Tools of the noodle trade--light jigs, plastics and corks.

There are noodle rods with varying actions from some tackle makers, including G. Loomis, Shimano, Cabela’s and Bass Pro. Some local rodmakers in Florida are happy to adapt the concept, if you ask.

You’ll find yourself breaking some fundamental rules of fish fighting when using your noodle rod. First of all, lots of high sticking goes on while playing a fish, often even near the boat or while landing a fish while wading. You need to polish up your pressure tactics, remembering to always pull against the fish’s direction of travel, because you don’t have the power butt common on shorter, fast-taper gear. You’re going to want a long-handled net or a quick thumb to land most of your catches as the noodle rod isn’t much of a lifting tool. When fishing the beaches you can walk and drag back your quarry to the sand with the rodtip down.

Odds are you’ll hook more fish and have more fun fighting those you hook, and that in itself may be enough to turn you into another of the noodle-rod clan.

FS