Best Packable Rod & Reel Combo?

I have a Daiwa Minicast, like this one that I bought in the early 80's, as a kid, for Scouts--Still going strong:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-DAIWA-M...in_0?hash=item2302869a75&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

They sell them new as well: A MiniCast or MiniSpin

http://www.thelongfin.com/daiwa-minicast.html

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ETA: You can ditch the plastic box, and pack it all in a pair of tube socks
 
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I have an Emmrod and I’m sold. As mentioned, it does take a little getting used to with casting, but I really like the shorter length for dense overgrowth on smaller streams. I’ve been using mine for backpacking over the past few years…very robust and compact package; if you break of bend the pole, I’m sure you’ll have bigger things to worry about!

I want to try their new fly-fishing rig as that’s what I typically prefer when I’m hitting the smaller ponds and streams.

ROCK6
 
stingray4540 said:
Packable? How Packable? We pack a regular 2 piece rod in a flouresent lightbulb protector strapped to the outside of my pack:

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Admittedly, it's not as "packable" as a nice 4 piece, but it lets me take my favorite rod without having to spend the money on a dedicated pack rod.
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Back from the dead to say thanks to stingray4540.

Thanks! Your idea about the fluorescent bulb cover is great, and it helped me out on a recent backpack trip.

While I have my eye on one of those fancy St. Croix travel rods, I just used a small 2-piece, ultra-light, Quantum combo I picked up for $30. I cut down the bulb cover to fit, and it did a great job of keeping the rod out of snags and free from damage.

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Another Emmrod user:

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Once you take the rod off, it will “collapse” to a very compact package:
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Here's my Emmrod fly rod and a little brown trout I caught for breakfast...wish I would have landed the other two hits I had!
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I really like the fly rod and love the compact Packer rod, but it's the hardest to master for me. These are all very robust and once you figure out the handling and casting, they work very well. Not only can you get casts as far as regular sized rods, they are very good in very close quarters.

ROCK6
 
I found a nice little 5' 4 piece Quantum ul graphite rod and Quantum xtralite reel (3 bearing) as a kit on ebay for under $50 (I should have bought 2-3!!)

I bought some 2" plastic tubing online- it's a little sturdier than the bulb holders. I wrap my Buf around the rod and slip it into the tube (holds my 1 ounce grill too)- it's 17" long

my "tackle box" is a small plastic tube w/ a screw on lid that holds six 1/32 oz panther martin spinners and ten #10 hooks (in case I have to resort to live bait :D)

the rod weighs 3.1 oz, the reel w/ a full spool of 4# test weighs 5.5 oz, the rod holder weighs 5.8 oz, the "tackle box" weighs .4 oz, the grill 1.4 oz- right at one pound total

(the Leinenkugel is only for size reference!!! :))

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little brookie succumbs to a panther martin

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grill in action

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Guyon said:
Back from the dead to say thanks to stingray4540.

Thanks! Your idea about the fluorescent bulb cover is great, and it helped me out on a recent backpack trip.

While I have my eye on one of those fancy St. Croix travel rods, I just used a small 2-piece, ultra-light, Quantum combo I picked up for $30. I cut down the bulb cover to fit, and it did a great job of keeping the rod out of snags and free from damage.
Click to expand...

Right on, glad it worked for you!:thumbup:
It's nice to get something specifically for backpacking, but this method works just as well until you find that holy grail pack rod...
Happy trails.
 
telescoping rods feel lousy; they don't flex right so they don't feel right...if it's the only solution, ok but i'd never target one to buy...i'm also leery on anything more then a 2 piece breakdown; i tried out a 3 piece outfit but i never fished with it...i'll hold opinion till i do...
 
My first canoe trip I used a cheap telescoping rod. It was like fishing with a six foot rubber stick. Really terrible, although it never broke and I did land some decent fish with it.

After that I bought a 4-piece Ugly Stick, and have been using that for a few trips. It works well, is a little bit less rubbery than the telescoping rod, and is really, really hard to break. I pair it up with my smallest pflueger spinning rod.
 
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