Catfish Noodling?

[Live2Fish]

Anybody here do any catfish noodling?

A friend of mine does it. He thinks it's the closest thing to getting back to his roots (he's part Indian) as he can get. Personally, I'm not really fond of being in the mirky water (too many other parasites swimming around). I do get a huge kick out of watching it, though.

[big country]

i'm all for getting back to your roots,i'm part indian also but you ain't gonna find me sticking my hands in a hole i can't see what's in there.....lol

[Schoe]

Especially in your neck of the woods I wouldn't run my hands and arms under water for fear of one of those big Snapping turtles or Gaters wanting to get my attention. There isn't much I won't try as long as I can see whats going on. Schoe

[big country]

lol....
schoe the gators don't really worry me, it's the snappers and mocasins that have me worried.....;)

[gofish]

i quit a few years ago when i grabbed ahold of one and he pulled me in the hole with him. iwasnt lettin go and neither was he.lol bottomed out a 50lb scale

[Gordon]

when I was a youngster, and several of us were "grabbling" in Little Kaney in Arkansas. When we would touch a fish we snatched them out and tossed them on the bank. My father shouted and threw a big cottonmouth out. It had bit him in the back of his hand and it was a bad bite. He got it under a stump.
I think about that now days but I do not do much of that anymore.

[FisherBuddy]

Dang, Gordon. You just confirmed the reason I won't try it. If something slithery came out instead of a fish I'd probably die of a heart attack. I've never been one for surprises of that nature.

[FisherBuddy]

And GoFish, you are crazy! If the fish wanted to stay in its hole that bad (bad enough to drag me down with him), I'd probably let him. There is absolutely no joy in drowning...or so I imagine. And I've read it on someone's signature line...if you drown and there's no fishing in heaven...well, it won't be a grand place for some. ;)

[capt.kirk]

if GoFish is crazy then add me to the list of nuts,we used to in my younger
days do it a lot in indiana,the cats like to live in dens back under the
banks,most of the time it will have 2 openings,so 1 person has to stick
his foot and leg inside to block the opening,while the other guy trys to
reach in and pull him out,i have a pretty big foot and have had the flathead
clamp down with my whole foot in his mouth,then all you have to do is
start to bring your leg out so you can put your thumbs in the mouth and
bring him out,it can get a little INTENSE at times,when they dont want
come out or let go of the foot,i have had this happen before,but some how
always got loose,i gave it up after seeing my partner JUNE BUG being pulled
down the river by his thumbs,1 more reason to quit was haveing to go
to the doctor and explain how your foot got to looking like raw hamburger,
the first thing to learn IF you think you may want to give it a try,is learn
the difference between a MUSKRATS home and a CATFISHES home.:cool:
KIRK

[Schoe]

Although I have outgrown any urge to grab, noodle, or handfish, I would like to see it being done sometime. Schoe

[capt.kirk]

HEY SCHOE
remember when you were 10 ft tall and bullet proof,those were the good old
days,as much as you travel you will run across some one that feels that
way,and show you how it is done,my first time all i did was carry the
burlap bag,maybe you will get to do that for someone.i have a feeling that
if you will admit it,you are already a member of the CRAZY club?????
KIRK

[gofish]

might be right i could be a little touched. but once you grab that fish if you like having any skin left you dont let go for nothing.lol sides there aint no better eating than a flathead. oh yeah kids nowadays around here use a short gaff. now wheres the fun in that?

[capt.kirk]

bunch of woosess,NO GUTS NO GLORY.
KIRK

[big country]

kirk,i reckon thats how i'm gonna go out then ,cuz i ain't trying that in these parts especially....lol

[Live2Fish]

I have to say when I started this post I never imagined so many great responses. LOL!

I'm definitely rethinking my friend's invitation to join him again. While we've never taken anyone with us for the "show" or to help with the other hole you speak of, Captain. I have the feeling he might have plans to use my big foot for the other end this time! ;-)

[capt.kirk]

go for it, i have only been snake bit twice and that dont amount to much,
the main thing to remember,is you are playing in the catfishes home,
advantage goes to the catfish,just always try to keep your head above
water,my friend JUNE BUG,didnt care he would dive down in the water,
if he thought he could find a den,and thats where i would draw the line,
being crazy is one thing being INSANE is what i would have to call june bug.
The people that use a gaff to do the work,should be ashamed of them selves,
and do it the sportin way,or stay out of the river.:p
KIRK

[gofish]

capt. kirk i agree whats a little skin for all that good eating.lol

[Gordon]

Capt.Kirk, You said the magic word, DEN. I recall some, when the water was low in the summer, people would put old tubs and things like that with a hole in one or both ends in the water. They would come back in the spring when the cats were spawning and gather up some of them. Nowdays some would say that is not sporting but we were poor and there were a lot of mouths to feed. We always had to look out for each other. We never collected all the fish from a hole for the same reason. They are mostly males guarding the girls EGGS when they den up.

[capt.kirk]

Gordon
what you say is true,just like HANK JR. said a country boy can survive!!!
KIRK

[big country]

kirk he said, and i quote......
we can skin a buck and run a trot line...
not lets put our hands in a submerge hole where you can't see and feel around for a giant catfish and hope you get back all your fingers..cause a country boy can survive......lol

[gofish]

big country might be why the good lord gave me ten. if i lose one i got extras lol. seriously though i grew up river rattin the small rivers around here. runnin trout lines bush lines and hoggin and never got ahold of anything but a cat while hoggin. only reason i quit is i almost drowned while i was swimming one day and now im scared to death to be in water over my chest.

[big country]

i can see how that would make one concerned......

[capt.kirk]

HEY BIG
old hank said it all, you just have to read between the lines.i used to work
with an old turtle hunter,he ran small punch press machines,and he tried
to get me to go with him to turtle hunt,and i told him aint no way im going
turtle hunting,just look look at your hands,between the press and the
turtles you dont have all your fingers,and the ones that are left are eat
up so bad you cant hardley pick your nose.i may have been a little crazy
back in those days,but not plum stupid.:p
KIRK

[big country]

ok then kirk,:p you started to have me worried there for a min......lol:p

[capt.kirk]

i learn the hard way,back in the 60s we were racing stock cars,after about
2 years with nothing major happening,in practice 1 evening i hit the guard
rail and bent a tyrod we didnt have a spare so we took it off and heated
it and bent it back in shape,not knowing the it had ruined it with the heat,
get it back on in time for a 10 lap heat race,HEAT being the key word,
going into the last lap i took the lead and that tierod broke sending me
into the wall and rolling over,as the car skidded what seemed like 100
miles,the fuel was leaking out of the tank and the sparks from the roof
started a fire,crossed the finish line in first place on fire,only damage to
me was a broken finger on my left hand and a lot of piss in my pants,
lesson learned,spent a lot more time fishing after that,only takes
1 warning,the worst of all we had taken 1957 studa baker golden hawk to
use for the race car,i shivver to think of what would have worth today.
KIRK

[big country]

:p well kirk look at the bright side you through that ordeal pretty good with only a broken finger to complain about considering how bad it sounded.....:cool:

[FisherBuddy]

Amazing. I have to admit I've taken all of the things in everyone's said about noodling...and I just don't think I care to do it. More times than I care to admit I've let a fish go rather than jump in after it. So I guess there's no hope of me trying this. But I like to live vicariously, so if anyone goes I'd love to hear about it. :)

[dudly2252000]

WELL!! just when i thought i liked catfish as much as the next fellow, once again i am surprised.. getting into the water.... Fresh water at that!!!!!! with the cottonmouths and snappers and big Al(gator), just don't seem like a choice i'd make if i were planning on enjoying life a few more years. tell you what you guys are WARRIORS and i'd love to see it done, but my chances are better at winning the fl lottery than taking that daring leap into the water on there turf lol..back home in la we have 6ft+ alligator gar fish roaming constantly. have any of you guys been finned by any of those big catfish?..that could be life threatening i imagine!!

[capt.kirk]

DUDLEY
when the blue cat and flatheads get large they dont have the sharp
horns on them they have a blunt end,most you have to worry about
is after you have put your hand in there mouth up to your elbow,you
can get some serious damage to your forearms,with the very rough
mouth and them kicking and twisting it can get a little intense,i have
been snake bit twice in the same day,lucky it was big water snakes,
all you need to watch for is snakes on the banks,snakes cant bite you
under water,if they open there mouth they will drown,as far as big gar
go i have a nice GAR SCAR on my leg,but it didnt happen in the river
it was one about 54 inch floping around in the boat.now that im older
than most people thought i would get,i wouldnt recommend practicing
this activity,but when your young and full of piss and vinegar you
dont give much thought to the down side of what you are about
to get yourself into.:D
KIRK