Pool Noodle Test of Rod/Reel/Net

Some of you guys know I lost two of my rod/reel combo recently http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=98788.0 and I finally did float test of my rod/reel and nets.
Most conventional rods will float without a reel, as you can see from the second photo. 
I tried to calculate the amount of pool noodle length required but there were too many variables and not conclusive.  You can use it as a reference or measure your reel weight to estimate the pool noodle length.  (First photo)

I think the reason I lost my rod/reel combos are they were both slow pitch rods which have very small buoyancy and reels were two-speed reels which are very heavy.
I went to the Port of Sacramento launch ramp and performed the test instead of using a swimming pool or saltwater.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or questions.

Paul

Hi Paul,

Thank you for doing float test and sharing the results with us 

very cool, thanks for sharing.  I accidentally tested my saltwater net a few months back, realized it was gone, later was chatting up some PBers, happened to ask if they'd seen a net floating...boom, got it back, they were a little bummed - it's a nice net.  I just have some pool noodle on the handle section.

one other tip, I've used many colors, including purple, yellow, bright green, and the pipe insulation gray stuff.

IF you want to see it, when it's floating, the darker colors don't help much, so now I've switched to bright yellows and bright orange.

Hi Paul,
Thanks for sharing..... I think  will have to check it as well...... hope my big net fits in my hot tub pretty sure my rods will.
I too do not like the idea of leashes on everything..... I get tangles often in just one rod and my stuff in the yak..... tried two rods for halibut in tomales and spent more time untangling than fishing so all I can handle now is one rod at a time.

Troy

Paul
That's a good test. Pole, weight, reel. If it floats you pass and it looks like it does.

And Troy. Right about two rods in Tbay on kayak for halibut fishing. One rod worked energetically is enough.

You can attach pool noodles as long as you want if you attach it outside your rod and not wrap it with. Do a search on Modified rod float, I made a post on it. Dropped my rod in the blue with this setup no problem with sinker attached. Hope this helps

So scientific