SFR What You Can Take Through TSA

Sorta fishing-related
Jacob Watrous

Jacob Watrous

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FYI: I know folks often wonder about what they can bring through airport security, so here’s a data point: Just went through TSA with the following in a carry-on, no hassle, no hand checks, nothing.
  • 1/0, 2/0, and 3/0 hooks
  • Tying tools (including bobbin)
  • 3 pairs of tying scissors
  • Various materials (natural and synthetic)
  • 1 vise
  • A plethora of other bits and bobs
  • 4 rods in 2 metal rod tubes, plus reels.
  • 4 boxes of flies containing everything from Crazy Charlie’s to Tarpon Toads.
 
I flew United back in Feb and called their customer service to ask specifically about hooks in a carry on. They couldn't give me a straight answer and said it basically comes down to the TSA employee's discretion.
 
I tried to carry on a 37" landing net custom made by my brother in law and they said no dice. Apparently I can hit someone with it. It's no bigger than tennis rackets mostly. I was irate.
 
Adrian M said:
I tried to carry on a 37" landing net custom made by my brother in law and they said no dice. Apparently I can hit someone with it. It's no bigger than tennis rackets mostly. I was irate.
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Did you hit them with a tennis racket to drive the point home?
 
Evan B said:
My friend just had an opposite experience and had his hooks and pliers confiscated.
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That sucks!

I didn’t plan to bring the tying stuff, but apparently when I said “bring things to do on the plane” I should have been more specific.
 
I have noticed that regulations vary at different US and other country checkpoints. My wife is able to carry on her Knitting needles ,some a foot long and 3/16 in diameter. She also has a small pair of scissors. I can remember having to pack my reels in my checked baggage to get home from Costa Rica at a baggage pre check station . Sometimes a quick question at the ticket counter can help .
 
J Watrous said:
That sucks!

I didn’t plan to bring the tying stuff, but apparently when I said “bring things to do on the plane” I should have been more specific.
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My suggestion is always to check fishing items other than rods. It's just not worth the risk. I've had entire fly boxes confiscated before, but that was over 10yrs ago. I always check things now. So no more carry on fishing stuff for me.
 
Evan B said:
My suggestion is always to check fishing items other than rods. It's just not worth the risk. I've had entire fly boxes confiscated before, but that was over 10yrs ago. I always check things now. So no more carry on fishing stuff for me.
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I mostly agree with you. Rods and reels and one fly box go into carry-on, the rest of my shit goes under the plane. I can lose my clothing and be ok on a vacation. Losing my rods and reels, though, and it’s game over.
 
I’ve had trouble with sinking lines. I guess the tungsten coils look scary in the scanner. I now carry my reels but check my lines.
 
J Watrous said:
FYI: I know folks often wonder about what they can bring through airport security, so here’s a data point: Just went through TSA with the following in a carry-on, no hassle, no hand checks, nothing.
  • 1/0, 2/0, and 3/0 hooks
  • Tying tools (including bobbin)
  • 3 pairs of tying scissors
  • Various materials (natural and synthetic)
  • 1 vise
  • A plethora of other bits and bobs
  • 4 rods in 2 metal rod tubes, plus reels.
  • 4 boxes of flies containing everything from Crazy Charlie’s to Tarpon Toads.
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Consider yourself lucky...

I always carry on 1 extra shirt, rain jacket, reels and rods...check everything else. I have had large streamers and plugs removed from my carry on before...
 
Pescaphile said:
It's pretty much a crapshoot. Totally depends on the whims of the TSA agents.
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I’m thinking that, too. They freaked right the heck out about the metal stays in the knee brace I sent through on the conveyor belt (apparently they looked like knives) but the bag before it was the one full of fly tying shit and sharp objects, and no one batted an eye at it.
 
J Watrous said:
Huh. Never had that happen but it’s interesting to hear.
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They tried to confiscate a reel from me around 10yrs ago with a sinking line saying it wasn't allowed on board. I was able to check my entire reel bag thankfully. That's why I check reels now.
 
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