What to Look for When Noodling for Catfish

Noodling is an adventurous form of the fishing sport in which the fish is caught using bare hands, without the use of a conventional fishing rod and bait. This fishing practice, common in the southern United States, is now legalized in 11 states. The term "catfish noodling" refers to the sport of catching flathead catfish using hands as bait. The sport is best enjoyed in the spring time or spawning season when the females lay the eggs in holes for the males to guard until the fry leaves the nest. The adventurous sport comes with its share of risks, and a responsible noodler should be well aware of the many possible dangers that are part of the thrill package called catfish noodling.

  1. Other Creatures in Water

    • When a noodler treads the natural habitat of the catfish, he could be caught unawares by other creatures like alligators and snakes that also inhabit the water. Interesting incidents about catching hold of the occasional beaver or a muskrat while noodling for catfish have been reported, too. Turtles that are disturbed by noodling are known to bite and quickly snap the noodler's fingers. It could help to wear an underwater gear or at least steel gloves as a safety measure. Sticks are used to probe the deep holes, just to ensure that the noodling encounter is with a catfish.

    Catfish Bite

    • The noodler's hands essentially seek the catfish in the sheltered location such as underwater holes in boat ramps and submerged logs and in spaces between underwater rocks. While the catfish grips the intruder's hand in its mouth, the noodler quickly grabs the fish by its gills to bring it out of the hole. The catfish has sharp teeth that are capable of strong bites that make deep cuts and lacerations in the noodler's arm.

    Catfish Strength

    • Successful noodlers use the wrist-locking technique for extra leverage on monstrous catfish and use both hands to get a tight hold on the fish and bring it to the water surface. Catfish are known to weigh over 60 pounds underwater and can easily pull the noodler underwater by rolling about. Spotters or noodling buddies could help in bring the catfish to the surface or at least in transferring the catch to the handling tank or boat.

    Catfish Barb

    • The catfish is endowed with sharp spines or barbs in the dorsal fin. The functional barbs trigger venomous glands that secrete and inject venom into the noodler's skin that it tears. Safely gear is of definite use here as the venom is irritable to human skin. It is necessary to find a physician when a noodler receives a dose of venom from painful barb pricks during catfish noodling.