Fly Rods On A Plane?

Today the U.S. Department of Homeland Security raised the alert level for commercial aviation to orange following the arrest of 21 individuals in the UK who were plotting to blow up airliners bound for U.S. Cities by using liquid bombs. In response to this the TSA has banned liquid or gels of any kind from being carried on domestic flights. The response in the UK has been far stricter with passengers not being allowed any carry on luggage of any kind other than a few personal items in clear plastic bags.

Anglers and outdoorsmen and women who travel by air may be impacted by stricter security and a renewed interest in what they are carrying onto planes and would be wise to pack accordingly. Should you choose to carry on that tube of floatant or that pricey soft lead in your fishing vest, don't be surprised if it ends up in an airport trash bin. That flask of 20 year old single malt scotch might be the hit of the next TSA Christmas party (**for all those analysts reading this blog at "The Farm" I am just kidding, I know the TSA throws this stuff away or sells it on ebay.)

A possible solution is to pack these sort of items in your checked luggage or buy them at your destination. If you pack them be sure you use one of those TSA approved luggage locks so that they can get into your bag without destroying it. At least this way if anything goes missing you know only certain people could have gotten into it. Anglers in the UK have been banned from carrying on fishing rods (or any other item that might be used as a weapon) since 2004. If this ever carries over to the USA then you might want to consider leaving that expensive gear at home in favor of an inexpensive travel rod