Is there any advantage to using a noodle over say an empty bleach jug?

there are some advantages to jugs made from pool noodles:

they will stand up when they get bit....even non "flagging" ones will tip up to signal a bite if the line is tied to one end, and if it is a good (big) fish they will stay standing up!

I personally us non flagging noodles and I free float/drift them rather than anchor them.... and I and my clients get a kick out of seeing them get bit and stand up and start swimming around!

when it is a good cat, they look like the shark fin from jaws to me!

they cant leak and fill with water, so they are always bouyant

also they are very easy to store, you just wind the line around them and stick the hook point in the foam...I can carry a LOT of them neatly in one of those large plastic storage tubs. bleach bottle or soda bottle jugs work fine, but can present problems for storage.

these are just some of the advantages, there are probably more I didnt think of.

oh one last tip, for night time noodle jug fishing, a piece of reflective tape will make them easy to see with a spotlight...and if you are going to wait close by, I use a twist tie to attach some cheap jingle bells from the craft store to the opposite end from the line and hook. when they get bit it sounds like santas sleigh just arrived!