Catfish Noodling

What is your idea of fishing? A quiet day spent in a boat, with buddies, with a fishing rod in hand, and beer to cheer you up, with the occasional excitement of catching a fish, right? Well wait till you hear about catfish noodling. It changes all the conventional ideas of fishing. Flathead catfish noodling is one of the most exciting forms of fishing where you challenge the fish in their own terrain by wading through the water and grabbing them with your own bare hands! That my friends is this fishing method in a nutshell.

Known as one of the most primeval forms of fishing and a throwback to caveman times (due to no use of fishing equipment), noodling for catfish is a rage among people who like subjecting themselves against the elements and have fun in the process! I am reminded of the fictional character from the novel 'Lord Of the Rings', named 'Gollum', who catches fish using similar techniques and eats them raw!

How To Noodle Catfish?

Primarily a form of fishing and sport fishing in Southern USA, big catfish noodling has its origins in the fishing practices employed by native Americans. It caught on as a fishing technique during the years of depression and later became a sport. Prominent in the rural parts of United States and the Midwest, where flathead catfish are found plentifully, this fishing technique or sport is not for everybody. You may find guides and tips online, but nothing can prepare you for the real thing, until you actually do it.

Noodling for catfish is also known by various names like stumping, gurgling, tickling, graveling, hogging and catfishing, is legally permitted in only 13 states in USA. Though conventional fishing of catfish is allowed, noodling is prohibited and can lead to a destruction of fish nests, endangering their population.

Noodling is used to catch catfish in particular due to their peculiar habitat, where they make their nests in submerged shallow water logs, rocks and other such surface features. The first part involves spotting the areas where catfish are bound to be present in plenty. During spawning season in spring and summer, noodling activity is undertaken as this is the time when they are most likely to be found in their underwater nests.

This kind of fishing is generally undertaken in shallow water areas where actually stepping into water and wading through it is possible. A noodler will have a team of spotters with him generally to help him out. The first part of the noodling program is stepping into the water and wading through it to spot catfish nests in rocks, under logs and other such places. To spot the holes, noodlers may have to submerge themselves in water by holding their breath for a while.

Once a nest which is generally a hole is located, the next part is making sure that the inhabitant is indeed a catfish and not a snake or even a turtle. A stick is poked in to check that. After making sure, that it is indeed a catfish, a noodler will insert his hand inside! They basically use their own hands as bait! Being threatened, the flathead catfish attacks and bites the hand. When it bites, it really makes sure that you remember its bite and holds on to your hand.

Immediately, the noodler will get a grip on the fish by getting a grip in the gill cover of the fish and pulls it out. In case the fish is too heavy (they can weigh 20 pounds to as much 50 pounds) and the noodler starts getting pulled into the water, the spotters, pull him back. If the noodler gets the fish out of the water, the spotters immediately remove the fish from his hand and throw it into an accompanying boat. That is the end of the noodling session.

Risks Involved

As you can see, challenging a fish in its own territory is no child's play. Noodling dangers are many and one needs to be an excellent swimmer and have the strength to pull out a heavy catfish out of the water. A noodler is bound to get bruised due to the bite of the catfish which is quite strong. Another danger is getting bit by creatures like turtles, snakes, muskrats and beavers, by poking your hand in inadvertently, thinking that it's a catfish inside! A few people have died this way, being surprised by deadly creatures underwater. When a noodler goes into deep waters, it becomes even more dangerous, due to the danger of drowning. Many noodlers use scuba diving equipment and work in teams as going in single is not advisable.

So, this was a brief introduction to noodling for you. It is a sport for daredevils. This type of fishing can be a very dangerous and is just not recommended for the faint of heart. Noodle at your own risk!