How many of you use noodle rods and what brand do you prefer. I've looked at sportco and auburn sports and marine and the ones that I looked at: shimano stimula graphite 10 and 1/2 footer and a shakespere intrepid 10 and 1/2 footer both seemed good for the money with the shimano coming out on top. What do you think?

my buddy uses a shimano noodle rod and he realy likes it!!!

I have a Browning 10.5 foot that I really like. It cost about 70 bucks so it's one af my cheapest rods. Not too sensative but it's good for floats and stuff like that.

A true 'noodle rod' is going to be rated for light line...maybe 6 or 8 lb maximum and have a really soft action....rod bends almost to the cork when a fish is on.
Kinda fun to play them but is pretty tough on the fish and takes a while to get them in...leading to an exhausted fish that is not going to do well if released.
Most of the 10-10.5' rods that you see are going to be rated for heavier line and are designed to fish floats. More muscle than a noodle rod and probably better for the fish if it needs to be released. Less time to bring it in and better condition when you let it go.
I bought a 10.5 6-10 lami at sportco and love it. They redesigned the handle with a counter balance and it feels great. Good float rod and not a bad drift rod. More fun that the fast action drift rods for smaller fish.
You don't need to spend real $ if you are going to use it to float.
Good luck

Good post goforchrome! Lactic acid is a killer of exhausted fish which have been played too long, and there is nothing more gut wrenching than releasing a fish that you had no intention of harming only to have it go belly up because it was played too long.

My personal gauge is that, if the fish isn't gaining on me, then I'm gaining on it.....if it sits and sulks, the rod or line is too light.

Happy Fishing

I used to have one but it was like, well noodle. I broke my back trying to set the hook VERY soft and limited application but another toy to have. Try one before you buy it

Forgot to say that I bought a light long Lami instead and I like it much better. I think it is 6-8 or 6-10lbs and it doesn't wobble like the noodle rod.

What goforchrome said!

I've got one of the Shimano Stimula from Sportco. I've had silvers on and looked down to see how much the rod was bending and it bends clear through the reel seat.
Pretty weird when you look down and the cork is bent and the upper half of the rod is 90 to the lower half and pointing at the fish.

The noodle rod is intended for light line 2-6 pound test. My intention was to use it with 6 pound mainline and four pound leader in gin clear conditions for pooled up hatchery steelhead that are line wary and have been pounded with larger gear. I was going to use it to gain an edge, not were out large natives that in turn would be released.

They are fine in Ultra Clear water, as you can use 2,3,4 pound test and get the ones that are line shy. You'll also tie up a spot for a while when trying to fight fish on them. The guys around you may not appreciate the time they are out of the water while you are fighting your fish. The big key to getting good hook ups, is to use a fine wire hook, then the hookset can be done with more of a lift, than a snap. They ran their course in the Great Lakes, and some guys still use them. They are a beast to fish with in wind. I wouldn't use them for any fish that I intend to release.

Mine has since been retired for steelies, but still gets lot's of action for bluegills and crappies in farm ponds. You can light up their little rumps with one pound line. Good luck.

I have an Shakespeare Intrepid 8 1/2ft, rated heavy 12-20lb test.Best thing I've ever used.And,only $59.99 at GI Joes.

Lamis & Loomis for me. I do own one noodle rod i use for silvers, shad, and trout, but the rest of the ol' collection consist of 10.5-11.0 ft. rods from med. lite to heavy. It would be nice to fish for hatchery metalheads with a noodle, but, not practical cause of the damage to the fish and controlling of the fish froom snags and other fisherperson. Gave my wife the 9.0-9.5 ft. rods. Alot easier for her to handle and she doesn't get too pissed of when shes having problems untangling the line off the tip.

Robert

One more thing, you can get cheaper rods to do the same thing, but feels like holding a piece of heavy pipe after a while. My $0.25 worth.....

I use a Abu Garcia Conolon 10.5' rod. It's line rating is 2-8lbs. This is a great feeling rod with just the right amount of power to fight fish and good enough feel for drift fishing. If this is still available the price is around $60 - $70. I think I bought it at Sportco.

Just picked me up a Dave Vedder Lami. I got it at the sportmans show by mistake. I was in a hurry and my intentions was to get a spinning rod 101/2 foot. I finally realized what I had done over half way home. So I have used it about 7-8 times and love it. It is rated 6-12 and has a great bend and handles fish well. I havn't had on any big fish ie in the upper teens yet but it is nice and light and I can cast it all day with out getting too tired. I plan on picking up a new one at the end of the month. I talked to the guy at the loomis display and he said that they are putting out a new float rod and it will be out at the begging of march. It will be an IMX and the cost will be around $350. I know it is alot of money and I would suggest thinking about how much you will be fishing and how much you want to spend. And remmeber a good rod is one that does everything you want and one that you can fish with all day and not tire out. Oh yeah and have fun.

I'm using a Lami [X 106 MLS] 10'6" Certified Pro 6-10lb. Absolutely love this rod. It's a spinning rod. Use it for float and bait. Most versatile rod I've ever seen for river fishing Salmon/Steelhead. I've caught fish into the mid teens with it. Iit will bend into the corks with fish that size on. Oddly though there is still enough backbone left in this rod, even at that point to wrestle with the wily steelhead effectively.

When I was looking for this rod it was a toss-up between a G.Loomis Light 10'6" 2-6lb rod and the Lami. I chose the Lami because of the extra oomph, and I'm glad I did.

TC,
The 2-6 lb you mentioned is a real "noodle" rod and very soft. I don't even think that you can land a 4" trout without being spooled I didn't like the feel of it either. The 6 and over are no longer a noodle in my opinion. They are "light" and a good choice.

I have a Browning 11.5 ft. Noodle (2-4 lb.) and am looking for suggestions for a reel for it? Just picked up an Okuma Epixor 30 for another rod. Would any of you suggest the Epixor 20 or should I get something lighter? Thanks!

I have two noodle rods; a Browning and a Lamiglas. I believe... both are 10'6." The Lamiglas is the far better rod with lighter weight and higher sensitivity. I use 6lb. test line and leader on a Shimano spinning reel for low water and summer run steelhead. Also, these rods make great shore fishing tools for the large rainbows at Rufus Woods Lake. The Europeans have been using the long rod/light line application for lake shore fishing for years.