Ultra light fly rod tube

[Macintosh]

My “backup plan” for not drawing is becoming a backpack/fishing trip. My fly rod tube is relatively heavy, and it seems like an easy place to cut some weight. Wondering if other people have found a good lightweight option for a rod tube for a 4piece fly rod—I searched and didnt find much on this site. I did find a 15 year old
Post on backpacking light with some good ideas, but none of the links work anymore.

Curious what others have done before I go buy something to try.

ETA: my fly rod tube weighs 15oz. I have a thinner 2-piece rod tube that weighs 18oz, if I cut it to 4-piece length I bet its 10oz. But thats still a pretty robust aluminum tube. Can I find a reasonably protective <4-5oz tube?

 

[flyfisher117]

Not the most durable and they are consumable but plastic tubes work pretty good. I used to find them at hardware stores for a couple bucks each. Never weighed one but it’s significantly lighter than a normal tube.

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic_rods_tubes_shapes/tube_pak/274

I just bought a cheap rod and rawdog it with no tube. I sewed up a rod sock out of a heavier canvas like material and just lash it to the outside of my pack .

 

[Macintosh]

Thanks, thats a good link. Id rather not get a new rod so definitely want a reasonable level of protection.

Keep it coming, TY!

 

[Grassymike]

PVC conduit. Just go to Home Depot or similar and find diameter you need and suitable end caps and glue.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Not the most durable and they are consumable but plastic tubes work pretty good. I used to find them at hardware stores for a couple bucks each. Never weighed one but it’s significantly lighter than a normal tube.

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic_rods_tubes_shapes/tube_pak/274

I just bought a cheap rod and rawdog it with no tube. I sewed up a rod sock out of a heavier canvas like material and just lash it to the outside of my pack .

This. I use something similar , a fluorescent light bulb tube.



If you just want to spend money, you can probably find some 1-2mm carbon tubing the same length as your rod and make a tube that way as well.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

I backpack fish a ton. My wife likes backpacking and I like fishing. We probably do an average of 5 trips a year all over the place.

I quit using a tube. I take two rubberbands. One of the thick ones from broccoli goes on the bottom. On the top I use a super lightweight one if it's an ultralight or a fly rod. In the middle I take a normal sized rubberband and put in on a guide and wrap it around tight and loop it back on the same guide. The rods go on the outside side of a pack with the butt end the pouch down there and the tops are next to the pack. Every pack I own has a pouch for water or whatever on the side. I use whatever straps are on that pack to pull it in close to the pack and hold it. I haven't broken a tip yet in about 10 years of doing this. Every one of my packs lets me really strap it in close and it works well. I kind of put the tips of the rods towards the back of the pack and the butts to the front.

Keep in mind, I buy nice rods and am not easy on stuff. I even do this with the rod I'd be most sick about breaking, a 3 weight orvis superfine.

If you've really got to have a tube, just get a map tube or whatever is cheap.

 

[Dos Perros]

Buy a cheap travel rod off amazon. It will come with a cheap/light plastic tube. $50 and you also get a spinning rod.

Amazon.com

 

[eamyrick]

Patagonia Travel Rod Roll

The Travel Rod Roll fits up to four fly rods. Built with tough 100% recycled polyester with a PU coating and a DWR (durable water repellent) finish, plus lightweight, sturdy internal bracing, it delivers security, protection and ease of use for traveling anglers. One size: (30.5in x 19.5in) will...

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This is what I use. I always take two rods so it makes sense. When rolled up it is super protective.

 

[wapitispokes]

PVC conduit. Just go to Home Depot or similar and find diameter you need and suitable end caps and glue.

FWIW, I use PVC and Sched. 40 occasionally but it is really too heavy and bulky for a fishing rod (I'm more likely to use that technique for extra hunting arrows carried on pack animals...). For fishing rods - too heavy. I normally just put the rod in a cloth case and try not to be too stupid. Seems to work fine.

 

[wapitispokes]

I backpack fish a ton. My wife likes backpacking and I like fishing. We probably do an average of 5 trips a year all over the place.

I quit using a tube. I take two rubberbands. One of the thick ones from broccoli goes on the bottom. On the top I use a super lightweight one if it's an ultralight or a fly rod. In the middle I take a normal sized rubberband and put in on a guide and wrap it around tight and loop it back on the same guide. The rods go on the outside side of a pack with the butt end the pouch down there and the tops are next to the pack. Every pack I own has a pouch for water or whatever on the side. I use whatever straps are on that pack to pull it in close to the pack and hold it. I haven't broken a tip yet in about 10 years of doing this. Every one of my packs lets me really strap it in close and it works well. I kind of put the tips of the rods towards the back of the pack and the butts to the front.

Keep in mind, I buy nice rods and am not easy on stuff. I even do this with the rod I'd be most sick about breaking, a 3 weight orvis superfine.

If you've really got to have a tube, just get a map tube or whatever is cheap.

This. It's what I've migrated to as well. To avoid potential snags on unprotected rods, I normally try to use the cloth "case" that comes with fishing rods that are delivered with hard cases. But I wouldn't be too shy about attaching the rod "naked" to the side of the pack. It's a 4 piece....won't stick out much.

 

[wowzers]

I’ve come a long way since the two piece rod days. Still think that rod fished better though.

 

[Macintosh]

I backpack fish a ton. My wife likes backpacking and I like fishing. We probably do an average of 5 trips a year all over the place.

I quit using a tube. I take two rubberbands. One of the thick ones from broccoli goes on the bottom. On the top I use a super lightweight one if it's an ultralight or a fly rod. In the middle I take a normal sized rubberband and put in on a guide and wrap it around tight and loop it back on the same guide. The rods go on the outside side of a pack with the butt end the pouch down there and the tops are next to the pack. Every pack I own has a pouch for water or whatever on the side. I use whatever straps are on that pack to pull it in close to the pack and hold it. I haven't broken a tip yet in about 10 years of doing this. Every one of my packs lets me really strap it in close and it works well. I kind of put the tips of the rods towards the back of the pack and the butts to the front.

Keep in mind, I buy nice rods and am not easy on stuff. I even do this with the rod I'd be most sick about breaking, a 3 weight orvis superfine.

If you've really got to have a tube, just get a map tube or whatever is cheap.

I’m too scared.
Serially, Im scared to try this. Baby steps, let me try a thin tube first!

And yeah, I have pvc rod tubes. They are even heavier than the tubes that came with my $$$ fly rods. They work great, just not what Im looking for.

 

[Poser]

I do quite a bit of backpack fishing in the summer and have looked into this. Besides the fluorescent tube, there are some companies that makes carbon fiber tubes, however, comparing the weight savings, its pretty marginal as that design requires aluminum caps. When I compared weights of all of the options, I haven't yet felt compelled to replace my stock, cordura wrapped tube. I can throw my pack down, sit on my pack, take a fall on some scree, bash through 12 foot tall willow etc and not have to worry about braking my rod. I also like that the oval shape seats better strapped onto the side of my pack and the cordura wrap provides some friction against the pack to keep it in place.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

I’m too scared.
Serially, Im scared to try this. Baby steps, let me try a thin tube first!

And yeah, I have pvc rod tubes. They are even heavier than the tubes that came with my $$$ fly rods. They work great, just not what Im looking for.

That's fair. I worry more about the rubber bands breaking a rod when I take them on and off at the tip than when walking and bumping into things. I just make sure the smallest tip is towards the back.

Anyway, something like this is what I'd use. It was my last step before saying screw it, I'm just doing rubber bands. I only know them as map tubes and I have no idea what kind of material they are made out of. This is just some random site I googled up. If you can figure out the type of plastic, search that on ebay and amazon. I bet you could get one for super cheap. Keep in mind, these are brittle and weak, so you could crush it with your hand.

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