Getting my Tackle to the Texas Nationals

[Len Sawisch]

Any hints on how to get my tackle to Texas for the Nationals? Carl and I will be flying in (Yes, and won't our arms be tired!) so:

Any tricks for maximizing reel transport by plane?
Anyone with experience shipping tackle to and from a show?

We got $220 round trip tickets from Detroit - that's $55 a day to talk tackle with some of the sport's best, to fondle other people's reels, and to fish trophy sized bass from stocked ponds - can't beat that with a stick - just a little curious about options for getting the stick down there!

Thanks! Len

[cws/carl schultz]

i figure i will build a box put harveys name on it and check on plane just say we are doing a viking funeral on the pond /or the most outragously packed carry on in history hey dont really need all those clothes just fall in the pond swish around a bit and clean[OH GEE lens fondling and im swishin better get some BAR-B-Q quick]

[SWIM JIG]

What is the matter with you boys? take a look at the map its all downhill to TEXAS! JUST put your things on a waggon and give it a push to the bottom of the map! On serious side GO TO (gasbuddy.com and check the fuel prices, If I were going and drove I would take rt75 south, go to rt 40 west , and it changes to rt 10 in ark. take it to FT worth and go south out of FT worth to your destination, gas is low priced in KY, and Texas, Or go Rt 75 to ROute 10 in Florida and go west on RT 10 to texas , gas is low in KY, TENN , GA, MISS. LA. t texas. You guys should get some more from the erea and split expenses, shure you goi down lite, however you will be loaded with things on the way back! and just think about all those wonderfull stores with those illusive reels and lires you will lose out on! You guys have picked Michigan and OHIO and INDIANA dry! you need wetter hunting area to try! If it wernt for the graduation I would be in on the hunt! LEN dont you just hear those reels callin! lEN O LEN buY me? and Carl those nice lures saying take me home? and here is a real spot , Somerset KY on RT 80, a collectors paridise! COL. M. lorens in cold OHIO SWIM JIG

[Jim Madden]

Len, there's nothing easy about it. First, measure your rod case at the length it has to be. Anything over a certain limit (it varies with the airlines) may cost you an extra $50. You'll have to call and check on that. They won't put the rod case on the conveyer, either, so you may have to wait till everything else is off and they bring the weird shaped stuff out on a cart at the end. You need to factor in the time. Of course, all the reels go in your carryon with a set of clothes you may have to wear the entire time if they lose your checked luggage. Make sure you get a look at the security lady's face when she sees your reels on the x-ray. That's enjoyable. The guy who hand searched my bag kept holding up the line asking me about the old reels. I should have had an ORCA application. On a little bus shuttle between concourses, a lady picked up my carryon without checking the tag. Both were red. I had to chase her on the shuttle to get my reels back. Never a dull moment with the old tackle. Jim

[RonLewis]

And I've heard they won't let you take reels in your carry-on luggage if they have line on them, you might be a terrorist who would choke out some one with the line, you know. Likewise no duck tape or spray cleaners like WD40. What I sometimes do is just pack everything up, UPS it to some one I trust at my destination, and insure it for whatever.

[SWIM JIG]

I just called a comercial jet jocky that fishes with us, His words are , they may not let you on with lures either if there are hooks on them, LEN you may want to send your things ahead, could be a lot safer than to get things cofiscated! You and Carl may want to check your airline long before you go, and get it in writing as your monitary loss could be a big one! Or ask around at the west branch show and see who is driving down, posibly they would take your things? Or is it too late to think about driving? If it wasent for the FROGY JIGs graduation and I was going well you could have went with me. NEXT year the nationals I will get to! COL. M. lorens aka SWIM JIG in the cold state of OHIO

[reels4me]

Lenyu--As suggested ship to your self at our Host`s place. It worked for
me to Milwaukee last year, easy. Jack

[Tom E.]

For those of you interested in shipping stuff to Columbia Lakes Resort prior to the Convention, I'll ask the Resort to identify a person who we can ship to. I'll post that information and the shipping address on the Convention section of ORCAonline.

Also, if anyone needs to borrow a rod to fish with rather than lug one along let me know. Between Jay and I we can come up with something pretty sweet.

Tom

[mortepa]

I flew out to Washington last year for the National and had no problems with carrying my reels inside a carry-on bag. Some of them had line on them too. Anything with hooks cause problems though. So you will want to send your lures with your main luggage.

You should have seen the airport security folks inspecting my bags. You will definitely get a thorough inspection with all that metal in there. The one guy thought I was crazy for having 40-50 reels on me. Once he found out that they were worth something, it sparked a little interest for "what grandpa's stuff might be worth"...but he still thought I was crazy.

You might want to check with all the airports you are going to be transferring to because they all limit how many, the size, and the weight of carry-ons and your main luggage too. We came back from Washington with about 10 pounds of agates from the beaches and another extra 10 pounds of reels. So we ended up paying 20 bucks or something like that since our suit cases were so heavy.

- Paul