Shipping fishing rods can be a bit of a funny situation. They’re fragile, long, and sometimes awkward or heavy, which means finding the right way to ship them safely takes a little creativity and a lot of trial and error. Over the years, we’ve experimented with just about every method out there—from cardboard boxes to mailing tubes—and we’ve finally found what works best for us and our customers.
At Prolite Rod Technology, our go-to method is shipping rods in a 2-inch inside diameter PVC pipe with secure end caps. For rods with larger guides, we bump up to a 3-inch diameter tube to ensure a proper fit and extra protection. Each Prolite rod that ships out is wrapped in a plastic protective sleeve, cushioned with bubble wrap, and carefully secured inside the tube to prevent movement or damage during transit.
We highly recommend this same setup for anyone mailing or transporting their rods. The PVC tube keeps the rod stable and protected from being bent, cracked, or “smacked around” during shipping. It’s also perfect for traveling anglers—we’ve even made DIY handles out of duct tape and rope to carry our tubes through airports and across fishing destinations.
Here’s a tip: don’t throw away your packaging once your rod arrives! That same PVC tube can be reused for future trips or if you ever need to ship your rod back for a warranty repair. Reusing your original packaging is the best way to prevent additional damage and keep your rod safe in transit.
For more questions about how to ship a fishing rod, traveling with fishing gear, or rod protection tips, reach out to us anytime. We’re always happy to share more insights and tricks from years of building, shipping, and fishing with custom Prolite rods around the world.