encounter on your travels. We reviewed a wide gamut of rods and came up with a lot of options to consider as well as some great recommendations for which fishing rods we would suggest for a lot of different types of fishing and travel.

Things like size of the rod when disassembled, number of pieces, rod case, roll or bag, type of rod, how you will transport it, whether a telescoping rod makes sense and more need to be considered before choosing the best travel rod for your fishing plans.  

Travel rods can come from 2 pieces up to 5 pieces not to mention the telescoping travel rod options out there. You might want to fit the rod in a suitcase, if so more pieces will break down into a smaller foot print. Or you might carry it with you which might give you more options for rods. You might want a hard case to protect the rod if you’re worried about TSA or some other party damaging your rods in transit. Or a rod wrap may suffice if it’s tucked inside of another hard case suitcase.

OUR TOP PICKS

• Best telescoping travel combo – Buy from Tacklewarehouse
• Best travel rod for bass – Buy from FishUSA
• Runner up: Daiwa ardito travel rod – Buy from Basspro
• Best all-around / saltwater travel rod – Buy from Basspro
• Best telescopic travel rod – Buy from Basspro
• Runner up: Ugly stik cx2 4-piece travel combo – Buy from Basspro
• Ark rods genesis rods – Buy from Tacklewarehouse
• Zebco 33 spincast telescopic combo – Buy from Basspro
• Shimano Convergence D Travel 4-Piece Spinning Rods – Buy from Tacklewarehouse
• St. croix triumph travel rod – Buy from Tacklewarehouse

Know Your Travel Rods

Then there are the types of rod to consider including spinning travel rods, casting travel rods, telescoping travel rods as well as travel fly rods or specialty rods like travel swimbait rods or travel trout or panfish rods. Or any combination of the aforementioned.  

If you plan to fish with light lures and light line, then a spinning travel rod might be the best option. If you plan to look for big bluegills or crappies specifically on your travels, then a long telescoping rod might make more sense or a small spinning rod like a trout rod might give you a lot of options for trout and panfish.

If you’re going for larger quarry, you will want a beefier rod that has a reel that can hold heavier line. Usually a baitcasting travel rod makes sense for bass, or big fish like walleye, pike, musky, stripers, etc.  

Specialty rods like travel swimbait rods or extra long jigging rods might be just the ticket for probing unknown waters for specific types of fishing like jigging brush for crappie or casting oversized swimbaits for trophy bass and stripers.  

Of course if you’re in to fly fishing, then a travel fly rod is hard to beat. There are some super high end and middle of the road options that are great rods that make a 9-foot fly rod fit into an over night travel bag with the travel fly rod option.

CONSIDER TELESCOPING RODS FOR TRAVEL

For some, a telescoping rod is an easy spur of the moment travel rod option to probe some nearby waters to see if they have fish available. I have buddies that keep telescoping rods in their trucks at all times and will break it out on their travels or while taking a lunch or after work on a work trip. It’s a quick and simple option.

Most of time telescoping rods are a bit lower quality. Or at least that was the case back when the only option was a low end push button spin cast combo for small panfish. There are, however, some newer options bringing this back as a real viable option for bass and panfish.

A Travel Combo Might Make More Sense

You can buy travel rods that are a rod and reel combo. This is often the case with telescoping options. But there are some better quality options in the multi-piece travel rods with a decent spinning reel. Most of the time. I want the best rod I can get and a good reel in my bag so I’m not fighting my equipment in the limited amount of time I get to fish on my travels. Especially those spur-of-the-moment unplanned fishing trips while traveling.  

But when you get to a location and wished you had a rod and reel, a decent priced telescoping rod/reel combo can get you in the fish on an unexpected hot spot quickly and easily.

You Need a Travel Rod Case, Bag or Roll

Anymore your travel rod is going to come in a hard case, a roll or a bag. Regardless you need to take care to protect the pieces of the rod or the rod while it is compartmentalized so it’s not damaged in your travels.  

A hard case might be a cloth case with a hard shell inside of it that zips closed on the end and the multiple pieces slide into little sleeves inside of it. Or it might be a hard outer shell with a soft interior that keeps your guides and blank parts protected. These are nice when you plan to carry your travel rods separate from your luggage. Or keep them in a vehicle on your travels.

A travel rod roll is just a cloth sleeve with individual pockets for each piece of the blank and then you roll it up with flap that closes on one end and tie it off with the attached ties. These can be nice for putting a rod or two into your other travel bags or a small compartment in your vehicle.

A travel bag can be just a cloth bag or a padded foam bag that houses and protects the rod simultaneously. I’m a fan of these as they keep your pieces from falling out as sometimes happens with rolls. And they keep the blank pieces with a bit of added protection. The padded bags are ideal in my opinion.  

Best Travel Rod Brands

In the freshwater space, the best travel rod makers are often synonymous with the best rod makers. Makers like Daiwa, Shimano, St. Croix, Megabass, Ark Rods, Fenwick, and others have really solid travel rod options. Others that many don’t know offer travel rods have good options like Favorite, Bass Pro, and BnM Poles.  

Here are the travel rod brands we reviewed and liked:

• Favorite Fishing
• B’n’M Poles

Having said all that, let’s take a closer look at some of our personal favorites in various travel rod categories.

Best Telescoping Travel Combo

Daiwa travel combo.

We chose the Daiwa Travel Combo as the best combo because it comes with a good reel, telescoping rod that is better than most and it’s own sling carry bag that is big enough to put several travel rods and reels in. This combo compacts down to 26 inches making it a perfect option for any trip whether it be in a car or a plane.

The rod is a 7-foot, 2-inch Medium power fast action rod. It’s a solid rod and stayed extended as we fished with it. The reel is a 2-bearing Daiwa Crossfire LT 2500. Even though it’s only 2 bearings, it performed very smoothly and effortlessly with a very smooth drag. It’s a solid spinning combo and it’s offered in EVA or Cork grips.

The combo costs $149 but if you just want a good combo without messing around with pairing rods and reels, this is a quick easy choice.

Buy at TackleWarehouse

Best Travel Rod for Bass

Shimano zodias travel rod.

The fact that Shimano took one of their best rod lines and converted it into a high-end bass travel rod got me excited. And when I got the new rod in my hand, I was very impressed. I am a big fan of the original Zodias line and was so excited to see this level of quality in a 5-piece travel rod.  

This travel rod condenses down to 19 inches when packed, meaning you can literally take it anywhere. And when full assembled you have a very high quality rod full of all the features of the high end one-piece blanks. The 5-piece construction gives the rod more uniform bend than a 2-piece model would.  

It has so much power and a steady consistent load when casting. You will forget it’s a travel rod by your second cast. It’s a high end rod that just happens to be in 5 pieces. It has a CI4+ reel seat for lightweight strength and a full carbon monocoque grip which eliminates the use of EVA giving a light rod more sensitivity.

Hi-Power X construction which makes the blanks outermost layer wrapped with carbon tape form that X appearance on the blank that gives more precise actions to the rods with more strength.  

You can really lean into fish with this rod without worry. It’s one of the nicest travel rods we’ve tested.

Buy at FishUSA.com

Buy from Omnia

Runner Up: Daiwa Ardito Travel Rod

This is another high-end rod that has been brought down to a travel rod form factor. This rod comes with a very nice hard case and it breaks down to 30 inches (32 in its case). It features a V-flex ferrule joint system. These ferrules don’t require you to jam the rod pieces all the way together and then struggle to separate them. You simply push them until they snug together and you are all set. You can break down and put the rod together in seconds and be fishing as fast as you can thread your line.  

The rod has a high-modulus blank, Fuji Aluminum Oxide guides, unsanded micro-pitch blank, split Eva grip and machined nut hood. It’s a high quality rod that pairs nicely with your favorite bait caster. It comes in 7-foot medium, 7-foot medium heavy and 7-foot, 6-inch medium heavy.

Buy at BassPro.com

Best All-Around / Saltwater Travel Rod

St. croix avid trek rod.

This is a finely crafted American rod with incredible blanks offering uniform performance, strength and ultra-perceptive sensitivity. The premium cork full grip, and quality blanks featuring St. Croix’s IPC mandrels, SCII high modulus carbon, slim profile ART ferrules, Sea Guide Hero hi-grade guides with zirconia rings and stainless gun smoke frames, sea guide hook keeper, and a 15-year-transferable warranty.  

This rod can literally do it all. Going to Louisiana to fish the marshes for bass and redfish, this is your rod. Strong, light, smooth, sensitive and easy to pack. The 3-piece rod is 6-foot, 6-inch MH rod with a lot of power but great castability. This rod is a joy to fish with and you can expect it to last a long time with that kind of warranty.

Best Telescopic Travel Rod

Bass pro aventur1 telescoping rod.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Aventur1 telescoping rod. It features 6 sections but 8 guides for uniform castability and a nice line path while fighting fish. The unique guide system has floating guides as well as guides permanently affixed to the rod sections. So you won’t fight with line on the blank on this travel rod.  

The 7-foot medium power rod fished really well and I was pretty taken aback at how nice this rod fished for $59. A rod that will likely always be in my travel plans. With an RT2 graphite blank, Fuji aluminum oxide guides, Fuji reel seat, with EVA split grips and X-Wrap rubber cork butt cap, this is a pretty functional telescoping rod for travel fishing.

Best Big Swimbait Travel Rod

F5 departure travel rods.

The folks at F5 Custom Rods make some of the nicest big swimbait rods available today. These are custom made rods from blanks to handles to accents. They are often very selective in how they build rods and you usually have to get lucky enough to catch a rod on a drop. However, the F5 Departure Travel Rods are often in stock and I picked up a H and XH rod a year or so back.

These are two of my favorite big swimbait rods that I use for crankdowns like the Bull Shad 4×4 and the Toxic Whippersnappers, for glides like the 86 Baits Doomrider, KGB Swimbaits Chad Shad or the Deps Slide Swimmer 250 and of course for my jointed swims like the Bull Shad 8 inch.

The rods are both 3-piece rods and are custom made with a full extra long camo EVA handle. The ones the often sell are split grips. The rod blanks are solid. Even with three pieces I had no issues heaving big baits like the Slide Swimmer which weighs 6 1/2 ounces.

They are going to run you about $289 a piece for these rods. But I am so happy to have them because I can take a pack of my favorite big baits and a very high-end swimbait rod literally everywhere I go to chase trophies all over the country and out of the country for that matter.

Buy at F5 Custom Rods

Best Travel Rod on a Budget

Favorite fishing army geo rod.

This is an impressive rod not only for the price but for how well this 4-piece rod fishes and fights fish. We caught some really quality bass on this rod this spring and it is a legit fun spinning rod to fish. I love that I threw it in my suitcase, loaded up and went to Arkansas and broke it out and caught a bunch of nice bass that were moving shallow to spawn.  

Even my brother-in-law enjoyed fishing with this travel rod. And at $39, it’s a hard rod to pass up. The 4 pieces in their hard travel tube are 26 inches. The pieces are barely 23 inches. The rod is a 7-foot, 2-inch medium-heavy spinning rod. I used it to skip Senkos around shallow cover a lot this spring. And it sets a nice hook and has a ton of backbone to land big bass. Our biggest on it was 6 pounds, 4 ounces this spring.

Buy at FavoriteUSA.com

Runner up: Ugly Stik GX2 4-piece Travel Combo

At $44 at Walmart, you can’t go wrong with this nearly indestructible travel rod. The Ugly Stik has been the staple of affordable travel rods. They can take abuse and continue to catch and land fish.  

Buy from Walmart.com

Buy at Scheels

Best Trout Travel Rod

St. croix trout series pack rod  .

For the adventurer who needs a light and packable trout rod to get to remote locations, this is the Cadillac of adventure rods. This rod says trout, but it’s a dynamite bluegill, crappie and even smallmouth rod for remote streams and creeks. It’s a beautifully built rod at only 2.9 ounces and 3 pieces, it compacts down to be no added weight in your backpack.  

I paired it with a small 1000 spinning reel and 4-pound line and really enjoyed fishing this rod a lot. It will become one of my staple creek travel rods now. It throws little baits effortlessly and had a nice backbone for such a light rod. A real joy to fish with.

Buy from FishUSA.com

Best Panfish Telescoping Rod

Bnm poles little mighty telescoping rod  .

I have to admit, I’m a little blow away by this rod. I grew up crappie and bluegill fishing with my father in Florida and Arkansas with telescoping fiberglass rods from B’n’M Poles. So I have a lot of nostalgia when it comes to these types of rod. But the new Little Mighty Rod is something special.

While it’s not technically a travel rod, it’s a telescoping rod that reaches out to 20 feet and breaks down to barely 22 inches. It looks like a bright orange track baton but it extends to a masterful reach out and touch a crappie or bluegill telescoping rod quickly.

One word of caution, be sure you extend the rod small sections first. So grab the string tab on the tip and pull it out that way. Don’t slide the sections out by dumping the open end out or you will have issues with sections getting out of order and blocking each other. Same for breaking it down. Big sections first and be sure to leave the string out when you put the cap on.  

Other than that, I enjoyed testing this rod a lot. I honestly didn’t think much of it when I got it. But after using it I can think of all sorts of places I want to take and fish with this rod. Once you get the hang of maneuvering 20 feet of rod with a fish on the end it’s a pretty fun stick to fish with.

Buy at Walmart.com

Buy from BnmPoles.com

Other Travel Rod Considerations

Ark rods genesis rods.

This was my original travel rod and I’ve put a lot of miles on it. It’s caught fish in Nebraska, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. This is a two piece travel rod that comes with a nice padded bag.

Read our full Ark Genesis 2-piece travel rod review

The rod joins together nicely and fishes so well. The very narrow blanks are durable and sensitive. I’ve caught fish just about every way you can on these rods. I have the 6-foot, 8-inch MH and the 7-foot, 6-inch MH rods and have flipped, frogged, spinnerbait fished, jigged, cranked, popped a topwater popper and burned a buzz bait with these rods. A great option that gives no sacrifice in performance in a 2-piece travel rod.

SixGill Argos Travel Rods

A very nicely made travel pack rod, the Argos Travel Rod is a 4-piece rod built on a 24T Toray Carbon blank. Comes with a 25 inch travel case. It fishes like your nicest bass rod but you can tuck it under a jacket and take it with you anywhere. The rod loads nicely on the cast and has enough back bone with it’s 7-foot MH frame to fight any size bass you might tangle with. A very nice travel rod option.  

Buy from Sixgillfishing.com

Zebco 33 Spincast Telescopic Combo

This is an affordable option at $25 but it’s not made to handle big fish in my opinion. It’s a great rod for catching panfish around a campsite, or of the dock on vacation. But it’s not made for fishing for larger fish. The rod bends easily at the tip under load and the line cuts across the rod to the next guide. So just be cautious with bigger fish on this setup. But for $25, you can catch the heck out of a bunch of panfish with this setup.

Buy at Amazon

Hardy Zephrus FWS Travel Fly Rod

I haven’t had a chance to review the latest offerings from Hardy yet, but one of my all time favorite travel rods is my Hardy Zephrus FWS Travel Fly Rod. It’s a 9-foot, 5-weight rod. It is the perfect pack rod for hiking into remote streams and chasing fish on the fly. This is the Ferrari of travel rods in my opinion. Everything is first class from the aluminum case, styled bag, ferrule covers, and beautiful craftsmanship on the Sintrix 440 blank.  

Buy from Hardyrodsandreels.com

Shimano Convergence Travel Rod

This 7-foot, 4-piece rod is another great do-it all travel rod. It’s a great rod for a lot of different species and lures in that 1/4 ounce to 3/4 ounce size. It breaks down to 25 inches so it will fit in almost all your bags and it comes in a nice hard case with a shoulder strap if you want to carry it on your back while you hike. It’s very well made and fished nicely with a variety of reels.

Spinning rod

Casting rod.

Buy at Tackle Warehouse

St. Croix Triumph Travel Rod

This work-horse travel rod serves a ton of different purposes. It’s 6-foot, 6-inch size makes it a great size for tight quarters. I loved fishing some small streams near the house with this rod. A fun little rod for wading creeks or winging around on bigger waters on your travels. It’s small form factor of 24 inches makes it a great pack rod to keep in your vehicle or throw in your bag on long trips. It’s a very nice blank divided into 4 pieces. It’s strong, sensitive and light. A great travel version of their very popular Triumph line.  

Wired2fish Travel Rod Comparison Chart

We review a ton of products and while they don’t always make the best of categories there are a lot of good rods to choose from that can get the job done. We try to give you as many options as possible while identifying some that we think stand out in the array of options. The goal with our guides is to help you be as informed and aggregate as much helpful information and personal experience into helping you with your fishing gear decisions.  

Here is a quick rundown of a lot of travel rod / telescoping rod options:

Currently working as Senior Advisor to Wired2fish. Former COO and Publisher, Jason Sealock came to Wired2fish shortly after inception in January of 2010. Prior to that he was the Editor-in-Chief of FLW Outdoors Magazines. He worked up from Associate Editor to Photo Editor and finally Editor in Chief of three magazines FLW Bass, FLW Walleye and FLW Saltwater. He set the content direction for Wired2fish while also working directly with programmers, consultants and industry partners. Sealock has been an avid angler for the better part of 40 years and has been writing and shooting fishing and outdoors content for more than 25 years. He is an expert with fishing electronics and technologies and an accomplished angler, photographer, writer and editor. He has taught a lot of people to find fish with their electronics and has been instrumental in teaching these technologies to the masses. He's also the industry authority on new fishing tackle and has personally reviewed more than 10,000 products in his tenure. He has a 30-year background in information technologies and was a certified engineer for a time in Microsoft, Novell, Cisco, and HP. He mostly fishes for bass and panfish around the house. He has, however, caught fish in 42 of the 50 states in the US as well as Costa Rica, Mexico, and Canada and hopes to soon add Finland, Japan, Africa and Australia to his list.

Latest News

Major league fishing announces limits on ffs, b.a.s.s. announces 2025 bassmaster elite schedule, b.a.s.s. announces new tech rules for classic, elite series, ike foundation launches fall fundraiser, npfl bans forward facing sonar in 2025 season, state crappie record broken twice in one day, zoom introduces downsized version of popular uv speed craw, 5-year old catches new york record fish, recent posts.

Best Fishing Deals from Bass Pro Shops Gear Up Sale

[VIDEO] How to Breakdown a New Bass Lake | 2-Person Strategy

Best Swimbait Rods

Late Summer Spotted Bass Fishing with Brooks Anderson

5 Questions with Kyle Cortiana

Zoom Winged Fluke Review

Tyler Williams Torch Series Rod Giveaway Winners

What We’re Throwing in September

Abu Garcia REVO Premier LP Reel Giveaway

Shopping Cart 0

Your cart is currently empty.

Continue Shopping

Total : $0.00

Or View Cart

SEVIIN Reels

Dealer Locator

TRIUMPH® TRAVEL SPINNING RODS TRIUMPH® TRAVEL SPINNING RODS

Select model.

This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

• Product Description Product Description
• Customer Reviews Customer Reviews

TRIUMPH TRAVEL SPINNING ROD FEATURES

• Premium quality SCII carbon
• Sea Guide Atlas Performance slim aluminum-oxide guides with black frames
• Sea Guide XDPS reel seat with eco-friendly sandblasted hoods on spinning models
• Sea Guide ECS or TCS reel seat with eco-friendly sandblasted hood on casting models
• Premium-grade cork handle
• Two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish
• 5-year warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service

Triumph® travel spinning rods offer 4-piece designs and are built for savvy anglers seeking the best in performance, value and convenience. Each model is equipped with a padded nylon soft case for added protection when traveling.

Customer Reviews

As always spectacular rods. Needed this one for some shore casting in Ecuador.

I purchased this rod for a trip to MN. I really liked it at first. Good sensitivity and cast really well. Caught eight fish the first day, some really nice bigmouth bass. On the second outing, rented a boat for all day fishing trip on lake Minnetonka. The rod tip broke an hour into that trip! After contacting the seller and St. Croix, the only option left to me was to submit a warranty claim and wait two weeks for a replacement. I also have to pay 25$ shipping!?! I'm going to have to replace this rod with something from anther manufacturer. I'm not going to relly on this rod for any future trips, even with a new tip. Not worth missing out.

It has been about a 2 months wait since submitting a warranty claim and had to call them to remind St. Croix of the claim. This wait was through all of striper fishing season.. After a few hours of waiting with customer service they offered to send the new tip, and after even more discussion and waiting waived shipping fees for the new tip? Very disappointed with St. Croix and will be switching to another brand. For rods this expensive you would think they would have better service. It's a shame.

Since I ride a bicycle everywhere for fishing in need a 4 piece rod. This St. Croix is getting used for more than small stream trout, which it is most excellent for with home made jigs and twister tails. I have landed very large bass on it fishing for perch and bluegill. I just ordered one in Medium power. I already have the Medium Heavy bait casting version that I love to throw spinner baits and Top water walk the dog baits with. I like the old school handle that adds extra protection if I drop it now and then. This is a solid value and has been no problems for years of retirement fishing many times a week.

I've had this rod for 3 years. Broken once when stepped on, but admirably repaired by Saint Croix. I finally read the specs, and had to laugh at the given lure weight. I have routinely used a 1oz lure and used this rod for lake trout and walleye. Great feel, handles wonderfully, long and smooth casting. Love this rod so much I rarely use any other.

Related Products Ähnliche Produkte

Join our newsletter for the latest announcements.

Freshwater Rods

Saltwater Rods

Seviin Reels

Accessories

News & Events

Factory Tours

Product Registration

Customer Center

Refund Policy

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Return Label

New Dealer Inquiries

• svg]:fill-accent-900"> 747K
• svg]:fill-accent-900"> 181K
• svg]:fill-accent-900"> 57.8K

The Best Travel Fishing Rods of 2024

By Pete Robbins

Updated on May 24, 2023 5:36 PM EDT

15 minute read

Best for Bass

Abu Garcia I.K.E. Signature Series Travel Casting Rod

Best budget.

Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Travel Spinning Combo

Best premium.

Megabass Triza Travel Rod

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›

Travel fishing rods are easy to pack for a trip, and the good ones fish like a one-piece rod. Over the past several decades, rods have gotten longer because more length typically equals better casts and more leverage on big fish. For example, the 5-foot 6-inch pistol grips that dominated bass fishing into the 1980s have been replaced almost entirely by rods that are 7 feet and up. Unfortunately, luggage costs and rules have also exploded at this same time, meaning that it’s not always feasible to take an oversized 7- or 8-foot rod tube on distant trips. That’s doubly true if you’ll be getting on a floatplane or your luggage size is otherwise restricted.

Travel rods aren’t solely for air travel, though. If you’re an urban angler getting on a subway, they may be your best choice. If you want something to keep in your car or backpack in case you pass by a tasty-looking fishery, they’re prime choices. In the past, the options were often limited. Either manufacturers took an existing blank and added rudimentary ferrules, or it was a bargain basement combo that required a staple remover to get out of the package and that couldn’t stand up to farm pond bluegills. Fortunately, many manufacturers have recognized the need for better travel tools, and they’ve heeded the call. 

I get to do a lot of traveling with fishing rods as a writer and host of exotic fishing trips. I’ve been to the Alaskan wilderness, through the Amazon jungle, and on every major bass lake in the U.S. and Mexico. Those destinations require a plane ride, and while I don’t always pack multi-piece rods, it’s given me the chance to test out many of the best. Here are my picks for the best travel fishing rods.

• Best for Bass: Abu Garcia I.K.E. Signature Series Travel Casting Rod
• Most Innovative: Daiwa Ardito-TR Travel Casting and Spinning Rod
• Best for Inshore: Falcon Traveler Coastal Spinning Rod
• Best Budget: Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Travel Spinning Combo
• Best Finesse: Wild Side Light Spinning Rod
• Best Premium Casting: Megabass Triza Travel Rod  
• Most Versatile :  Toadfish Travel Spinning Rod
• Best Bait Finesse :  KastKing Kestrel 3-Piece Rods
• Best Premium Spinning : Shimano Zodias 5-Piece Travel Spinning Rods

How I Tested the Best Travel Fishing Rods

I’ve taken these travel rods all over the globe and all over the country, fishing for species both exotic and mundane. More importantly, though, I’ll admit that I’ve abused them. They’ve been shoved in suitcases, walked through dense forests, and used for lures outside of their supposed range. That’s the nature of the travel game. Coming home from Mexico, officials forced me to check a carrying case that I’d carried on for the trip South of the Border, and my rods returned in one piece—or rather in their original configurations of multiple pieces. When possible, though, I like keeping them at my side, and I’m usually able to do so. It also enables me to bring a rod and reel or the occasions when I travel for a non-fishing purpose but might be able to sneak away to make a few casts.

Best Travel Fishing Rods: Reviews & Recommendations

Key Features

• Length: 7 feet
• Packed Length: 28 inches
• Three pieces
• Comes with both medium (1/4-3/4 ounce lures) and medium-heavy (3/8-1 ounce) tip sections
• Soft travel case included
• Versatility means you only need to carry one rod
• Comfortable E.V.A. handle
• Great value
• Included case isn’t crushproof; should not be checked on airlines

Abu Garcia, worked with Bassmaster Classic champion Mike “Ike” Iaconelli, to design the Ike Signature Series Travel Rod. Ike is known for his wins on the pro bass circuit, but he’s also known for his urban angling adventures. Traveling by bus, bike, plane, and train to those urban fishing spots were the inspiration for his travel rod. 

The best feature of the rod is the included interchangeable tip sections that provide different actions. They are a tremendous value, since the rod doesn’t sacrifice on components. They include 36-ton graphite blanks, stainless steel guides, and a premium Fuji reel seat. Ike carried this rod worldwide on his television fishing exploits for a wide range of species, but his heart remains with bass, and that’s where this rod excels, for everything from soft plastics to crankbaits to spinnerbaits . Anglers who expect to use finesse presentations can buy the spinning version.

• Length: 7 feet 
• Handle converts from spinning to baitcasting
• Three-piece rod, includes six total pieces 
• Lure Weights: ¼ to 1 ounce 
• Extreme versatility
• Handles wide range of lures
• Sensitive yet strong graphite construction
• Included case not crushproof; should not be checked on airlines

Daiwa has built a rod—and specifically, a rod handle—that will accommodate both spinning and baitcasting reels when configured appropriately. That means you don’t have to choose one or the other when you’re limited to one travel rod. What’s most impressive is that they’ve somehow developed a blank that doesn’t feel awkward in either role. It includes X45 graphite construction that prevents blank twisting and truly performs like a one-piece. I took this rod to Zambia for tigerfish, where it performed admirably with a baitcasting reel, and then used it at home to skip Senkos under docks with a spinning rod. It’s not truly a finesse spinning rod, but could handle light baits with plenty of backbone to extract hard-pulling bass from gnarly cover.

• Medium action
• Lure weight: ¼ to ½ ounce 
• Bargain priced
• Durable full cork handle
• High-quality components
• Some anglers may not like the moderate action

If you’re chasing redfish or speckled trout on the Gulf Coast, or bonefish and snook in the Everglades or Keys, you need a rod that will simultaneously make pinpoint presentations that also has the heft to muscle outsized, super-strong fish away from cover. This rod is light but mighty and fits the bill. The Coastal Traveler series also has a baitcasting model in the lineup. They’ll both do double-duty in freshwater, although Falcon also provides Lowrider series travel rods for that purpose. All of them include cork handles (full in the case of the Coastal, split-grip on the Lowriders), Fuji K-Frame tangle-free guides, and a blank through reel seat. All come with a crushproof, three-section Cordura-coated case with the rod’s specifications printed on the outside.

• Lengths: 5 feet 6 inches and 6 feet 6 inches 
• Comes with matching reel
• Three or four pieces
• Rod and reel packaged together for the price of one
• Four-bearing spinning reel
• Strong guides will stand up to braided line
• Cloth rod and reel travel bag cannot be checked

The Ugly Stik brand has been synonymous with strength and value for decades, and Shakespeare continues to refine the products while keeping them at rock bottom prices. These three spinning combos—one light action, two medium action—all come with a four-bearing reel and rods that combine graphite and fiberglass construction. While the cloth carrying case may not be crushproof, this combo will stand up to just about anything you can dish out. That makes it a great option for kids or beginners, but you’ll be surprised at the wide range of species it can handle across the globe without any fear of failure.

• Length: 6 feet 3 inches
• Packed Length: 22 inches
• Action: Light
• Five pieces
• Ultra compact 
• Innovative ferrules maintain one-piece feel
• High modulus graphite

Wild Side’s U.S. distributor Arundel Tackle claims that this rod is “made for the overhead bin, NOT baggage claim.” It comes with a rectangular carrying case that weighs a mere 2 ounces and will slide easily into your carry-on. More importantly, they’ve somehow taken a five-piece rod and eliminated any traditional multi-piece imprecision. That might be because they use refined spigot ferrules that do a solid job of maintaining a one-piece flow. This has become a go-to Ned Rig rod when I’m bass fishing at home, but it has so many other uses where it’ll excel. These include stream trout fishing, pan fishing, and light saltwater use. The high-quality cork and E.V.A. split handle are comfortable for all day fishing and match up with any lightweight spinning reel.

Best Premium: Megabass Triza Travel Rod  

• Lengths (casting): 6-feet, 6-inches; 6-feet, 8-inches; 6-feet, 9-inches; 7-feet; 7-feet, 2-inches   
• Available in five baitcasting and two spinning models
• Lure Weights: 1/32 ounce to 3 ounces
• Wide range of actions for a full range of techniques
• Built one at a time for attention to detail
• Gorgeous peacock wood reel seats and hand-drawn graphics

Megabass makes everything from the best swimbaits to some of the nicest production rods available. The Triza Travel Rod has typical Megabass quality in a rod that fits in a backpack. Megabass has a lot of experience making travel rods for their Japanese customers, who are often more constrained in terms of space and transportation, and therefore demand them. These premium travel rods are now widely available in America and cover just about every bass fishing technique under the sun—while at the same time being superior for some saltwater and multi-species use. They’re a gorgeous piece of art that would look great displayed, but they’re too solid to sit on the sidelines. Megabass claims they are constructed to their “Triangle” ideal—with a tip section that maximizes tension, a belly section that maximizes torque, and a butt section that maximizes torsional rigidity. These are workhorses that present like show horses.

Most Versatile:  Toadfish Travel Spinning Rod

• 7 feet 2 inches
• Medium/Medium heavy action
• Interchangeable mid and tip sections
• Incredible versatility
• Kigan tangle free guides
• Extremely durable
• Included case is strong but quite heavy

This rod comes with one handle section, two mid-sections, and two tip sections, allowing for five different configurations, making it the most versatile travel rod on the market. That uniqueness is also a huge bonus if you slam a section in a car door or otherwise break one – you lose a bit of that trademark versatility, but you’re not completely out of luck. What’s also nice is that it comes with extremely durable components, including soft-touch rubber handle inlays and a handle that will stand up to the most you can dish out, including saltwater exposure. It’s fairly sensitive for a five-piece rod, and the spigot ferrules hold well. The case may be heavy, but you can check it through on the airlines without worrying about damage.

Best Bait Finesse:  KastKing Kestrel 3-Piece Rods

• Light-fast action
• IM8 ultra-high modulus graphite blank
• Extremely reasonable price
• One of the few rods in its category
• Very sensitive IM8 high modulus graphite blank
• No case included

The biggest problem with many travel rods is that they’re too vanilla – understandably made to cover a wide range of conditions and species. That’s fine if you just want one for random use, but it doesn’t help anglers with specific needs. KastKing has entered the market with a lot of BFS options and wisely chose to build a three-piece rod in that category. It can handle lures as light as 1/10 ounce, yet, with a balanced baitcasting reel, still has the winch-like power that spinning cannot provide. The rod comes with quality components, including American Tackle Ti forged guides with aluminum oxide Duralight rings, so whether you’re chasing panfish, Alaskan trout, stream smallmouths, or light saltwater species, it’s meant to stand up to a beating. In Asia and Japan, manufacturers have historically made a wider range of multi-piece rods than they do in North America, so it’s a good sign that KastKing is willing to take a calculated risk on this specialty stick.

Best Premium: Shimano Zodias 5-Piece Travel Spinning Rods

• Medium-Light – Fast
• 1/8 – 7/16 ounce lures
• CI4+ Reel Seat maximizes ergonomic comfort
• Fuji guides hold up to the rigors of travel and different kinds of line
• At 5 pieces, incredibly transportable
• Rod case not included

Shimano and brand partner G.Loomis have dipped in and out of the travel rod market for years, producing some top-notch products. Shimano’s bargain-priced Convergence Series is a great value and quality product, but the Zodias will fill the needs of more demanding anglers. It looks and feels like an expensive JDM product, and despite the multiple ferrules functions like a one-piece rod. I liked the Carbon Monocoque grip, and felt that it enhanced sensitivity, even with light lines. It’s also available in a baitcasting rod if that’s your stylistic preference, or if you want to use heavier lines on bigger fish.

While most standard rods are one or possibly two pieces, most travel rods are three or more pieces. Alternatively, they may be telescoping. Either way, they “collapse” or “compress” or “break down” to lengths that will fit in a suitcase or in a small separate carrying case. That makes them easy to take on a plane or stuff under the seat of your vehicle for impromptu fishing adventures.

Many anglers believe that one-piece rods are superior in all instances and will do whatever they can to take them on long-distance fishing trips. Of course that is possible, and there are hard-sided carrying cases that extend up to nearly 10-feet long to transport them. One problem, however, is that the airlines are increasingly restrictive on checking such bags. Even when they allow it, they may be costly. Furthermore, rough baggage handling may result in destruction of or damage to your valuable gear.

Typically commercial airlines will not allow you to carry full-sized rods on airplanes, but they’ll often allow you to carry properly-cased and appropriately-sized travel rods on board. In fact, the T.S.A. guidelines explicitly state that fishing rods are permitted in carry-on and checked bags but note that “passengers should check with the airline to confirm that the fishing rod fits within size limitations for carry-on items.” Some foreign airports and foreign carriers will not allow the same, so be sure to check ahead of time and carry a crushproof case that can be checked if necessary.

Things to Consider When Buying a Travel Fishing Rod

What will you be fishing for.

The same travel rod that excels for panfish might be a liability chasing big saltwater fish in the surf. Today there are enough specialized options that you should be able to cover most extremes and many technical presentations. The trouble comes when you need to do double duty. That may require the purchase of a second rod, or perhaps even making compromises—using a single rod that is a jack of all trades but a master of none.

How compact must it be?

Fewer ferrules or connectors usually (but not always) means better performance. However, the ideal travel or “pack” rod will fit into a small case, which may or may not need to fit within your suitcase. Take careful measurements of your possible dimensions, adding a slight bit for the padding of the case and any internal rod sock that protects your tool.

How will I carry my travel rod?

The best possible scenario is to keep your rod or rods with you at all times, in a padded, crushproof case. That reduces the chances of loss and breakage. However, in the instance that you need to check it, make sure it fits in your other luggage or run the risk of paying a surcharge. Many of these rods come with tubes or cases. Some are better than others, so don’t hesitate to invest in an aftermarket product for peace of mind.

Final Thoughts on the Best Travel Fishing Rods

As I’ve amassed an arsenal of travel rods over the past several years, I’ve seen a shift in my thinking. Previously, I reserved them exclusively for exotic travel to places like Zambia, Mexico, Brazil, and Alaska, and then relegated them to a garage shelf when I returned home. Increasingly, however, I’ve found myself using some of them in my day-to-day angling, in places where I could still take a 7- or 8-foot one-piece rod but now choose instead to take the multi-piece tool. 

Many of the more inexpensive multi-piece rods are still notably less fluid than their one-piece counterparts, but that’s not always the case. Furthermore, if you’re a one-piece snob, you may be surprised at how refined these options have become.

ALL DAY. EVERY DAY.

• All Baits & Lures
• All Freshwater Hard Baits
• Lipless Crankbaits
• Squarebill Crankbaits
• Trolling Lures & Plugs
• Spinnerbaits
• Hard Body Swimbaits
• Topwater Baits
• Blade Baits
• All Freshwater Soft Baits
• Bladed Jigs & Chatterbaits
• Jig & Chatterbait Trailers
• Creatures & Craws
• Lizards & Leeches
• Ned Rig Baits
• Paddle Tail Swimbaits
• Soft Jerkbaits
• Soft Body Swimbaits
• Worms & Soft Stickbaits
• Heavy Stick Baits
• Panfish Plastics
• All Wire Baits
• Umbrella Rigs
• Tail Spinners
• All Fishing Line
• Braided Line
• Fluorocarbon Line
• Monofilament Line
• Leader Material
• Line Accessories
• Ice Fishing Line
• All Freshwater Rods
• Casting Rods
• Spinning Rods
• Rod & Reel Combos
• Travel Rods & Combos
• Ice Fishing
• Rod Accessories
• All Freshwater Reels
• Casting Reels
• Spinning Reels
• Reel & Rod Combos
• Reel Accessories
• All Artificial Baits & Attractants
• Eggs, Bait Cures & Soft Beads
• Dough Baits
• Mallows, Nibbles & Nuggets
• Scents & Attractants
• Other Artificial Baits
• Bladed Jigs
• Casting Jigs
• Finesse Jigs
• Flipping Jigs
• Football Jigs
• Hair Jigs & Twitching Jigs
• Vertical Jigging, Blades & Ice Jigs
• Replacement Skirts
• All Terminal Tackle
• Weights & Stops
• Floats & Strike Indicators
• Swivels, Rings & Snaps
• Kits and Variety Packs
• All Freshwater Trolling
• Trolling Terminal Tackle
• Hollow Body Frogs
• Hard Body Frogs
• Soft Body Frogs & Toads
• All Swimbaits
• Glide Baits
• All Topwater Baits
• Prop Baits & Ploppers
• Frogs & Hollow Bodies
• Poppers & Chuggers
• Topwater Crawlers
• Topwater Walkers
• Saltwater Home
• All Saltwater Hard Baits
• Bucktails & Skirted Jigs
• Iron - Slow, Fast & Flutter Jigs
• Swimming, Casting & Vertical Jigs
• Trolling Plugs & Lures
• Rip Baits, Jerkbaits & Twitchbaits
• Flying Fish & Kite
• All Saltwater Soft Baits
• Saltwater Grubs
• Eels & Trailers
• Crabs, Shrimp & Octopus
• Saltwater Soft Jerkbaits
• Soft Swimbaits
• Saltwater Scents & Attractants
• All Saltwater Rods
• Conventional
• All Saltwater Reels
• All Saltwater Terminal Tackle
• Saltwater Hooks
• Saltwater Rigs
• All Saltwater Hooks
• Circle Hooks
• Assist Hooks
• Treble Hooks
• Fluorocarbon Leader
• Monofilament
• All Saltwater Trolling
• Skirted Trolling Lures
• Teasers, Flaps and Dredges
• Nomad Design
• Copolymer Line
• All Accessories
• Fishing Snacks
• Hook Accessories & Tools
• Lure Accessories and Wraps
• Scales & Tournament Fishing Gear
• Tackle Boxes & Storage
• Tools & Knives
• All Apparel
• Sweatshirts & Hoodies
• Shorts & Pants
• Hats & Headwear
• Sunglasses & Eyewear
• Gloves & Hand Protection
• All Outerwear
• All Rainwear
• All Sun Protection
• Sun Shirts & Hoodies
• Neck Gaiters & Buffs
• New Arrivals
• Discount Tackle AmBASSadors
• Discount Tackle Blog
• Soft Plastic Rigging Guide
• Discount Tackle Knot Guide
• Buy a State Fishing License

All Product Videos

Daiwa Presso Ultralight 4-Piece Travel Spinning Rods

Want to know when this is available? Sign up for our in-stock alert.

• Daiwa Presso Spinning Rods are a series of 4-piece, ultra-light power spinning rods that are designed for easy travel and transport.
• IM-7 Graphite blank construction and micro pitch blank taping.
• Minima black ring guides and reel seat with machined clamp nut, woven graphite insert.
• Hook keeper and lightweight split-grip cork handles.
• Rated for lures down to 1/32 oz (great for Ned rigs and finesse on-the-go).

The Daiwa Presso rod is optimized for ease use and extreme portability - allowing every aspect of your fishing game - from casting to drift control, drop shotting, or finessing a jig through the weeds - to be smooth and enjoyable. The Presso excels in all settings - kayak, boat, shore, or up to your hips in waiters - t his will be your new go-to, favorite rod.

These superior ultralight actions come in lengths up to 7 feet for a combination of casting power with light lures' shock absorbing action to handle strong fish on ultra-fine lines. Micro-pitch taping of the blank during curing assures even distribution of resin and graphite for maximum power and sensitivity. 

Overall, these rods are great for those who like to target smaller gamefish species (e.g., trout, perch, crappie, juvenile bass), travel a lot, and need a rod that can break down into a soft travel case (included with purchase) that's less than 2 feet long (22 inches to be exact).

Customer Reviews

A true ultralight rod, not a flimsy noodle. I love it and plan on buying one more!

This is my second Daiwa Presso 4 piece ultralight travel series rod. I fish lake clear wablers for brook trout in the Adirondack mountains, Throw Bobby Garland soft plastics for Crappies and finesse fish big jack Yellow Perch wirh it. Its super sensitive and responsive. This rod feels like a 1 peice!! One of my favorite parts is it packs down so small it fits on the side of my pack, under the seat of my truck and can even be snuck on the golf course. Ive been looking for a second one for 6 years and finally found it on Discount Tackles website. This rod paired up with a 1000 size reel, and some good 5 pound braid will sling a 1/32 ounce jig a country mile and feel the slightest takes. This rod would be perfect to throw Zman Micro TRD plastics. I might buy a third one!!

I ordered some items from Discount Tackle for early season preparation and also a Diawa UL spinning rod that I can travel with when I work out of town. I was very pleased with the shipping speed and good packaging on my lures, rod, and terminal tackle. It arrived about a day before the original shipping date and was all in the box with my list of items. I even got a cool sticker! I will be using Discount Tackle for future purchases and great sales on the brands that I have used before!

Most items I purchased here have lower prices than other places. Shipping cost is reasonable and super fast.

# Part Numbers

Added to your cart:, let customers speak for us.

Good action

Love this bait

Best sinkos

Great for bladed jigs

Nice action

Free Standard Shipping on All Orders. See Details .

Sign Up & Save 10% Off Your First Order

• New Arrivals
• Best Sellers
• LEARN MORE ABOUT GX2
• Best Selling Combos
• Baitcast Combos
• Conventional Combos
• Spincast Combos
• Spinning Combos
• Youth Combos
• Catch Ugly Fish
• Best Selling Rods
• Casting Rods
• Spinning Rods
• Spincast Reels
• Spinning Reels
• Multi-Tools
• Pliers & Hook Removers
• Rulers & Scales
• Tackle Bags
• Tackle Backpacks

Your cart is currently empty. Stock up on what you need for your next adventure.

• Fishing Storage

Select an option

Gx2™ travel spinning kit (prior gen).

Free Shipping

Free shipping on all orders

7-Year Warranty

Includes an industry-leading warranty

Easy Returns

Return within 30 days of ship date

Ugly Stik® GX2™ pack spinning combos provide the ultimate combination of durability and convenience. Enjoy fishing anywhere you go with this portable combo. Comes with a cloth rod-and-reel travel bag with adjustable straps. These combos feature Ugly Tech™ construction, Ugly Tuff™ guides, and the Ugly Stik® Clear Tip® design.

• Cloth rod & reel travel bag with adjustable strap
• Aluminum spool for strength and lightness
• 4 Bearing system
• Oversized bail wire with compression springs for durability
• Ugly Tech™ construction with a combination of graphite and fiberglass to create a strong, yet sensitive rod
• Ugly Tuff™ one-piece stainless steel guides provide excellent durability and eliminate insert pop-outs
• Ugly Stik® Clear Tip® design for strength and sensitivity
• 7-year rod warranty

Great way to take a fishing rod and reel on vacation. There's plenty of room in the case to store a small tackle box. We caught fish on it everyday.

I've fished this pole for almost 2 months and the last ring down at the last connector broke. I don't fish dense either no grassy, was strange but Walmart swapped me, if happens again I'm coming to yell for the new upgrade *wink smile* thousand heart emoji Freaking LOVE THIS ROD COMBO THO ITS so Sweeeeett!!!

Bought few months back. Great pole with flexibility to catch multiple species of fish, heck even caught a frog on it. I bought the 5ft 3pc cause it packs down small and its an UGLYSTIK brand that reliable for life. I would love this in a carbon 3pc travel pole but no complaining about the current set up.

I first purchased the 4 piece, medium power travel rod and hated it! The first thing I noticed was it was much heavier than a standard medium GX2. On the water I tried lures from 1/4 oz to 3/8 oz. The rod handled poorly, made a lot of creaking noises and was too stiff to cast well. Its weight was very tiring as well. I returned it and purchased the 3 piece light power combo, this one I love! It's weight is more similar to a standard GX2, but it has enough flex to cast light lures well, and even handled the 3/8 oz lures with authority. Its only 5 feet overall but the handle is shorter that my ultralight GX2, meaning the actual rod in front of the handle is only 6 inches shorter than a 6 foot medium power. This one feels great.

Have had these travel rods for several years and have also bought many more sets over the years for gifts. Key hint is when putting rod together, insert each piece 90 degrees out of line and twist to align while pushing pieces together. This locks the pieces into place and they will not separate while casting. To take apart, Twist while pulling apart to unlock. Great rods for kids and adults

Sign up to get exclusive offers, news, and more.

Customer service.

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.

This website is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best 4 Piece Spinning Rod

Spinning rods (4-pc) – buying guide, reviews and comparison.

If you want to find the best fishing gear, but you don’t have time to go through the buying tips and reviews prepared by our research team, this short paragraph should tell you everything you need to know about the best 4 piece spinning rod. After thoroughly analyzing a lot of feedback coming from both amateur and professional fishermen, we have concluded that the Fiblink Medium Graphite is the best because it is portable and easy to put together, which is great for those just starting out on the exciting hobby of fishing and who want to discover how far it will take them. This fishing rod is lightweight yet designed to be tremendously strong thanks to its reliably solid carbon fiber construction. In addition to its enhanced reel seat, it features a handle of ultra-premium grade soft cork material, lightweight line guides, ceramic inserts and a stainless steel frame that all work together to ensure lasting use. If the Fiblink Medium Graphite is unavailable, you should consider the Piscifun® Graphite as it is a reliable alternative both in terms of performance and quality.

Comparison table

Our Top Choice

This lightweight 4-piece spinning rod delivers huge overall strength to ensure many seasons of use. The tough and solid carbon fiber construction provides amazing sensitivity for dependable functionality in the water. The multipurpose hook holder keeps your essential fishing tackle within easy access at all times. The enhanced reel seat with corrosion resistant stainless steel hoods provides a solid, wobble-free attachment of a compatible reel for optimal functionality. The 7+1 guides are complemented with stainless-steel frames and ceramic inserts for a flat, tangle-free fishing line.

The rod comes with a thin rolled-up type carrying case that might not be adequate for some customers.

Enjoy real value for money with this high-end 4-piece spinning rod that won’t break the bank to purchase.

Shipped with a special promotion of 300 yards of a 12-pound, 4-strand, multicolor braided fishing line, this spinning rod delivers as designed with its 24 million modulus Carbon Fiber blank. The blank is geared with the cutting-edge new ArmorCore Technology that makes the rod extremely powerful despite its lightweight construction. The top-tier Ceramic Guide sets are uniformly spaced apart to keep friction at bay to ensure tangle and breakage-free line flow for maximum casting performance and sensitivity. The line feeds smoothly and also runs back more freely. The innovative multipurpose hook keeper lets you keep essential gear handy.

Care should be taken when taking the rod out of the package to ensure no breakage of the tips during transport.

This fishing rod combines value for money with functionality and reliable performance for the modern angler.

Also To Consider

As one of the top-quality fishing gear for all types of fishers, this spinning rod is known for its reliable performance, durable construction, and remarkable strength. It has been subjected to both field and quality testing to facilitate tournament-level performance every time. The fiberglass construction offers an easy-to-control, comfort-grip handling without compromising on sensitivity. The four-piece design facilitates easy portability by being easy to pack into your travel suitcase for on-the-go fishing every time. You will love the dual functionality of the rod for both freshwater and saltwater fishing plus the unique attention to detail in the construction.

Like most other rods of this type, the tip section tends to come off during stronger and farther distance casting but it can be repaired easily.

You can’t go wrong with this awesome product that comes with premium-quality components.

7 Best 4 Piece Spinning Rods (Reviews) in 2024

It is important to pick the right rod for the type of fishing you intend to do. The market is overflowing with choices on this type of implement. The best ones are showcased below to assist you in shopping.

1. Fiblink 4 Pieces Travel Casting Rod Graphite Baitcasting

The lighter design of graphite rods increases sensitivity. To serve as an effective hook keeper, the multi-purpose hook holder on this tool is a nice touch.

The enhanced reel seat is outfitted with stainless steel hoods that are resistant to corrosion and chipping, for lasting use. The 7 +1 guides are supplemented with stainless steel frames and ceramic inserts to help prevent line abrasion and breakage. The ultra -premium grade cork grip is light and warmer to the touch on a cold day while being able to transmit vibrations better and being less slippery when wet compared to EVA foam handles.

The special split-design handle and four-piece construction enable effortless assembly. This rod is highly portable and perfect for your next backpacking trip, promising power, versatility and flexibility with its Fast action and Medium power.

The stainless steel hoods on the reel seat are resistant to rust and corrosion, allowing you to use this spinning rod for a long time.

The cork grip is specially designed to provide you better comfort, and overall makes the model feel and perform like a more expensive one.

The 7+1 guides come equipped with frames made from stainless steel and ceramic inserts, for increased performance and efficiency.

The rod is lightweight while offering enough strength, due to its carbon fiber construction that keeps weight to a minimum, without compromising its overall sturdiness.

The hook holder is designed for efficiency, as well.

The guides on the end seem to run too small, and some buyers complain about not being able to use them efficiently.

Other reviewers find this rod to be too stiff, and they say that they prefer something with more flexibility.

2. Piscifun Graphite Spinning Fishing Rod 4 Pieces Travel Pole

The guide sets on the rod are of high-quality ceramic and spaced apart sufficiently to ensure virtually frictionless line feed plus maximum casting performance and sensitivity. This prevents snagging, abrasion and line breakage.

The multipurpose hook keeper enables attachment of a rigged worm, dropshot weight, crankbait or spinnerbait to keep your lures within easy reach.

The Triple Bonded Hybrid Blank provides an incredibly strong and powerful component to this value-loaded fishing pole. More than enough backbone is ensured by the 24-ton slit carbon core that also ensures sensitivity and powerful action. Additional strength is provided by a layer of 8-ton E-glass that also increases flexibility and enhances durability.

This rod is made from carbon fiber to keep its weight to a minimum since a lightweight model is easier to use for catching fish.

The new ArmorCore technology used makes the rod feel and behave like a sturdy piece of equipment, despite its small overall weight.

The ceramic guides ensure that there will be no friction between your line and your rod, to avoid a decrease in performance and sensitivity.

You can use the multi-purpose hook holder for all kinds of bait, and you will surely appreciate the convenience of not having to work with loose hardware.

Because it is easy to take apart and pack, it is the ideal travel set, for people who like going on fishing trips frequently.

The pouch offered for storing the rod pieces is not of the best quality, as some buyers point out. Their solution was to replace it with a hard case to avoid any mishaps.

3. Eagle Claw PK200 PackiT Spin

The fiberglass construction endows the pole with its lightweight design and also ensures increased sensitivity, so vibrations are effectively transmitted from the tip to your hand on the handle even with fish that give gentle and soft nibbles to the bait.

Easy to pack, this travel fishing pole packs neatly in your backpack and is also easy to put together. No more excuses for not being able to fish when you find a good spot.

This fishing rod is a sturdy fishing implement with evenly spaced guide inserts that handle the line well while preventing friction and easy line breakage. It’s a solidly constructed tool that should be a favorite for many anglers for years to come.

Everything you need for a successful fishing trip you will find in this set that comes with a rod, lures, line, and guides.

The fiberglass construction makes sure that the overall weight is kept to a minimum, and you will also appreciate its strength and flexibility.

The 4-piece set is easy to pack and take along with you on fishing trips, without the risk of breaking any vital part.

The manufacturer offers five guides + tip, so you don’t have to purchase anything extra and just go fishing to your heart’s content.

A one year warranty is offered with your purchase.

Although the rod is designed for medium action, some buyers say that they find it too light, and that can be an issue when you want to go after bigger fish.

The action is not the fastest, either, so don’t expect the pole to satisfy your needs if this feature is what you are looking for.

4. Daiwa PSO664ULFS-TR Presso Ultralight Pack Spinning Rod

If you like catching panfish and trout, this option is definitely one that you should have in mind. The rod itself is a 4-piece IM-7 graphite that comes fitted with a cork handle that is easy to maneuver, even by novices.

What is more, to make it as easy to travel with as possible, the manufacturer also provides its users with a semi-hard case that is both durable and very practical. The case is 22.5 inches long and it can be easily strapped onto the outside of one’s backpack. Another aspect that makes this option worthy of your time is its light weight.

Because of all its stiff backbone, this model can supply you with the necessary support when casting at long distances accurately. Plus, because the rod is quite sensitive, you will surely feel any bite and you won’t miss a catch.

Most of its previous buyers have praised the durability and the high-quality craftsmanship of the rod and they recommend it to all interested anglers out there. So, if you are in search of an affordable and fun option that you can easily take with you on your fishing adventures, be sure to check it out!

The main advantage of this product is its lightweight design. Because of it, you will not have any issues when it comes to handling it and transporting it around.

Moreover, this rod comes fitted with a cork handle that is very practical and that will surely feel comfortable even when used for hours on end.

Numerous buyers have appreciated the fact that this rod is shipped alongside a durable hard case that is both sturdy and protective.

You can utilize this model to catch trout and panfish and, according to current owners, this choice will definitely pass the test of time.

One customer complained that the tip of the rod that he received snapped off immediately. This was the only reviewer who had this problem.

There were reports that stated that the zipper of the case is not made of quality materials. Therefore, there is a chance that it will pop unexpectedly.

5. Okuma Unisex’s 330782-SSI Voyager Spin Combo Travel Kit

If you like voyage fishing kits that are easy to carry around, take a good look at this product distributed by Okuma. The kit includes a size 20 reel that is suitable to be used when angling for catfish, bass, walleye, brass or trout. On top of that, the reel includes a ball-bearing drive system, as well as a graphite frame that is resistant to corrosion. The handle can be used by both left and right-handed fishers.

The rod that is also featured in the deal is 6-foot and it can be broken down into five pieces for easy storage and care-free traveling. Cork grips and a ceramic guide inserts are also incorporated into its design.

To make the kit as practical as possible, the seller also provides its users with a tackle box that can be filled with spinners, hooks, spoons as well as with bait. On top of that, the product stands out because it also comes with a custom travel case that is well padded and that features a zippered closure.

This case measures 17 x 9 x 3 inches and it can fit all of the other fishing gear items that we have described already.

This fish combo can provide you with all the things that a beginner or an experienced angler might need when going on a fishing trip.

It includes a 6-foot, light-action rod, a high-quality travel aluminum spool, a very compact and light tackle box as well as a padded travel case that includes carry handles.

The rod itself has five sections and a line capacity of 100/6. It goes together perfectly with the size 20 reel that is included in the deal.

Besides, this product is made and distributed by a manufacturer that has made a name for itself in the business ever since 1987.

There was one angler who said that although the rod performed in accordance with its standards, the size 20 reel was rather noisy and difficult to lock back after casting.

Another user said that this alternative might not be suitable for angling for any fish that is larger than trout.

6. Okuma Citrix Travel Rod 4pc Spinning Med

This option is also worthy of your time as it was manufactured using high-quality materials. It was specially designed to be utilized by anglers that like to travel and it has a lightweight design that many appreciate. The EVA split grips that it includes makes it effortless to carry around.

For improved balance, this option has a zero fore grip construction. Because it features ALPS stainless steel guide frames, the rod is likely to pass the test of time. Given that it comes provided with Zirconium line guide inserts, this model is suitable to be utilized with both braid and monolines.

A convenient travel rod tube is also provided in the deal. The case has a minimalistic design and it does not take up a lot of space. Therefore, it is easy to travel with it on flights. Just like all rods manufactured and distributed by Citrix, this model is backed by a lifetime warranty. The choice measures 7 feet and 2 inches. It can be used for both fresh saltwater applications.

Some reviewers pointed out that this model is also suitable for daily fishing because of its sturdy construction. It can be used with small reels as well.

Those who enjoy traveling with their fishing setup should definitely give this compact and lightweight product a go as it might not disappoint.

This four-piece rod has an IM8 graphite blank construction that is very durable and it comes fitted with EVA split grips for weight reduction.

Plus, the guide frames that it incorporates are made of ALPS stainless steel. You can use it with both braid and monolines, in accordance with your preferences.

What makes this 7-feet option so well liked apart from its durability is the lifetime warranty that backs it up.

There were some buyers who stated that the rod that they received broke rather easily. This might have something to do with how the anglers used it.

Some owners considered that, given the limited features that it includes, this model is somewhat pricey. Yet, not many anglers who have tried it agree.

7. Fiblink Surf Spinning Fishing Rod 4-Piece Graphite Travel 

This counterpart has a solid, yet sensitive carbon fiber construction that can provide you with the sturdiness that you need when fishing. The rod is also suitable for boat fishing, which is definitely a plus according to most anglers.

If you hate having the line getting stuck, you will be happy to find out that the construction of the rod minimizes friction so that you can enjoy long and smooth casts. The handle is covered in rubber so that it will not slip out of your hands unexpectedly. The handle feels nice in the hands of the fisher and it is significantly slimmer than other options.

This rod was designed precisely so that its users can easily feel the vibrations from the line in no time. Additionally, this model is available in three sizes that you can pick from 11, 13 and 15’. As a result, you can select a rod that fits the type of power and action that you prefer.

When shipped, the carbon rod that you pick comes alongside a protective bag that is practical to travel with. A one-year warranty is supplied by the seller. Those who have used it for surf fishing were happy with its performance and design.

This choice has a durable body made of high-quality materials and a handle that is slim and covered in rubber so that you are provided with an excellent grip.

Additionally, this carbon rod is available in three different sizes that you can choose from depending on the kind of power that you need.

Apart from the rod itself, those who decide to acquire this product are also supplied with a carry bag that can protect it during transportation.

This is one of those affordable units that both experienced anglers and novices can use while surf fishing.

One buyer remarked that he received a carry bag that had a hole in it. The rod was not damaged during transportation. This was the only customer who had this problem.

There was an angler who said that the rod that he was shipped did not perform as expected as it broke after a couple of months.

Buying guide

You can’t go fishing without a premium quality spinning rod in your hand, even if the pole is just the travel variety. What makes the best 4 piece spinning rod different from the rest?

Top quality components

While traditionalists go for cork handles, it’s not uncommon to find top quality rods made with both EVA foam and cork handles. Portuguese cork handles are popular. For rods that will be predominantly used with a rod holder, a stain-resistant EVA foam handle is the best choice. A two-handed rod provides great performance during a fight and long casts.

A quality reel seat won’t work loose at critical times, taking on the stress of a fight with its ability to handle increased torque. It should work well with all major reel brands, fitting securely when tightened and equipped with cushioned hoods. The line guides are large near the reel and are smaller going down to the tip. The flexibility and length of the rod blank determines the proper number of guides. Rods with more flex feature more guides. Line guide inserts can be made of metal, plastic and ceramics, varying in hardness and cost.

Plenty of today’s rods are constructed of fiberglass, graphite or a fusion of both. With refinement in technology, graphite rods have overcome their tendency for easy bruising, making the material itself a go-to choice for fighting power and flexibility as well as superb sensitivity.

Performance-geared action

Categorized in general terms, the action of a rod defines the tool’s performance during casting and reeling in. A rod can be Fast, Medium or Moderate, or Slow action. A Fast action model flexes mostly in the top third segment of its length. Bending farther down the rod’s length, usually the midsection, are Medium or Moderate action rods. A Slow action rod flexes along its entire length down to the handle.

The lure size and weight also have something to do with the action of the rod. For maximum casting distance, you will want to use a lighter action rod when employing small lures because there is greater kinetic energy with the higher flex.

Jigging and other techniques will benefit from the quick hookset delivered by Fast-action rods. Middleweight crankbaits work nicely with Moderate action rods. For long, gentle casts, a Fast action rod is best when using live bait.

Good power rating

You’ll want a rod with more power if you expect the fish to put up a huge fight. Power can be Heavy, Medium-heavy, Light or Ultra-Light. Small fish require less power while larger ones will need a stiffer rod with Heavy power. Power has to do with the ability of the rod to lift so stiffer rods, described as having more backbone, boast plenty of power. This attribute also relates to line strength. Use light lines for Light power rods and heavy line weights for Heavy poles. Fishing in thick, heavy cover is best with a strong rod, while a lighter power rod is best used in clear, open water.

Other popular articles written by our colleagues:

Best travel fly rod

Top folding fishing rods

Flipping and pitching rod reviews

Leave a comment

Dark Matter Bonefish Plus Travel Spinning Rods

Item ID: 39227

Select Model:

A Dark Matter Bonefish Plus Travel Spinning Rod is a must for your next fishing adventure! We've taken our incredibly popular 7' spinning rod and turned it into a 4-piece travel rod. You'll be amazed at how smoothly this rod bends! There are no dead or flat spots and it has the same sensitive tip and super powerful backend as the 1-piece. We've kept the high-end Fuji K Frame Alconite guides, Fuji "Tight V TVSTS" reel seat and cork grips and the result is the perfect flats/inshore rod. It weighs in at just 5.0 ozs so you can fish all day without getting tired. Take this rod south to catch bonefish, permit, redfish, snook, sea trout and more. This rod can even handle small tarpon! 

Every Dark Matter Bonefish Plus Travel Spinning Rod comes with a beautiful hard travel case. At less than 26" you can easily carry it on a plane or fit it inside your suitcase. With the Bonefish Plus there is no need to pay airlines exorbitant fees for traveling with a long tube and since you're rod never leaves your possession, you don't have to worry about opening your rod tube post-flight only to find to a broken rod. If you love fishing on vacation, a Bonefish Plus will take your fishing experience to the next level!

Dark Matter Rods are black with a hint of silver. Due to the demand and limited nature of these rods they will not be eligible for any discounts.

Assembly Instructions: When assembling your rod, gently connect the pieces until snug. Do not force in! When pieces are snug, gently twist one piece to secure it. Test to make sure your pieces are together correctly by gently trying to pull them apart. To disassemble, twist the pieces while gently pulling apart. 

Models: DMBPS704MF

Color - Charcoal

Length - 7'

Action - Fast

Line Rating Mono (lbs) - 6-12

Lure Weight (oz) - 3/8-1

Rod Weight (oz) - 5.0

Guide Type - Fuji K Series Alconite Guides

Reel Seat Manufacturer - Fuji

Number of Guides - 8 + tip

Foregrip Material - Cork

Foregrip Length (in) - 3"

Reel Seat Type - Fuji Tight "V" TVSTS Reel Seat

Reargrip Length (in) - 10"

Reargrip Material - Cork

Gimbal - No

Country of Origin :

Made in China

Blank Construction :

4-piece Dark Matter Blank

Ultra-lightweight and powerful

Incredible sensitivity

Hook keeper just above the fore grip

Fuji K Series Concept Guides with black stainless steel frames and Alconite rings

Custom cork fore and rear grips

Reel Seat :

Fuji Tight V TVSTS reel seat for improved ergonomics

3-year Sloopster limited warranty

• Penn Regiment III Boat Travel Spinning Rod

Related products

DAM Yagi Spinning Rod

Abu Garcia Carabus AG Spinning Combo

DAM Vibe Kids Spinning Combo

Okuma Aventa Baitfeeder Reel

Kinetic Brutalis FS Spinning Rod

Penn Conflict II Spinning Reel

DAM Fighter Pro Spinning Combo

Mepps Predator Lure Kit

Daiwa Ninja Spinning Rod

DAM Quick Runshift 4 DH Spinning Reel

Best selling products.

Latest Products

• Forum Listing
• Marketplace
• Advanced Search
• Fly Fishing Discussions
• Gear & Techniques

Kudos to Ray Lee for his beautiful fly reel seats!

• Add to quote

It’s where I go for reel seats, too. Beautiful work, definitely punching above their price tag.  

Likewise....been adorning my rods with Ray’s awesome reelseats for years now....  

Cactus Juice stabilized?  

Spaulted maple, one of my favorite insert woods.  

I meant the stabilization process. You have vacuum & high pressure infusion. Cactus juice is resin that is typically used by vacuum infusion stabilizers.  

I do appreciate Ray Lee's inserts but the hardware, not so much. Fortunately he will sell them separately.  

Ok....I’ll ask, what do you find wrong with Ray’s hardware? Looks good on Hotrodz to me......  

Steve Kokita said: Ok....I'll ask, what do you find wrong with Ray's hardware? Looks good on Hotrodz to me...... Click to expand...

• ?            
• 22.5K members

Top Contributors this Month

• Recommended Feed
• The Superfeed
• The Ricochet Podcast
• GLoP Culture
• UNSAFE with Ann Coulter
• Acton Unwind
• The American Idea
• Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen
• Call Me Back
• Chicks on the Right
• Conservative Woman’s Guide
• Daily Signal Podcast
• Discovery Institute Podcasts
• Enduring Interest
• Erick Erickson Show
• Federalist Radio Hour
• The Federalist Society’s Teleforum
• First Things
• Giving Ventures
• The Glenn Show
• Gray Matters
• Heritage Events
• Heritage Explains
• Hillsdale Dialogues
• InfluenceWatch
• James Lileks’ The Diner
• The Kevin Roberts Show
• The Learning Curve
• The Libertarian
• Madison’s Notes
• Matters of Policy and Politics
• Of the People
• One on One with Robert Doar
• Parsing Immigration Policy
• The Pacific Century
• Q & A, Hosted by Jay Nordlinger
• The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour
• The Weekly Sceptic
• Sara Carter Podcast
• Take Back Our Schools
• Three Martini Lunch
• What’s Bugging Me
• What the Hell Is Going On
• The Bill Bennett Show
• The Art of Happiness
• The Dave Carter Show
• Commentary Magazine Podcast

Conservative Conversation + Podcasts

Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 40 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.

Moscow: It’s Raining Men

July 1999. It was midnight in Moscow, eight years after the collapse of European Communism and the Soviet Union. That Party was gone. But in a lavish new nightclub, our rather proper if not outright staid American Cinema Foundation was hosting what turned out to be a successful but memorably nearly out-of-control party of our own. There was something foreboding about those long-ago summer midnights at the Moscow Film Festival. It was a strange, early transition era of “frontier land” capitalism, when anything still seemed possible, even, God forbid, peace and good relations between Russia and America.

But something went badly wrong in the transition. After close to a decade of the heralded blessings of free enterprise, while the festival’s globetrotting sophisticates were dancing the night away, the glum-but-decent nearby streets, of rundown stores and communal apartments, now glittered with bright lights, strip clubs, brothels, and extravagant new restaurants, run by a newly empowered criminal class. The Yeltsin years. It was like the dystopian alternative future gone so wrong of Back to the Future Part II , but it was real. Russia’s new billionaires partied with their foreign friends while Russians felt humiliated. Was this America’s fault? Why are so many Russians bitterly convinced to this day that it was, at least in great part?

For me, the trail of the answers began way back. I’d started listening to shortwave radio when I was a kid, and soon became familiar with many foreign stations, including the distant, static-y sounds of Moskva Gavrit (Moscow Speaks), and its English-speaking sibling, Radio Moscow. I finally had a look at Moscow, and its national showpiece of a film festival, on my first trip overseas in 1985. It was all a complicated mix: Communist bureaucracy; a stubborn pre-Left national culture of remarkable durability; and the restless new young aspiration of the MTV and Walkman age that tacitly hinted at a less Marxist future, which they glimpsed in Mikhail Gorbachev, who’d taken over in March.

Millions of young people readied themselves for that future. I was surprised by how many of them I’d see in the subways of Moscow, intently making notations in Russiki yazik self-help books that taught computer programming. They didn’t own a home computer but expected to someday, and whenever they finally got it, they wanted to be ready. It was hard not to be impressed with their determination.

In the Eighties, you could go into any Moscow cafeteria– Stolovaya –and get a pretty good basic lunch. Chicken soup, bread, a steamed vegetable, and a glass of tea for about 35 cents. The subway was immaculate and cost seven cents. This is part of what makes writing about the Iron Curtain days tricky for pre-Trump conservatives: the Soviets might lie about anything, but they weren’t lying about everything. The late period USSR was a land of tradeoffs: Freedom for equality. Opportunity for predictability. A crowded trolleybus today, maybe a family car in ten years.

By 1985, the Stalin era was far back in the rearview mirror, but there was still a level of government surveillance of the Moscow Film Festival that few of the foreign guests expected or understood. If anything, they were foolishly flattered by all the attention.

Then, after the tumultuous changes of the Gorbachev years, it suddenly ended. By New Year’s Day, 1992, the Soviet Union was no more. Boris Yeltsin was Russia’s president.

Some of the benefits of the end of Soviet rule were clear. There was less fear of a 2 am knock at the door. Some of the negative parts would have been hard to avoid in any case. Wall Street’s “shock treatment” prescription of the Nineties, adopted by Clinton’s team, was probably if reluctantly needed in some form, but the high dose of austerity administered at once almost killed the patient.

Losing the Cold War? The bewildered Russians, stung by ridicule, thought they deserved the lasting thanks of the world for negotiating an end to that Cold War, before doing everyone the favor of dissolving the USSR altogether.

Many Hollywood conservatives protested Clinton’s air war against Serbia in 1999. Serbia is Russia’s little brother: Yugoslav=southern Slav. That war really stuck in Russia’s craw. Even the multimillionaire guys walked a picket line with the rest of us when Madeleine Albright spoke at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The news coverage of the demonstration never aired. I’m not proud to say that we had no impact—zip, zero, nada. To the broadcast media, Hollywood being antiwar was only adorable some of the time.

Russia was screwed in the Nineties, yes. But they weren’t simply victims; it was complicated. The transition away from Communism was never going to be easy. We were never going to nudge Boris Yeltsin into being James Madison, but we could and should have handled Russia a lot better than we did. It’s a moot point now.

By the end of the Nineties, stricter attention paid to appearances ensured that Moscow’s major monuments and boulevards gleamed with nationalist, not Communist, pride. A backlash was building.

Back to the party, the one in the Luxor nightclub. The disco ball was spinning. The festival’s international crowd mingled with the local mob, and I use the term “mob” advisedly. They gyrated to Prince’s 1981 ode to that once futuristic year of nine teen- nine ty- nin e. I sweated under the lights, too, although all I was doing was making on-camera conversation about the festival . This was the most lavish club in a city that was now full of them. Oligarchs had their own reserved booths. The liquor flowed at $500 a bottle. The walls elaborately imitated Egyptian motifs but with lots of female nudity.

When you came down to it, I was there, in part, to show that America cared about their history, that Hollywood applauded their struggle to overcome the Communist years. Did we really? I wondered, as French movie stars mingled with Moscow’s new rulers of the midnight streets. Personally, I missed the low-key Russianness of the old stolovaya. But who was I kidding? To them I was a cardboard cutout, the American with a nice suit and a microphone. I was mixed up in all that entails whether I liked it, admitted it, or not.

*There was a pause in the music and a lighting change. Fog machines started filling the dance floor for a production number. As scantily dressed female dancers took formation, the music teased the opening of a gay dance classic, “It’s Raining Men”. The lewd MTV video played on a screen in the background. While the dance troupe of women moved forward through the fog in arrow formation, like they were in A Chorus Line , a line of interested men formed, moving hungrily towards them. “The temperature is rising! (Rising! Rising!) Barometer’s getting lo-o-w-w-w!” The two lines clashed in a dance floor collision of curses, smiles, slaps and rushed exchanges of telephone numbers.

Someone’s boyfriend had jealous objections, and a chair flew across the elegant nightclub. In moments, a brawl broke out. They didn’t stop the show, which BTW I was ostensibly hosting. The club just cranked up the music and called out an insta-ready platoon of beefy, heavily armed bouncers, who ran through the shrieking metal detectors and waded into the fight. There was a roiling, boiling fistfight but no one fired a gun. The loudspeakers drowned out the shouts: “It’s raining men! Yeah! Say Hallelujah!”

By the time the last wise guy was tossed out into the street, it was 3:30 in the morning. I headed back to the hotel in a taxi. Seal’s “Kissed by a Rose” was on the radio. In Russia’s northern latitudes, the summer sun was already above the horizon.

Something else was rising above that horizon: an unquenchable wave of Russian resentment. Movies like Prisoner of the Mountains, Brother , and Voroshilov Regiment were like our downbeat cynical 70s films about Vietnam, amoral youth, and vigilante justice. No, they didn’t want the USSR back. But they wanted the country they thought they knew back. Many Americans today would, if not agree with those Russian sentiments of a quarter century ago, at least at some level understand them much better now than we did then.

You know what else was rising above that new horizon? The reign of Vladimir Putin. Given that history, given the circumstances, are you surprised? I wasn’t.

There are 45 comments.

A really long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

EPSON MFP image

Gary McVey : Many Hollywood conservatives protested Clinton’s air war against Serbia in 1999. Serbia is Russia’s little brother: Yugoslav=southern Slav. That war really stuck in Russia’s craw.

Imagine if Russia had taken little brother off into a corner and whispered to him urgently that raping and butchering one’s neighbors is just not done.

Imagine it ever occurring to a Russian that raping and butchering one’s neighbors is just not done.

Percival  (View Comment ) : Gary McVey : Many Hollywood conservatives protested Clinton’s air war against Serbia in 1999. Serbia is Russia’s little brother: Yugoslav=southern Slav. That war really stuck in Russia’s craw.

Imagine if Russia had taken little brother off into a corner and whispered to him urgently that raping and butchering one’s neighbors is just not done.

Imagine it ever occurring to a Russian that raping and butchering one’s neighbors is just not done.

It’s an impulse that’s by no means confined to Russians, of course. The case of Serbia isn’t so easy.

Since, oh, the twelfth century, Russians have lamented that they don’t get help from the West in fighting off barbarian invaders. That’s in those times between when they were being invaded by other Christians. Bosnian Serbs had a legitimate complaint in the Eighties that Yugoslav federal policy favored Muslim resettlement in their nominally sovereign state/province. This was true, but it reflected another fact: it was easy to be blind to these distinctions because 40 years of iron-fisted Communist erasing of religious and cultural identities in Yugoslavia did have a brutal but undeniable effect. It also meant those separate identities springing back to redoubled life as the end of Communism neared. When in 1988 Slobodan Milosevic told Bosnian Serbs, “No one has the right to beat you”, he wasn’t wrong in 1988. That doesn’t justify his turning into Huey Long and then for the final years into a small-time Mussolini. It’s history’s eternal irony, the victim that turns bully. 

An excellent piece, @garymcvey , and I recommend it strongly for promotion to the Main Feed. I especially appreciate your references to the Clinton Administration’s vanity project (the various NATO air campaign targeting Serbia).

Reflecting on those years from 1989 to 1999, I can now recognize that it was during that decade that the bitter kudzu of decay now afflicting the contemporary US military was first planted and then lovingly cultivated. 

Gary McVey : *There was a pause in the music and a lighting change. Fog machines started filling the dance floor for a production number. As scantily dressed female dancers took formation, the music teased the opening of a gay dance classic, “It’s Raining Men”. The lewd MTV video played on a screen in the background. While the dance troupe of women moved forward through the fog in arrow formation, like they were in A Chorus Line , a line of interested men formed, moving hungrily towards them. “The temperature is rising! (Rising! Rising!) Barometer’s getting lo-o-w-w-w!” The two lines clashed in a dance floor collision of curses, smiles, slaps and rushed exchanges of telephone numbers.  

The optimism of men knows no bounds when confronted by scantily dressed women.

Good one, Gary.

Gary McVey Wall Street’s “shock treatment” prescription of the Nineties, adopted by Clinton’s team, was probably if reluctantly needed in  some  form, but the high dose of austerity administered at once almost killed the patient.

Given we now know that the Clintons were, at least later, in bed with the Russians, was this only a bad policy decision? Or work more or less as designed? Seeing as the end result was Putin, it seems they ended up with what they wanted. The other option is Putin’s largess was showered on accidental allies.

Thank you for the thoughtful essay.  Did we even have leaders of the stature required to have helped in constructive ways, who understood the Russian temperament and history?  Was it even possible to help the Russians constructively given their temperament and history?   If a people won’t accept any responsibility but constantly look to others to solve their problems, then I’m not sure what can be done. 

Great post!

Part of the problem of Russians “recovering” Russia is that it may never have existed.  When the czars ruled, 90+% were worse off than medieval serfs in Western Europe.  Lenin had plenty of resentments to work with. The wealth and national prestige under Catherine or Peter took place in the absence of a recognizable middle class.  The concentration of wealth in the nobility was probably unprecedented.

Modern Russians wanted the material goodies of the more advanced world but lacked the identity, values, and self-image of a free prosperous people that goes along with a market-based society.  The West is all about optimism.  Russians have a hard time with that.

Andrei Amalrik in Will the Soviet Union Survive until 1984  made the point almost fifty years ago that glad-handing Western politicians did not fathom the depth of Russian mistrust and lack of faith in betterment.  When an American drives home in a new car, he wrote, his neighbor looks out the window and says to himself, the system better let me get one of those.  The Russian neighbor wants the state to come and take it away because its owner is getting too big for his breeches.

Old Bathos  (View Comment ) : Andrei Amalrik in Will the Soviet Union Survive until 1984  made the point almost fifty years ago that glad-handing Western politicians did not fathom the depth of Russian mistrust and lack of faith in betterment.  When an American drives home in a new car, he wrote, his neighbor looks out the window and says to himself, the system better let me get one of those. 

Alas, that seems to have changed, at least for a sizeable number of Americans. Adam Carolla has expressed it a bit differently. He says that years ago a father and son would be walking down the street and the town’s rich guy would drive by in his Rolls. The father would tell the son that if he works hard, that can be him one day. Now, the father is more likely to tell the son that the fat cat unfairly got the Rolls and something needs to be done to knock him down.

Percival  (View Comment) :

I’m trying to imagine what it takes to level such a grotesque indictment of the moral character of each and every citizen of a nation/member of a culture (in this case, about 140 million of them). I’m failing.

Good golly. Even TDS is not this bad.

GPentelie  (View Comment ) : Percival (View Comment) :

Each and every citizen? Nah. Too many of them flee and are valuable citizens elsewhere for that to be true. Their leaders? Again no, but they arrive at leaders prepared to do anything to amass and maintain power with disturbing regularity. Terrorism is certainly in the toolbox. In fact, it seems to always be the first to hand.

Percival  (View Comment ) : GPentelie (View Comment ) : Percival (View Comment) :

Sometimes you throw a party, and it turns into a fistfight…

It’s more than 50 years since the trial of Lt. Calley, but people still recognize the words “My Lai”.  Fifty years after the special military operation is over, people in southern and eastern Europe will remember Bucha. By then, what will Luhansk and Donetsk think about being shelled from both sides? It depends on who is perceived to have won the pile of rubble. 

Great post Gary!

It must have been fascinating to travel there during those interesting times.

Clavius  (View Comment ) : Great post Gary! It must have been fascinating to travel there during those interesting times.

Thanks, Clavius, right back at ya. I never got to see India; I walked a beat in Communist and Communist-adjacent countries, so that generally meant eastern and central Europe, as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan. 

Gossamer Cat  (View Comment ) : Thank you for the thoughtful essay. Did we even have leaders of the stature required to have helped in constructive ways, who understood the Russian temperament and history? Was it even possible to help the Russians constructively given their temperament and history? If a people won’t accept any responsibility but constantly look to others to solve their problems, then I’m not sure what can be done.

Good comment. No, I don’t think we had leaders of that stature in either party at that time, and alas, later.

There are analogies with race relations in this country. Just suppose there was a group of people small enough to be a minority but large enough to cohere, to resist change. Suppose they have genuine, undoubted grievances about how history has treated them, which has hardened into a diamond-hard shell of resentment, distrust, and an undying memory of persecution. Going from self-blame to believing that nothing is ever really their fault.

It’s a human trait, but not a helpful one.

Gary McVey  (View Comment ) : Gossamer Cat (View Comment ) : Thank you for the thoughtful essay. Did we even have leaders of the stature required to have helped in constructive ways, who understood the Russian temperament and history? Was it even possible to help the Russians constructively given their temperament and history? If a people won’t accept any responsibility but constantly look to others to solve their problems, then I’m not sure what can be done.

Good comment. No, I don’t think we had leaders of that stature in either party at that time, and alas, later.

There are analogies with race relations in this country. Just suppose there was a group of people small enough to be a minority but large enough to cohere, to resist change. Suppose they have genuine, undoubted grievances about how history has treated them, which has hardened into a diamond-hard shell of resentment, distrust, and a persecution complex. They’ve gone from self-blame to believing that nothing is ever really their fault.

It’s a human trait, but not a helpful one.

I don’t think it was our responsibility to craft a solution for them. They weren’t a colony, they weren’t 1945 Germany or Japan, and they have their own culture and traditions. Beyond the usual give and take of international agreements, incentives and the like, the usual tool set, we weren’t going to have much affect. I think Iraq and Afghanistan vividly showed the limits of American wisdom in nation-shaping, but still there are some pushing endless wars.

Gary McVey  (View Comment ) : Sometimes you throw a party, and it turns into a fistfight…

I have a different analogy to offer:

You threw a pool party, then someone plopped a rancid turd into the pool and got well deserved flak for it.

Gary McVey : For me, the trail of the answers began way back. I’d started listening to shortwave radio when I was a kid, and soon became familiar with many foreign stations, including the distant, static-y sounds of Moskva Gavrit (Moscow Speaks), and its English-speaking sibling, Radio Moscow.

Even before my move to America I was a dedicated listener to the BBC World Service which used to be available only on SW (now it’s broadcast domestically on FM and possibly LW when Radio 4 shuts down at night). I’ve owned at various times a Sony ICF-2002, a Sony ICF-2010 with a powered antenna, and a Yaesu FRG 7. Before the advent of the internet, the BBC World Service was invaluable in keeping in touch with UK news, but I did a lot of listening to Radio Moscow, Radio Peking, and Radio Tirana also (around 2015 I met a bunch of Albanians in a Starbucks and they were amazed I could hum the Radio Tirana interval signal).

I’ve got a small, battery-powered, no-name SW receiver in a bedroom drawer in case of emergencies, but I’ve not turned it on in years. Perhaps on Nov. 6 when civil society disintegrates and the power goes out, I’ll have to resurrect it.

An addition to the soundtrack, which has an interesting backstory of its own:

GPentelie  (View Comment ) :

I’ll use smaller words and shorter sentences.

Berlin. Three months later: November 1999, the night before the 10th anniversary of the opening of the border between the BRD and the DDR…also known as “the fall of the Wall”.

This is one of the best  posts on Ricochet that I’ve ever read . Great stuff!!!🙂

aardo vozz  (View Comment ) : This is one of the best posts on Ricochet that I’ve ever read . Great stuff!!!🙂

Totally agree. 

Bravo and thank you, Mr. Mcvey.

Your colorful descriptions and your wise observations about your place in that setting made for an intriguing read.

I <ditto> the piece being one of the best posts offered on this forum.

By the late 1990’s, oil man, and mafiosa-styled American business man, Richard Cheney, was rumored to be part of the group that brought about newly minted Moscow billionaires. Meanwhile normal every day people abandoned their children to state run orphanages, as there was no food in their homes  available to feed those kids.

Often those abandoned kids still starved, as caregivers who were hired to take care of them dipped into the meager allotments of food available.

I never was able to substantiate those rumors about Cheney.

In 1993, I had a health care client who had spent much of the prior year over in Russia distributing aid to people who had once been normal, rather middle class citizens of the Soviet Union. Once back here in the states, even as he recovered from a quad bypass, he continued organizing a donation drive requesting monies from SF Bay area people. He never relaxed as he felt that every single moment someone else – possibly someone whom he had met –  might be dying back over in Russia. (This man was an affluent American business man, not some comrade mourning the death of the communism-based Soviet Union.)

Currently one of the few non-scrubbed accounts of how much American economic titans had to do with the economic realities  that the average Russian citizen was being hammered by   is this one:

https://worldaffairs.blog/2017/03/01/why-the-us-russia-relationship-went-sour-after-the-1990s/

My comment: in this article, the blame is placed squarely on the big greedy shoulders of The World Bank and the IMF.

From the article itself:

“Under the guidance of U.S., thousands of Russian factories were simply shut down. Even Russia’s oil/gas production fell by half, compared to the USSR period. Russia’s PPP GDP fell by 40%  during Yeltsin years and the economic crisis was worse than America’s Great Depression of the 1930s”.

The article is worth reading for anyone interested in the analysis and background of what went on.

There may well be some similarities between what is happening here and now in our country, and what went on there in that time period. Time will tell, I guess.

When I started writing this post, I tried to keep in mind, “Don’t concede too much to the social conservatives. Just what is obviously correct about how things went. If they gloat, they gloat.” As A. Whitney Brown used to say, let’s look at the Big Picture. 

Did the West introduce vice to Russia? Of course not; that borders on a straw man argument. Human nature is everywhere. Even in strict Soviet days, there was furtive behavior that was hidden or ignored. Compared to major European cities, prostitution was minimal in the USSR. Though I have to note, with a cynic’s amused eye, that police restrictions mysteriously loosened during massive events with lots of international visitors. It was known at the Moscow film festival that official delegates from what might be call the developing world eagerly looked forward to sampling the delights of the east, in rooms that no doubt had more cameras and microphones than Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Center. I am inclined to look at this as more of an intelligence operation than as a puzzling sudden lapse in official morality. 

After 1991, prostitution flourished. Teenage girls were quoted as aspiring for the job. This was not sustainable for any society. 

Before we get too pious about the traditionalists of the Soviet Union, note that abortion rates in the USSR were very high, much higher than America’s even at their peak. In this century they’ve come down radically. It’s hard to categorize modern Russian sexual morality as being prim or conservative. The hookup culture is not all that different than ours or Britain’s. 

CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill  (View Comment ) : Your colorful descriptions and your wise observations about your place in that setting made for an intriguing read. I <ditto> the piece being one of the best posts offered on this forum. By the late 1990’s, oil man, and mafiosa-styled American business man, Richard Cheney, was rumored to be part of the group that brought about newly minted Moscow billionaires. Meanwhile normal every day people abandoned their children to state run orphanages, as there was no food in their homes available to feed those kids. Often those abandoned kids still starved, as caregivers who were hired to take care of them dipped into the meager allotments of food available. I never was able to substantiate those rumors about Cheney. In 1993, I had a health care client who had spent much of the prior year over in Russia distributing aid to people who had once been normal, rather middle class citizens of the Soviet Union. Once back here in the states, even as he recovered from a quad bypass, he continued organizing a donation drive requesting monies from SF Bay area people. He never relaxed as he felt that every single moment someone else – possibly someone whom he had met – might be dying back over in Russia. (This man was an affluent American business man, not some comrade mourning the death of the communism-based Soviet Union.) Currently one of the few non-scrubbed accounts of how much American economic titans had to do with the economic realities that the average Russian citizen was being hammered by is this one: https://worldaffairs.blog/2017/03/01/why-the-us-russia-relationship-went-sour-after-the-1990s/ My comment: in this article, the blame is placed squarely on the big greedy shoulders of The World Bank and the IMF. From the article itself: “Under the guidance of U.S., thousands of Russian factories were simply shut down. Even Russia’s oil/gas production fell by half, compared to the USSR period. Russia’s PPP GDP fell by 40% during Yeltsin years and the economic crisis was worse than America’s Great Depression of the 1930s”. The article is worth reading for anyone interested in the analysis and background of what went on. There may well be some similarities between what is happening here and now in our country, and what went on there in that time period. Time will tell, I guess.

You know the traditional line restaurants or bars use when they’re comping someone who’ll bring lots of lucrative business into the place: “Put your wallet away, esteemed sir. Your money’s no good here”, they’ll say with a smile. That’s what they told me in Moscow. But the sad thing, sometimes the creepy thing, was the opposite was true. “My” money–the American dollar–was the only thing that was good there. Nineties Russians referred to the ruble in the most scatological terms. The moment a cab driver knew you were American, he wanted to be paid in dollars. It was the official currency of the Moscow underworld. A new Mercedes? A kilo of cocaine? Your own private harem, rented for the weekend? Anything. Provided you had dollars. 

This did not do our image much good. 

CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill  (View Comment ) : The article is worth reading for anyone interested in the analysis and background of what went on.

The article was written by Chris Kanthan, an anti-Western Putin-lover who claims elsewhere on World Affairs to have had articles published on the famously pro-Kremlin and antisemitic website Russia Insider . He is clearly not someone whose opinions on the subject of Russia and its history should be trusted.

Forgot your password?

Lost your password? Please enter your email address or username. You will receive an email with a link to set a new password.

Back to login

• Shop Brands
• Reels Shop All
• Casting Reels
• Spinning Reels
• Spincast Reels
• Rods Shop All
• Casting Rods
• Spinning Rods
• Combos Shop All
• Casting Combos
• Spinning Combos
• Spincast Combos
• Fishing Line
• Baits Shop All
• Spinnerbaits
• Umbrella Rigs
• Technique Specific
• Lure Making & Customization
• Hooks, Weights & Terminal Tackle Shop All
• Accessories
• Fish Finders & Chartplotters
• Boating Accessories
• TW Exclusives
• Learning Learning Center
• Video Vault Video Vault
• New New Items
• Trophy Best Sellers
• Pro Spotlight Pro Spotlight
• Support Support Center
• Account Account
• Wishlist Wishlist
• Gift Cards Gift Cards
• Mailing List Mailing List

Shimano Zodias 5pc Travel Spinning Rods

Free return shipping is available for all orders shipped within the 48 contiguous United States. These orders will include a complimentary pre-paid UPS Ground return label in the box when the order is delivered. If you use the pre-paid return label provided, please allow 7-10 business days for the return package to arrive back at Tackle Warehouse.

Orders shipped to international, APO/FPO, Alaskan or Hawaiian addresses or U.S. territories are not eligible for the free return shipping offer. Drop Ship and Oversized Items are not eligible for the free return shipping offer.

Please use our Returns & Exchange form found on the back of your printed invoice. If you don't have your original invoice you can download our Tackle Warehouse Return Form .

Contact us with any questions or concerns!

Phone: 1.800.300.4916 Email: [email protected]

Tackle Warehouse wants you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. Items can be returned at any point in new condition within 365-days of the original invoice date.

Products returned in new, store-bought condition are eligible for exchange, refund, or Tackle Warehouse store credit for the full value of your purchase.

Please note that while we want you to be happy with your purchases, an excessive number of returns within a twelve-month period may limit your eligibility for refund or store credit.

Products returned beyond 365-days from the original invoice date or that are unable to be returned to stock may be eligible for store credit at the sole discretion of Tackle Warehouse.

Original shipping charges are non-refundable.

Used baits & tackle are not eligible for return.

Perfect for the traveling angler, the Shimano Zodias Travel Spinning Rod 5pc delivers tournament caliber performance and collapses into a small footprint for anglers that are traveling or tight on storage space. Featuring proven Hi-Power X blank construction, the Zodias Travel Spinning Rod 5pc resists blank twisting and ovalization, which creates more accurate casting, greater strength, and excellent sensitivity. The Zodias Spinning Rod also features a Carbon Monocoque handle that is mated with the CI4+ reel seat, which provides an uninterrupted connection between bait and angler with increased sensitivity.

Premium Fuji Alconite K Semi-Micro Guides and a Fuji SiC tip help reduce weight and provide many of the benefits of micro guides, while still allowing knots to pass through unimpeded. Great for any finesse applications, the Shimano Zodias Travel Spinning Rod 5pc is an easy to store rod that doesn’t sacrifice any performance.

Features: -Hi-Power X -Carbon Monocoque -CI4+ Reel Seat -Fuji K Alconite + SiC Tip -Limited 1-Year Warranty

Specifications

More from shimano.

Customer Reviews

Be the first to review this item.