When you guys air travel do you check in your rods and reels or take it with you as carry-on baggage?

TSA allows it:
"Fishing Rods / Poles Fishing Rods are permitted as carry-on and checked baggage. However, please check with your air carrier to confirm that it fits within their size limitations for carry-on items. Ultimately, it is the carrier's decision as to whether or not it can be transported as carry-on baggage."
TSA: Traveling with Special Items

I was traveling this summer from Berlin to Newark and the airline crew let me go with my pole as carry-on but the airport security told that fishing poles are considered weapons and they wouldn't let me take it on the plane. I went back to check it in and the airline crew (Continental) was convinced that it's allowed to take fishing poles as carry-on, went back to the security and talked to them but they wouldn't allow it period. I had to check in the pole and sign a waiver so the airlines wouldn't be responsible for any damage to my rod. Everything went well and the rod arrived in Newark in one piece.
I was traveling several times with my rods and reels as carry-on (before and after 9/11) between US-Poland, Poland-US and never had any problem with it.