Pack it in

LITTLE ROCK — So many times I've regretted not having a spinning rig when I stumbled across a great fishing hole while hiking.

I always tell myself I'll come back someday better prepared, but it might be years before I return to that place, if ever.

For backpackers, a fishing rig is a cumbersome luxury. It's fragile and bulky, and it requires space better occupied by more essential equipment. Like anything, you only miss it when you need it, but you'll regret not having it when you find some unfished, remote pool deep in the Hurricane Creek, Richland Creek or Flatside wilderness areas. Fishing those kind of places is what backcountry adventure is all about, and it borders on criminal to deprive yourself of the pleasure.

How do you make space for this otherwise extraneous piece of equipment? You can buy multipiece spinning rods that fit into a compact wallet, but they are junk. A rod with more than two pieces has no action and no sensitivity. It's hard to manipulate, which makes it useless for casting in the tight quarters you encounter on most woodland streams. The spinning reels that come with these outfits are even worse. With their short, narrow spools, they snarl line after about five casts. Their nylon bearings bind, and they become inoperable in a short time. If you find one of these kits on sale for $1, it's not worth even that.

For maximum pleasure, you need high-quality equipment, including a two-piece graphite or fiberglass rod and a premium spinning reel. The only problem is how to pack it without damaging it.

By investing a few minutes and about $10 in materials, you can make a durable case that will protect your fishing rods from the most grueling punishment a trail can dish out.

First, measure the two sections of your two-piece rod. My Gander Mountain Guide Series Competitor ultralight is 5 feet, 6 inches long. Its two sections measure 34 and 33 3/4 inches, respectively.

Obtain a length of 2-inch diameter PVC pipe. This is important because the distance from the outer edge of the handle to the top of the first and highest line guide is 2 inches. You'll also need two 2-inch cleanout extenders and two cleanup caps. You'll also need pipe cleaner, pipe cement and a large piece of sponge.

Using a miter saw, cut the PVC to the length of the longer piece of your two rod sections. With the pipe cleaner, clean the outer lips of the pipe and the inner lips of the cleanout extenders. Apply cement to the inner lips of the cleanout extender, one at a time, and fit the extender over the pipe end. Give it a onequarter-inch twist and let dry.

Cut a section of sponge just large enough to fit snugly into inside recesses of the cleanout caps. They should be snug enough to stay put on their own, but you might want to glue them in. There will be a little roominside the tube for your rods to slide. The sponge will absorb the shock to your rod tips and prevent damage.

Screw on the end caps, and you now have a shockproof, waterproof rod tube. In this way, you can also make travel tubes for your rods that will stand up to the abuses of airline travel.

I always tie my rod case to the outside of my backpack with nylon cord. It is bulky andheavy, but it's the best method I've found to pack fishing gear. When I find one of those spots that begs to be fished, it always proves well worth the trouble. It's also great to strap to a fourwheeler in case you find some fishing holes while cruising back roads and trails.

For greater versatility, you can also attach a shoulder strap. All you need is a set of Uncle Mike's sling swivel studs and sling swivels. You can get them from any sporting goods store that sells firearms. Use a drill bit one size smaller than the stem of the sling swivel stud and drill a shallow hole into the top of the cleanout caps. Apply a dab of waterproof epoxy into the holes and then screw in the studs. Attach the swivels and a sling, and you'll be able to carry the caseon your shoulder.

This is helpful if you want to fish some backcountry spots but don't want to spend the night. If you don't take a backpack and all your camping gear, you can walk a long way in and back out in a short time.