I was wondering how everybody travels with their rods and reels for tournaments or trips? I recently bought the "Extreme Bass Pro Shops - Combo Caddy." Does anybody have any experience with this bag? I'm wondering if I made a mistake. I bought it based on the BPS reviews which were good at the time, but there are some bad ones now.

Here is the link...what say y'all??

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_15114_999034012_100000000_100004000_100-4-2

that depends. are you flying or driving? if you're driving that BPS bag looks like it'll do the trick, but if you're flying you'll want to get something a lot more protective. i'm using LBH's flambeau bazuka tube to get my rods down to alabama and that thing is RUGGED. it'd take a steamroller to cause any damage to anything inside that tube.

it fits longer rods, too. my 7'er fits with room to spare and the tube's not even fully extended.

Just driving...I'm pretty sure my rods would end up in a million pieces if I was flying with this bag  ;D

The only precautions I take is when I go on the airlines.  Here the risk is twofold.  You have to protect yourself against the not so tender ministrations of the baggage handlers as well as the similarly unenlighted govt. TSA people.  Bad tag team against fishing stuff, especially rods.  to protect against this, put your rods in a rod socks.  Thenput them in a strong, non-collapsing rod tube.  I use SKB brand tubes. Never have collapsed. Put in enough rods to snuggly fit in the tube or put dunnage in to prevent movement.  Helps tp tape the rods together also, so you do not have to worry about some TSA folks doing the cram and jam on the rods.  Put the reel in a carry on box/bag and carry these on with you and not on checked luggage  Hope this helps.

Build yourself a 7'6" rod holder out of 4" PVC tubing. That is what I did and it holds 4-5rods with rod socks. I bought a tote to carry my reels seperately. I can post pics if you want.

Yeah pvc tubing is perfect for baitcasters and cardboard tubes are great too. I have a bunch of cardboard tubes from ordering rods online. Packing rods for flying gets trickier when you have larger spinning rods with those big eyelets near the reel seat. But if you dont tard it up then there shouldnt be any probelms

I have the Plano Rod Tube. It goes from 64" to 106", it's built like a tank. My reels are always packed in a reel case and stay with me.

Falcon

This reminds me of when I went to my grandparents house in Idaho. On the way back, I put the tip of my rod in my suitcase, and I brought the other end of my rod with me on the plane. I got a lot of funny looks. I think people thought I was a blind person ( I was wearing my shades too).