Unofficially Banned Fly Fishing Gear During Travel Abroad

By Justin Miller, international travel destination specialist of The Fly Shop

Article Highlights:

• Security Red Flags: Fly fishing gear is increasingly flagged at international security checkpoints despite TSA approval.
• Travel Delays: Anglers face missed flights and delays due to carry-on gear being rejected abroad.
• High-Cost Risk: Expensive gear like reels and fly boxes can’t be carried on or risk major financial loss.
• Inconsistent Rules: Security enforcement varies widely by country, adding stress for travelers.
• New Strategy: Anglers are now checking key gear to avoid hassles at security.

In the past decade, traveling anglers have seen a dramatic change in what is allowed in their carry-on luggage. We used to be able to carry our most prized fly fishing valuables with us when we flew, but these days, it is becoming increasingly risky to do so. Here at The Fly Shop, we have a lot of experience with this and understand firsthand the headaches it can cause.

I never like to travel with “all of my eggs in one basket,” so to speak. If everything is packed in my checked luggage and the bag is lost, it can be frustrating to scramble around upon arrival, trying to come up with the gear you need for the week ahead. This is true of any travel, I’m sure, but it is particularly upsetting when it is a destination fly fishing trip that you have been planning and preparing for, and now you have no equipment. I began carrying as much as possible in my carry-on to at least have some gear, just in case. But, despite TSA’s website identifying fly fishing gear as acceptable to carry on, I have had plenty of run-ins that prove their assurances are virtually worthless.

The majority of traveling anglers prefer to keep their most important items on them in their carry-on luggage. While not as likely to be stolen, rods can be easily broken while tossed in cargo holds and on conveyor belts. I always used to carry a rod tube with 2-4 rods as my “personal item” or second carry-on. I don’t know if security has issues with the tubes being used as a weapon or the rods themselves, but now they are often rejected at security checkpoints.

Flies were one of the first items to get unofficially banned. After being spotted in the x-ray, a security agent asked me if I had anything sharp in my bag before he searched it. Telling them that there were a thousand fish hooks inside was an instant rejection, sending me back to the check-in counter, making the airline chase down my bag so that I could check the flies, barely catching the flight after the ordeal. A fly box may not look like much, but at $12 a fly these days – and you have 700+ of them stuffed in there – you do the math! It is not something you just leave in the bin at the TSA checkpoint, as it’s probably the most expensive thing you packed! I still have no idea what they thought I might do with 700 fish hooks.

Reels are the obvious ones to carry on. They are small and shiny and look expensive because they are. It’s too easy for someone to stuff one in their pocket. I always carried my fly reels in my carry-on backpack, but these days, security may take offense to the fly lines and backing, apparently perfect for tying people up or making a garrote. I once made a remark to security that I could also do that with my shoelaces – they were not impressed. The worst thing I have heard security do to an angler that found themselves in this predicament was to strip the entire reel of line and backing. The angler didn’t lose his expensive reel, but it is a useless paperweight on the trip without the line.

Last year, I missed a connecting flight in Australia because I had fly fishing reels in my carry-on. There was no security problem in the US when boarding the plane in San Francisco with them, but then I arrived in Brisbane and had to change terminals. I then had to go through security again to catch my connecting flight to Cairns. The scanners spotted the reels and would not let me through with them. I had to return to the ticket counter and request the airline service agent find my checked bag so that I could re-pack the reels and re-check the bag. The process caused me to miss my flight.

Carry-On Items That Create Issues

• Fly reels
• Fly rods
• Flies
• Fly lines
• Forceps, pliers, pocketknife (anything sharp)
• Lithium batteries (for CPAP machines, etc.)

Strangely, I have only had a few incidents carrying my fishing gear through security in the US. But when coming home or catching connecting flights while traveling abroad, I have found myself in many stressful situations due to carrying fly fishing equipment. I have now had serious issues with fly fishing equipment in my carry-on bag in Russia, the Seychelles, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Argentina. The risk of missing flights due to fly fishing equipment – and I am sure other sporting goods and equipment as well – that security perceives as a problem in your carry-on luggage is extremely high these days.

Everyone wants to carry their expensive gear with them, but it is becoming impossible. It’s just too risky. So now I pack rain jackets, puffy coats, books, and iPads in my carry-on and kiss my reels for good luck before I pack them into my checked luggage. As travel restrictions evolve, so must our packing strategies. Understanding the rules – and the inconsistencies – can make or break a long-awaited fishing trip. When in doubt, check it!

Justin Miller plans and organizes destination fly fishing trips around the world, working in the International Travel Dept of The Fly Shop in Redding, California. He has traveled and fished on every continent on Earth besides Antarctica.