The 5 Best Travel Fishing Rods of 2023
Geoff Stadnyk in Fishing Rods on
Traveling fishing rods are all about convenience.
A traveling fishing rod should be portable, lightweight, and easy to transport without taking up much space.
Slipping the best travel fishing rod, reel, and a hand full of lures into your backpack when venturing into the great outdoors is how great memories are made.
True travel fishing rods generally follow two designs with the most recognizable being the telescopic fishing rod.
The second option is the take-down multi-piece designs.
The number of pieces can range between two to six sections with four-piece rods fairly common.
Best Travel Fishing Rod
A myriad of travel fishing rods is available today.
Amazon’s online store offers over three hundred options for various angling disciplines.
Some possibilities include rod and reel combos, including a few lures and hooks.
Prices vary widely, ranging from as low as twenty dollars to four hundred and fifty dollars.
Let’s look at a few popular travel fishing rod options from Amazon for your convenience.
Best Designed Travel Fishing Rod
In my opinion, Rigged & Ready has struck gold with the design of the Smuggler 7 range of travel rods. It offers great value in a decent length, increasing the versatility of the rig.
Check Today's PriceFishing Rod Length
The Smuggler 7 travel fishing rod is a seven-piece, well eight, if you include the two rod tips fishing gear.
The tips are interchangeable, which changes the length of the rod from 7.8 feet to 8.6 feet.
Fishing Rod Material
The rod blank is made from high-performance, powerful nano carbon called SRF Zylon-Carbon-HighGlass.
A unique selling point is a claim that it has unbreakable rod tips.
The tips are of fiberglass construction and are white in color compared to the rest of the travel fishing rod, which is carbon black.
The fishing rod’s grip is made from quality EVA while the reel seat is the traditional graphite screw type.
The slimline rod guides or eyes are silicon lined, making the sturdy rod suitable for use with whatever type of fishing line is available.
Fishing Rod Action
This travel fishing rod is capable of various baitcasting weights depending on the rod tip used.
The blank is a medium action blank for use in many inland and sea fishing adventures.
Rating:
0.17 ounce to 0.70 ounce (5-20 + gram) for the 8.6 feet rod (2.60 meter)
0.52 ounce to 1.41 ounce (15-40 gram) for the 7.8 feet rod (2.35 meter)
What type of fishing is the rod suited to?
The travel spinning rod fitted with an ultralight spinning reel makes this a cut above other spinning rods.
It is best to use with a bass fishing reel and is also great for catching carp, pike, and salmon.
Keeping in mind that this rod is made for use as a stand-by or non-primary fishing rod with the ability to get the job done in a variety of situations, the Smuggler 7 is a great choice.
The slightly more robust build with super-strong tips of this travel rod, when compared to all the rods, gives the angler the confidence to look forward to the best travel fishing experience.
The pricing of the affordable rods, which falls into the lower to mid-range spectrum, makes this a great option when buying matching rod sets for family members.
The length of the Smuggler 7 makes the rod easily managed by anglers of slight build.
It does not require a large fishing reel that helps in keeping the weight of the rod down.
Lines in the six to fifteen-pound class are well suited with the Smuggler 7 travel rod.
When used with fluorocarbon or braided lines, the rod is capable of far casts.
Best for Freshwater Fishing
The Goture Exceed spinning rod is a great travel fishing rod for freshwater fishing.
Check Today's PriceThe rods are made in four sections that push together to form the travel rod.
This series of rods are available in five different models, of which the Xceed 704M-S is my favorite.
Fishing Rod Length
The Xceed 704M-S travel rod is a four-piece device that slides into each other to make up the Goture travel fishing rod.
The total length of the assembled rod is seven feet.
Fishing Rod Material
The rod blank is made from 30T carbon fiber, while the handles are made from quality EVA material for a comfortable hold regardless of fishing style.
The reel seat is the traditional screw type and forms part of the middle EVA handle, which is turned to adjust the reel seat.
The rod sports eight stainless steel guides with ceramic inserts, making the rod suitable for use with any fishing pole line that you will pick.
Fishing Rod Action
The blank is medium to heavy with a fast to medium-fast action making this one of the best travel spinning rods.
The lure weight rating is 3/16 to 5/8 of an ounce.
What type of fishing is the rod suited to?
The outfit fitted with the appropriate spinning reel makes a perfect travel spinning rod and is suitable for mainly plastic baits when bass fishing.
Of course, the rod is ideal for bait fishing, float fishing, and many applications.
The sturdy but light rod at barely 5 ounces is an excellent choice when taking a rod along on a hike or camping trip, especially if one doesn’t want to bother with a traditional one-piece rod that can be a pain to lug around.
The sticker price of the rod, which falls into the lower to mid-range pricing, makes this a great buy.
Suitable lines for this class of fishing rod are six to fourteen pounds, allowing you to land most inland fish species successfully.
Best Premium Quality Materials
The St Croix triumph travel series consists of seven models offering both spinning and casting configurations.
Check Today's PriceThe brand is aimed at those anglers who demand top-quality travel fishing rods.
St Croix rods are handmade and constructed from premium quality materials.
Fishing Rod Length
The St. Croix 7Ft is my choice for fishing trips.
The seven-foot length strikes a good compromise between the rod’s portability when disassembled and practical rod length for most inland fishing purposes.
Fishing Rod Material
The rod blank is made from high-modulus SCIII carbon fiber material using IPC (Integrated poly curve technology) and ART technology.
The fishing rod handles are made from quality cork, while the reel seat is a screw-type supplied by Fuji for whole day fishing.
The slimline rod guides or eyes are zirconia lined, making the rod suitable for all types of fishing lines.
The ferrules or joints on the rod’s blank are slim line and reinforced to ensure the rod feels and performs like a one-piece rod and avoids dead spots in the rod’s action.
Fishing Rod Action
The rod is classed under medium action rods but is perfectly capable of heavy action as well.
Rating:
Suitability for the casting of baits is between ½ ounce to 1 ¼ ounce.
What type of fishing is the rod suited to?
Given its robust construction, this travel rod fitted with the appropriate spinning reel makes for an excellent spinning rig suitable for lure and baitcasting of the most common fish species.
The Xceed 70 is an excellent choice for use in most waterways.
The light construction, compactness, and high sensitivity make the rod versatile for various fishing situations.
The pricing of the rod falls into the higher pricing bracket and is backed by St. Croix triumph travel warranties – a transferable fifteen-year warranty which is one of the best in the industry.
Slightly built anglers can easily manage the length of the Exceed 70 and also will not require the use of a large reel which helps in keeping the weight of the rod down.
The ten to twenty-pound class lines are well suited for use with the St. Croix Xceed 70.
Best Build Quality and Materials
The Angryfish telescopic fishing rod impressed me with its build quality and materials.
Check Today's PriceMany of the features found on the rod are often found on many higher-priced telescopic rods.
The rods are churned out in great numbers, but the quality is good.
All told, this telescopic rod is an excellent buy.
Fishing Rod Length
The Angryfish telescopic fishing rod is available in two lengths, 6.8 feet or 7.8 feet.
My choice is the 6.8 feet due to its slightly smaller dimensions when folded.
Fishing Rod Material
The rod blank, consisting of six sections sporting very low dimension ferrules, is made of carbon fiber.
The reel seat is an ABS screw-type molded part that allows your finder to rest on the rod blank for added sensitivity.
The rod handles are made of EVA material, ensuring a firm but comfortable hold on the rod without causing fatigue.
The rod guides, of which there are six, are stainless steel with ceramic inserts to make the rod suitable for use with all types of fishing lines.
Fishing Rod Action
The blank is medium to heavy with a medium-fast action, making this a great spinning model.
The lure weight rating is 0.2 ounces to 0.7 ounces (5 to 20 grams).
What type of fishing is the rod suited to?
The Angryfish telescopic fishing rod is an excellent option for the weekend recreational angler.
Fitted with the appropriate spinning reel, the rod makes for a great spinning rig.
The rod is well suited for casting plastic baits when bass fishing.
Of course, the rod is suitable for most travel fishing applications where smaller fish species are targeted.
The sturdy but light rod at barely 4 ½ ounces in weight is a great choice when going along on an outing where a fishing opportunity might present itself.
The pricing of the telescopic rod falls in the lower range and is excellent value for money.
Suitable lines for this class of fishing rod are ten to twenty pounds, allowing you to catch most inland fish species successfully.
Best Priced
The Sougayilang telescopic spinning rod is amazingly low priced for its quality.
Check Today's PriceAvailable in combo form which includes some basic fishing lures and hooks and a spinning reel, I picked the 6.9 feet rod.
Fishing Rod Length
The Sougayilang telescopic rods are available in five lengths ranging from 5.9 feet to 10.9 feet.
My choice is the 6.9 feet due to its practical size for a travel fishing kit.
Fishing Rod Material
The rod blank consists of five sections sporting stainless steel ferrules to which the guides are attached.
The rod blank is made from high-density 24-ton carbon fiber and E-Glass composite.
The reel seat is CNC machined aluminum and appears of great quality.
The rod handles are made of EVA material, ensuring a firm but comfortable hold on the rod without causing fatigue.
The rod guides, of which there are six, are stainless steel with ceramic inserts to make the rod suitable for use with all types of fishing lines.
Fishing Rod Action
The blank is a medium-fast action, making this a great all-purpose spinning rod for any fishing trip.
The lure weight rating is 0.3 ounces to 0.8 ounces.
What type of fishing is the rod suited to?
A telescopic spinning rod is an excellent option for the average recreational angler.
The travel rod is fitted with the appropriate spinning reel to make a great spinning and general-purpose device.
The rod falls in the lower pricing range and is great value for money.
Suitable lines for this class of telescopic rods are six to fifteen pounds, allowing you to land most inland fish species.
And The Best Travel Fishing Rod Is…
My choice for the best fishing rod for the average recreational angler and traveler is the Rigged & Ready Smuggler 7!
The small dimensions when folded, nice storage tube, multi-tip option, price, and great build quality makes this rod a top-class product.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Travel Fishing Rods
In order to choose the best rods, you need to consider a few things before buying a certain model.
1. Length of the Rod
You need to choose the right rod length for your specific fishing application or what you plan to fish.
It’s best to start with a short rod if you are a beginner since this size is easy to master, and can be used for many different applications.
A medium travel rod is helpful for catching species like beam, golden perch, trout, whiting, and other small fish.
A larger fish, of course, like kingfish, mackerel, queenfish, trevally, and others will require a longer travel fishing rod.
2. Number of Rod Pieces
Multi-piece rods can be broken down into two, three, four, or even up to eight pieces.
This makes them easier to carry in your luggage or fishing rod case when it is time to pack.
The parts are also easier to replace when you break or lose one because you only have to buy one section and not the whole rod.
The downside is you have several pieces to look after and you have to secure each segment tightly or they might break under strain.
Multi-piece rods are also more expensive than one-piece rods.
3. Fishing Rod Material
The material from which the rod is made will play a big role in its durability, and price.
Fiberglass rods have been around for ages because they are durable and affordable but their lower sensitivity makes it harder to detect lighter bites.
Graphite rods have high tensile strength and sensitivity but it is an expensive material for those on a budget.
A composite rod combines the best features of both fiberglass and graphite but is more expensive than pure fiberglass rods and less sensitive than pure graphite ones.
You may also want to look at the other rod components like the rod guide which is best with a ceramic coating and the rod handle which comes in cork or EVA foam.
4. Rod Power
Power is a measure of how strong a rod is and its capability to withstand pressure when catching fish.
Rod power ratings are classified as light, medium, or heavy, or medium/light or medium/heavy in some cases.
A light power rating means the rod can only handle small fish species like crappie, trout, bluegill, and other panfish.
A medium power rating is fine for, well, medium-sized fish such as bass, catfish, pike, or walleye.
For big fish such as musky and tuna, a heavy power rod is a must.
Medium-light bridges light to medium and is capable against smallmouth bass and steelhead trout.
Medium-heavy, on the other hand, has excellent power for flounder, pompano, and salmon.
Conclusion
Fishing rods are available in a mind-boggling variety and quality.
The critical requirements for a travel rod are portability and convenience.
The Smuggler 7 fishing rod kit fits the bill of the best travel rod superbly by offering a two-in-one rod option with interchangeable tip sections that make it a great buy.
Geoff started fishing as a child in the gorgeous lakes of Mammoth, while on family vacations. His fishing experience includes the use of fly rod and reel. Guided trips along the Madison and Gallatin rivers in Montana, the Frying Pan and Animus in Colorado, and the Deschutes river in Oregon have all paid off and helped make Geoff the angler and writer that he is today.
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