This Hardy Fairy 7 #4 split cane brook trout fly rod dates from 1965 and is a two piece example, complete with tight suction ferrule joints, crimson silk whippings, sliding alloy reel fittings, agate lined butt and tip rings, and original Hardy rod bag
So, when fishing the Sardine you can use a heavier action rod and also use lever drag reels
If you have budget, try Orvis, Cimarron II or Hatch Finatic
Worms, flukes, tubes, and creature baits can all be rigged to match conditions, from weightless presentations around schools to bottom-dragging rigs when fish retreat deeper
I was in the midst of a miserable year spent in Fort Walton Beach and was headed home to visit my parents in Demopolis