Longer Noodle Rods

[gill man]

Looking to pick up a noodle rod after years of using "feel" rods like the Thorne Bros Sweethearts.

Will be using the noodle rod for panfish, mostly crappies and bluegills.

I read a lot of guys like the 32-36" rods for fishing outside. My question is what are these longer rods offering over a 28" rod? Is it just a little more line pickup for the hookset and flex and cushion for fighting fish, or is there something else to it? My concern is that too long of a rod might make it harder to make tiny finesse movements (the scenario I see myself using the noodle rod for the most).

I'll also say that I fish in an Otter Cabin more than I fish outside, but I think the shack is big enough to have no issues with a 32" rod. I use 32" walleye rods in it with no issues. My well used panfish sweetheart is a 28" rod.

What are the main advantages I would see going from a 28" noodle to a 32" Noodle? The rod high on my list is a DH Al Dente or Longboard.

Tucker

[Zenit]

Look at the DH Custom Longboard Noodle, 32.5 inch length with the 5.5 cork grips. I primarily use 24-28 inch Al Dente's, but when I am outside the shack or moving quickly between holes with my Ice Hopper, I use that Longboard and love it. You can finesse a small jig and plastic with the longboard just as you can with the Al Dente or the TB noodles.

[gill man]

Thanks Zenit. What do you prefer about the Longboard over the shorter Al Dente rods?

Thanks!

[bobbymalone]

Since the action is in the tip, I'm not sure the length is anything more than a personal preference.

*that's what she said*

[Putn'am ondaLine]

I don't have experience with the 2 rods you are looking at, I use a 34" TUCR Noodle, so my comments are just for the length part of your query. I went with the 34" because of a few reasons: 1)I'm a taller guy and I spend a lot of time on the open ice hopping around, in that sense it made it a perfectly logical decision for me to use a longer rod. I have used 34"-36" rods inside any of the shelters I've fished in with no problems with the rod being too long. Although I have never used any of those small solo sleds, so I don't know if there would be issues in one of those. I actually love having a longer rod when I'm fishing in a larger sized 2 person or 3 person sled or a hub because it usually works perfectly for getting to the further hole if I'm using 2 lines. Another reason I love having long a longer rod is that it allows me better play for the harder fighting fish that get hooked up. You can handle bigger head shakes without gaining any slack as easily. And it's easier for me to keep the line tight when leaning down to grab the fish out of the hole. My suggestion would be to do what I did before starting to get into the longer rod game; find a buddy who has one and ask if you can fish with it. It only took me about a half dozen nice Walleye to get a feel for all the reasons why I was going to like using a longer rod.

And Bobby, what she really said was, *I prefer a longer rod*

[Blackhawkxp]

I thought it didn't matter the size of the rod it was how you jig your worm

[OnAFly]

Only difference I notice between a longer and short rod is the hook set. I get better hook sets with a longer rod simply because it's easier to move the rod tip further faster. This is especially true with a noodle rod that will have firmer backbone further down the blank.

[amateurfishing]

Love my thorne bros 28 & 32 power noodle s

[gill man]

Thanks guys, gotta love the "That's what she saids." I figured it would be hard to post about noodle rod length without some of that.

I'm still a little split between 28 and 32" rods, but have decided either will work well. Probably just have to flip a coin.

[fishwater]

I'm still a little split between 28 and 32" rods, but have decided either will work well. Probably just have to flip a coin.

Nothing wrong with ordering 30" rods either.

[Zenit]

Thanks Zenit. What do you prefer about the Longboard over the shorter Al Dente rods?

Thanks!

The most use I get out of the Longboard is at a trout tournament out in Montana I go to every year. The target there is 1-3 pound rainbows, and the Longboard and Al Dente both have the backbone to handle the 2-3 pounders. When I get to a spot, I drill about 10-15 holes and hop back and forth, and teh 4 inch longer rod is ideal for mobility hole-hopping when a shack or flip up are not in use. Also, like someone else mentioned in this thread, I think the longer rod allows for a firmer hookset and aids in playing a bigger fish.

[gill man]

Good deal, thanks. I think I might go with the 28 still. My wife will be using this a lot and she's used to my, err... shorter rods.... Oh boy...

If I like this rod I might pick up another, or maybe his Gill Getter, and I'd probably opt for longer versions on the next one.

Thanks for all your advice!