Reviewed by: CAPT. MIKE SCHOONVELD
I reviewed a FishUSA “store brand” Flagship Trolling Rod in a recent issue of GLA. I was very impressed with it and you can see that review (if you wish) at https://fishgear.reviews/2025/12/08/flagship-trolling-rods-by-fishusa/.
Because of this, I wasn’t so surprised when I put a Flagship Travel Spinning Rod to the test and found it to be an exceptional product. I’ve owned and used a variety of travel rods in the past and the best thing I could say about them was that they could be broken down into three or four sections to make them easy to pack in a large suitcase or to tote them along on other trips where full length or even two-piece rods would be impossible or cumbersome.
A few of the travel rods I’ve previously used were so clunky I could have fished as well with a willow branch. None of the best of them felt or fished like a quality “conventional” rod.
First the “travel” part of this rod. Though it’s a three-piece rod, it comes with four pieces. There are two tip sections, one with a medium action – perfect for walleyes, bass, shore fishing for cohos or browns and similar applications. The other tip turns the rod into a medium light rod, good for stream trout, white bass, bluegills and other panfish.
It comes with a hard sided travel case which will keep the rods secure whether they are being handled by luggage handlers, stowed in an overhead bin or crammed in with other luggage in a car, truck or SUV.
FishUSA says the travel rod is constructed with “a strategic blend of 30 and 36-ton graphite. I’m not sure what that means but I am sure fishing with this rod was a pleasure. At seven-feet long I was able to make long casts if needed to get to the fish and then control fish when I got them close to the boat. I fished with both live bait and lures. Using the medium tip, I could put extra action to the lures on the retrieve. Using live bait, I could detect the lightest bite. There was nothing clunky about the feel, action or look of the rod. Whether fishing on the Detroit River for walleyes, for perch on Lake Michigan or other fish on an inland lake, I wouldn’t hesitate to use this rod whether I needed it as a travel rod or not. Check out the Flagship Travel Spinning Rod and other FishUSA gear at www.fishusa.com.
FISHING TOYS 