How to Transport Fishing Rods in a Car

Fishing rods don’t seem like something that should be very difficult to move, but a surprising amount of care is required to ensure that rods don’t become damaged (or damage something else) while moving. This is especially true when you need to transport fishing rods in a car, since you’ll have less horizontal and vertical space to work with than you would in a moving truck.

Fishing rods are expensive. They’re also long, sharp, easily breakable, and not suited to holding a lot of weight on top of them. To make sure that you get your fishing rods to your new home all in one piece, follow our advice below for how to pack your rods and how to transport them safely.

How to Pack Fishing Rods

If you already own a fishing rod carrying case then you’re in luck, since these specialty containers are ideal for when you need to transport fishing rods. (If you don’t have them but want to buy them, you can find them for around $20 to $50 online and in certain retail stores.)

So what to do if you don’t have a dedicated fishing rod carrying case? You’ll need to go the DIY packing route. Fortunately, packing fishing rods isn’t complicated, provided you have the right supplies. Here’s what you’ll need:

• • A heavy-duty cardboard tube or plastic pipe sized to fit your rods (purchase one per about three rods, depending on size)
  • Caps for the tubing or pipes, or packing paper that you can crumple up
  • Air-filled plastic padding
  • Packing tape

  To make sure that you get the proper size tube or pipe, measure your rods from top to bottom and then add a couple of inches on to that. If you’re packing multiple rods, use the length of the longest rod for your measurement. You may need to cut your containers to size, in which case you will also require materials for doing so (scissors for cardboard tubes; a saw for plastic piping).

  Now that you’ve got your supplies, follow the steps below to safely pack up your rods.

  Step one: Remove the reel. Your tube or pipe will not be wide enough to accommodate the reel on your rod, so you’ll need to remove it. This should be relatively easy to do (follow the general advice on how to remove spinning reels), but take your time so that you do not accidentally damage your reel or your rod. Once the reel is removed, wrap it in air-filled plastic padding and box it up. If you are removing reels from multiple rods, stick a label on the outside of the padding so you know which reel goes to which rod.

  Step two: Arrange your rods. You will likely be able to fit more than one rod in your tube or pipe. If grouping rods together, choose those that are similar in length. Wrap each rod separately in a layer of air-filled plastic wrap, then use packing tape to secure multiple rods together if packing more than one in a container.

  Step three: Secure rods in tube or pipe. Gently slide your wrapped up rods into the tube or pipe that you’ll be using, then use additional air-filled plastic padding or packing paper to fill in the gaps around the top and bottom so that your rods do not get shifted around during transport. Stick the caps on the container if you have them, otherwise use crumpled up packing paper to create a barrier to the end of the tube or pipe and layer packing tape over the opening.

  Remember, you can avoid all of the steps above by simply opting to purchase a reusable fishing rod carrying case, which will come in handy not just when you’re moving but anytime that you need to transport fishing rods in a car. If you do a lot of traveling with your rods—or if you intend to in the future—then it’s worth the cost to skip the packing steps and just go for a sturdy, durable case you can use as many times as you need to.

  Transporting Your Fishing Rods in a Car

  Now that your fishing rods are securely packed up you can go to the next step. There are two ways to transport fishing rods in a car—either in the car itself or on the roof rack. Some roof racks are made specifically for fishing rods, but you can use your car’s existing roof rack as well. Which way you choose to go depends largely on how much room you have available inside your car, as well as whether the rod containers will fit in general.

  If transporting your rods in your car, you’ll need to wait until everything else is packed in there to see how much room you’re working with. If you won’t have any passengers, recline the front passenger side seat all the way down and try putting you rod containers lengthwise angling from the front windshield to the back windshield.

  If using a roof rack to transport fishing rods, situate them lengthwise (they shouldn’t be hanging off the sides of your car) and secure them with durable bungees. Use two bungees—one on each end—to ensure that your rods do not shift around during transport.

  The tips above work well for moving, but you can also put this advice to work any time that you’re traveling with your fishing rods.

  Rather Leave the Transporting to Someone Else?

  A professional moving company can safely pack and transport your fishing rods for you so that you can focus on other parts of your move. Use our free online moving company directory to find reputable movers in your area, and search full service movers if you want to hand off the task of packing as well. As always, we recommend getting quotes from at least three different moving companies before choosing who you are going to work with so that you ensure you are getting the best deal. If you’re concerned about moving your fishing rods, mention that in your initial call and see if the company has any experience transporting fishing equipment.