How to Make a Traveling Case for a Fishing Rod

Protecting fishing equipment while traveling is a common concern for anglers; being jostled about in the back of a vehicle and thrown around by careless baggage handlers takes a toll on tackle. Though many styles of rod cases are available for purchase, many manufactured cases require rods and reels be completely broken down. Making a traveling case for fishing rods out of a hard-sided rifle case will both protect your equipment and keep rods, reels and tackle ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Things You'll Need

  • Hard-sided rifle case
  • Felt marking pen
  • Utility knife
  • Paracord
  • Matches
  • Soft-sided tackle box with trays
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Pull the fishing rods apart at the middle ferrule.

    • 2

      Open the rifle case. Lay the two sections of each rod together, on the foam padding, in the bottom half of the case. Space the rods 6 inches apart, beginning at the back of the case. Orient the rods so the handles and reels of every other rod are pointing towards opposite ends of the case.

    • 3

      Mark spots for the rod tie-downs on the foam padding. Make three evenly spaced dots, with a marking pen, along each side of each rod; two dots at each end of each rod and two in the middle.

    • 4

      Make a small slit with a utility knife, just large enough to slip a piece of paracord through, at each dot.

    • 5

      Cut three pieces of 6-inch paracord for each rod with the utility knife. Melt the tip at both ends of each piece of paracord with a lit match, just enough to keep the cord from fraying.

    • 6

      Thread each piece of paracord down into one of the holes on one side of each rod, under the bottom of the foam and up through the hole on the opposite side of the rod.

    • 7

      Tie the ends of the cords over each rod with a bow, lashing the two broken-down sections of each rod together.

    • 8

      Fill the plastic trays of a soft-sided tackle box with hooks, swivels, lures, flies, sinkers and other tackle as needed. Line the trays up along the front of the rifle case. Flatten the cloth case of the soft tackle box and lay the case over the top of the rods and tackle trays. Close and lock the case.