ARTICLES

Here are some recommendations for travel fishing rods that should live in your vehicle full-time so you're ready to fish whenever the opportunity presents itself. Many of these same rods are also perfect for air travel throughout the entire calendar year-and are the perfect accompaniment for travel to far-off waters, both domestic and international.

Rods For the Road

First, the quality of today's travel fishing rods isn't what it used to be, second-rate two-, three-, and four-piece jobbies with horrible sensitivity and whippy actions. These days, two-, three-, and four-piece travel rods fish like one-piece models and conveniently store under the backseat of the car or in the back of a truck or SUV. Likewise, they fit perfectly into travel rod cases for easy stowing in aircraft overhead compartments.

The Right Travel Rod for Discerning Anglers

St. Croix's new high-performing AVID Trek 3-piece rod is available in seven spinning and baitcaster models, everything from a 7-foot medium-light power, fast-action, all-purpose freshwater rod to a 7'6" medium-heavy, fast-action stick more suited for inshore use or slinging big baits for Canadian or European predators. The AVID Trek travel rod family also includes a 6'6" medium-heavy power, fast action baitcasting rod that's super versatile, making it a good pick for travel to locations with nearby bass fishing-or pike, redfish, snook, you-name-it.

Now let's take a quick look at St. Croix's technology and what makes the St. Croix AVID Trek such a great rod. For starters, they're designed and handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin, USA, and are incredibly light, sensitive, and durable.

First, the St. Croix AVID Trek features integrated Poly Curve (IPC) tooling technology; premium, high-modulus SCIII carbon; slim-profile ferrules with ART technology; Sea Guide Hero Hi-Grade guides with slim zirconia rings and SS316 stainless gun smoke frames; Fuji ECD or DPR reel seats with gun smoke hoods; a Sea Guide hook-keeper; select-grade cork handle; two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish; and a 15-year transferable warranty.

Prepping for an 8-day trip to northwest Boundary Waters and Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park the last week of June through July 4th, we got our hands on two AVID Trek rods for the off-grid canoe fishing trip. Looking back, the spinning rod we settled on were a bit heavier in power than we probably needed, but we also wanted double-duty for future use in the Gulf and other backwater and saltwater locations. We settled on the ATS70HMF3, a 7' medium-heavy power, fast-action stick. The rod is best suited for lures in the ½- to 1 ¼-ounce range and line in the 10-20 pound class, which proved perfect for throwing large swimbaits, spinnerbaits, and bucktails for north-country pike. The rod retails for $285-$305. Looking forward, for smallmouths, walleyes, bass, average-size trout, etc., we plan to pick up a 7' medium-light and medium power, fast action versions of the same rod.

For baitcasters, there was only one model to choose from-a 6'6" medium-heavy power, fast-action model built to throw 3/8- to ¾-ounce baits. Although on the shorter side, the rod has a 16 ¾" handle, which is ideal for leveraging larger fish. Also, its sub-7' length proved a benefit for fishing from the canoe. The rod sells for $305.

Travel-Worthy Reels

In terms of reels, we've been bullish on Shimano Stradic reels since their introduction but have switched over to Daiwa Tatula MQ LT and Kage MQ LT reels over the past two years. In short, for fishing freshwater we fish Tatula MQ LT reels (MSRP: $199.99), switching to Kage MQ LT models for inshore use. Reels in both families feature 22 pounds of drag pressure starting with the 2500 size, extending up into a 4000-size frame. The larger arbor design of these Daiwa reels allows you to make longer casts from the bank or dock, and spooled with a silky braid and fluorocarbon leader, is a great go-to set up for anything you might choose to tie on the business end.

If you go the medium-light power rod route, a 1000 or 2000 Tatula MQ LT is hard to beat for smaller bass, panfish, and most trout at culverts, park easements, and bridges along the road.

In the near future we will be testing the new St. Croix Rod SEVIIN GS, GSW, and GX spinning reels and will keep you informed.

On the baitcaster side of things-specifically matching the 6'6" medium-heavy power, fast-action AVID Trek model, we went with a Daiwa Tatula TTUSV103HS, which offers a middle-of-the-road 7.1:1 gear ratio, 28-inches of line per handle turn, and 11 pounds of drag. 30 pound braid is standard, although you can step up to 40 pounds or utilize a heavier monofilament for live bait fishing.

We will also be testing St. Croix's new GR Series baitcasters and will provide a future, in-depth report.

Line Choices

For the medium-power set-ups, consider low-diameter, high-test superline fished with a fluorocarbon leader. 10-pound test is a great all-around choice and there are lots of manufacturers out there making great braid today.

For a fluorocarbon leader, whatever 8- to 15-pound test you already have is a good all-around choice to keep fish pinned on a medium-power rod. Daiwa, Seaguar, Sufix, and Sunline all make quality fluorocarbon.

For medium-light rod & reel combos, we're big fans of Sufix Elite monofilament. 4- or 6-pound is ideal for a panfish and "eater" trout set-up.

Travel Rods for Youth Anglers

As mentioned, we recently spent 8 days off-grid in Minnesota's BWCA and Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park. Our party comprised four canoes, two adult males (aka "two stupid dads"), and seven kids ranging in age from 10 to 17.

To minimize any confusion with rods, we purchased seven identical St. Croix X-Trek travel rod combos, which retail $175 and $190, depending on which model you fish. To target walleyes and smallmouth bass, we chose seven 6'6" medium-light power, fast action combos. With each kid using the identical rod, reel, and line-set up category, there was zero confusion among the travelers with rod/reel choice. All were spooled with 10-pound braid and a two-foot section of 10-pound fluorocarbon.

How did the rods work? As two-piece sticks, they fit into the canoes nicely and are easy to travel with in plane, train, or automobile. On the recent BWCA trip the kids caught plenty of fish with them-no problems whatsoever-fishing jigs and leeches, Rapala minnow-style baits, and jig and soft plastic combos. My only beef with rods is the last few inches of the tip section is pretty soft for a rod that St. Croix categorizes as fast action. Personally, I'd like to see a little stiffer tip for more sensitivity when jigging live bait. Still, the kids caught lots of fish so it's no deal-breaker.

Did the included St. Croix spinning reels hold up?

Yes, and they provided smooth rotation and far-reaching casts. However, the drag is a bit difficult to get set perfectly. It has a tendency to set either too tight or too loose.

As is the case with any off-grid, multi-day canoe fishing trip, a couple rods were broken in transit through primitive and rough 100-200 rod portages.