Noodle rods vs. spring bobbers

[cbrunick57]

Having never personally used a noodle rod, was wondering what advantages they hold to a spring bobber type set up. I have a collection of St. Croix legend rods and don't have a complaint at all with them, but I'm always looking to try something new, but before I pull the trigger on a $100+ ice rod I wanna know what I am getting into. Do they give better action to your jig? Do you get both a visual and feel to the bite with a noodle rod? Was looking at something in the 36" range for hole hopping, any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

[cps420us]

I always used a 24" JM spring bobber rod and thought it was great. This year I upgraded to a TUC 30" noodle rod, and I can honestly say I feel I've caught way more fish with it. The bite has been very light lately and I don't think you would be able to see a spring bobber twitch when some of the bigger sunfish hit. I was skeptical at first with spending the money, but if you can afford it, you won't regret it. As far as action goes, I fish strictly plastics and the tip is so fast on the TUC that you barely need to move it to get great action on your bait. Sometimes you will feel the bite too, but on tough days it's strictly visual, especially big crappies. All of a sudden the tip will load up when they inhale it and game on!

[slurpie]

I have both the rods you are wondering the at croix legend and a tuc noodle. I used the legend for years before betting the tuc. Still hard to put down the legend was and still am happy with them. The noodle is a good rod on a decent aggressive bite and they are a really good company to buy from had a problem they fixed no questions asked. On a light bite I don't think you can top the legend. You can adjust to see any move of the spring at all. There is no other sprng bobber as good as the legend. This is all my opinion but I have the rods you asked about and use both. The legend is by far more sensitive.

[toughguy]

+1 on slurpie's post. I got a TB powernoodle this year but I've gone back to my St. Croix. The powernoodle is not a bad rod by any means but I can personally catch more pannies on the legend.

[hnd]

i really like my legend. i just wish i could get a 30" UL.

i agree with the above somewhat. i have a EK Customs noodle rod and its pretty much my go to rod but there are times where i need the sensitivity of the spring the legend gives and i make the switch.

if the bite is regular to very aggressive, i def prefer a noodle rod though. also i feel i have more control over my jigging cadence with a noodle rod over a legend spring. def worth having in your arsenal.

[Vitreus]

I agree that both have their place. On a super light bite, legend spring bobber. On an average day, the precision noodle is where it's at.

[FISHINGURU]

Love my TB Power Noodle with 2lb test, I can see and feel the lightest of all bites, I hold it like a pencil and rest my elbow on my knee. I don't use any of my spring bobber set ups anymore.

[amateurfishing]

i bought off the shelf spring bobber add ons and think they all suck, easy to have line wrap around, easy to freeze up, lose control of jig (too bouncy) etc., then went to JM spring bobber rod, caught lots more fish with better bite detection but after 3 broken tips for no reason I gave up & went PN (TB), now have 2 & absolutely love them. better catch rate, durable (for occasional bass & northern) & sensitivity works for me. I cannot attest to the ST Croix legend but if its what people sy it is above, would love to see it up against a PN

[Valleye]

Wow, I just had the same question but I went ahead and bought a Clam JM meat stick. I like it and it works pretty well detecting bites. However I still use my custom ice rods that have a STX copied spring bobber assembly. nothing matches its sensitivity. I just hate it when the line gets tangled on the assembly on a windy day.

[harvey lee]

I have numerous ice rod's for panfish and even with the slightest bite, I do fine without a noodle rod. I have one and I cannot seem to find a better catch rate with the noodle rod.

if you are looking to simply add another rod and spending some cash, the noodle rod is nice but I would never say one would ice more fish with it than a good spring bobber rod or my JM Meatstick.

If I am on a very light gill bite, then I will use one of my spring bobber rods as they seem to be the best of all the rods I have iced gills with.

[Rick G]

Am yet to find the noodle that matches up to the St. Croix Legend, several interchangeable springs to choose from, so you can use what ever weight jigs you need to.

[minky]

Spring bobber makes it easy to see the light bites.

[holmsvc]

I've had a St Croix Legend and a JM Springbobber rod. I bought a DH Al Dente and after using the Al Dente I sold both. I feel that my DH rod handles large panfish much better than both the other rods and I see just as many bites.

[Farley]

I used all kinds of spring bobbers and this year I wanted to change it up so I got the Al Dente at the ice show this year. I already broke off the tip. Worked good though the few times I did get to use it. I will buy another one after I buy a nice hard side case for my rods. Possibly a legend too after reading this thread.

[hnd]

if you are buying SC rod and its for panfish, remember to get the UL rod. my L 24" is as stiff as a board. barely bends for 15-16" walleyes.

[fishwater]

Thorne Powernoodles play a large roll in feeding my children during the winter, I really can't say enough good things about them.

[BLACKJACK]

You better have a good case for those legends, I bought two last year and both tips have broken off in my softsided case.

[slurpie]

If you broke a tip on a legend you would break any tip on any rod. I carried mine in a soft case for three years never had a thing like that happen. Meat sick type rod break easy broke two of f those rods in same case as the legend.

[fishwater]

If you broke a tip on a legend you would break any tip on any rod. I carried mine in a soft case for three years never had a thing like that happen. Meat sick type rod break easy broke two of f those rods in same case as the legend.

Not true, the legends, at least the earliest versions were 100% self breaking. I know a pile of folks that had them pop their tops just looking at them.

[holmsvc]

My buddy broke a legend by leaving it on the defrost in his truck. It was a cold day and he was hole hoping and then put it on the dash when moving and the temp change must have caused it to break near the tip.

[hnd]

If you broke a tip on a legend you would break any tip on any rod. I carried mine in a soft case for three years never had a thing like that happen. Meat sick type rod break easy broke two of f those rods in same case as the legend.

i've seen a few legends tips snap like toothpicks. they must of had a bad batch one year.