How to Ship Fishing Rods in the Cheapest Way

How to ship fishing rods, what is the best way to ship fishing rods, and how to ship fishing rods cheap or for an affordable price?

We get these questions a lot, and we understand. Fishing rods are tricky to ship as they need to be handled with care. Fishing poles are delicate and susceptible to damage.

How to Ship Fishing Rods

Without a properly secured and wrapped fishing rod shipping box, you can expect a fishing pole to arrive crushed or warped.

So, remember these tips when fishing rods so they all arrive at their destination intact and in the best possible condition:

Get the Rod’s Measurements

When we get asked how to ship fishing rods, we always say start with measuring each rod. It’s best to ship a fishing pole in a container or box with a two to three inches allowance.

This will provide plenty of space to add packing material that will cushion a rod.

Opt for a Tube Instead of a Box

When it comes to the packaging for shipping fishing rods, you have a number of options – some more secure than others. It’s not ideal to simply stick an expensive fishing rod in a box and then hope for it to arrive undamaged.

To safely ship your fishing rod, have a tube to protect the entire length of a rod before packing it in a box. You can go to your local Home Depot and get the right length of sewer line pipe made of PVC.

You can have an employee doing the cutting of the PVC for you according to the size specifications of your fishing rod. An alternative would be shipping your rod with a mailing tube sealing the rod.

There are mailing tubes made specifically to ship or transport fishing rods. They’re available in tackle shops across the US and on Amazon. Try asking sellers first if they have a leftover shipping tube as they might give you one for free.

Take the Proper Precautions

Pack the rod with the proper precautions in mind. If you’re shipping a telescopic or two-piece fishing pole, condense it so it’s at its shortest, most compact size. Then, wrap the rod in bubble wrap. You can use any packing tape to secure it.

Place the rod into the PVC tube then place it inside the shipping box full of packing material or additional bubble wrap.

What you want is to ensure there’s ample cushion to your ice fishing rod to prevent it from getting damaged in the event of mishandling. Seal the tube’s ends and then cover the whole box with extra layers of bubble wrap. 

Finally, slap your sealed shipping box with a ‘fragile’ sticker to signal the courier that the box shouldn’t be tossed around haphazardly.

Find a Trusted Courier

It’s important to choose a courier that has maintained a good reputation through the years. Also, you should know that most couriers will have a problem shipping a box containing a 1-piece fishing rod. There won’t be a problem shipping telescopic, two-piece, and 3-piece rods.

This isn’t the case for one-piece fishing poles as they’re usually too long for the couriers to ship. You’ll have to reach out to different companies and inquire about their services.

Don’t forget to ask about the rate. If you’ll be checking online, be ready with the measurements and weight of your box to get a quote from different couriers.

How to Ship a Fishing Pole: FAQs

Some of the other questions related to shipping fishing poles we constantly get are as follows:

Can I bring a fishing pole with me on a plane?

A fishing rod is permitted as a carry-on and on checked bags. But, as a passenger, you have to check with your airline to confirm whether or not your fishing rod is within the size limitations that the airline has set for carry-ons.

How can I determine the cost of shipping fishing rods?

USPS has a shipping calculator. Navigate to the courier’s USPS Postage Pricing Calculator page. Then, enter the measurements and other details of your package. Choose your preferred shipment type and compare shipping options.

Does Southwest Airlines accept fishing rods on flights?

Yes, but your fishing tackle box has to be sturdy and a securely closed container. You can substitute a checked bag with a fishing tackle box or fishing rod. But, note that Southwest Airlines will only allow one fishing rod box or container as a checked item even when tackle boxes and containers are tagged and packed separately.

What is the most affordable way to ship a fishing rod?

The cheapest way for you to ship a large and light package is usually by USPS Priority Mail which has a variable cost. If you need faster delivery, the cheapest option would be parcel shipping. UPS is usually cheaper in comparison to FedEx.

Aside from a fishing pole, can I take several different lures for fishing as a carry-on?

While mackerel fishing lures can seem very dangerous and can be flagged, they’re usually allowed in carry-on bags but only if they are wrapped and stored securely. If they aren’t too big and they have been wrapped well, you should be able to store them in your carry-on. Trout fishing lures are usually good to bring with you during flights, but you should still check with your airline to be sure.

Conclusion

From our guide on shipping fishing poles, you’re set and ready to have fishing poles shipped safely and securely!

Just consider getting shipping insurance for a fishing rod package. This way, you’ll get compensation should your rod get damaged while on transit.

It’s usually more difficult to have a rod shipped overseas. The choice of couriers can be sorely limited. Rates are also much higher compared to shipping domestically. Shop around in order for you to get a good deal.