Noodling is fishing for catfish using one's bare hands, and is practiced primarily in the southern United States. Due to concerns over the safety of noodlers and sustainability of fish populations, the technique is illegal in some states where it was once traditionally practiced. Click to see full answer.
Where is noodling legal in the US?
It has since been legalized in Texas and West Virginia. Although the concept of catching fish with only the use of the arm in the water is simple, the process of noodling is more complicated. The choice of catfish as the prey is not arbitrary, but comes from the circumstances of their habitat.
Should noodling be considered an extreme sport?
Also, as others who have written on noodling have expressed, if noodling is to be considered a sport, then (at least to outsiders) it is most definitely an extreme sport, which tend to draw a disproportionate number of male followers. Noodling can result in superficial cuts and minor wounds to the noodler.
What is noodling and how do you do it?
We waded into these muddy waters to try and make sense of the issue. What is Noodling? Simply put, noodling involves finding a Catfish hiding underwater, sticking your arm in its mouth, and dragging it out of the water with your bare hands. You use your own fingers as bait and the Catfish’s bite as the hook.
What are the risks of nose noodling?
Noodling can result in superficial cuts and minor wounds to the noodler. This can be reduced by wearing gloves and other protective clothing. Losing fingers is also a risk, whether from the bite or infection.
What states is noodling legal in?
I know, can you believe the nerve of making such an awesome sport illegal? Noodling is legal in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
What states ban catfish noodle?
Noodling is most popular along the path of the Mississippi River, from Wisconsin all the way to Louisiana. It's legal in 16 states, mainly in the South and the Midwest. That may not seem like a lot, but it's up from only four states in 2001.
Why is noodling illegal in California?
despite how much fun it probably is, noodling for catfish is not legal in California because catfish (and nearly every California fish in inland waters) may only be legally taken through angling.
Why is noodling illegal in Iowa?
Noodling is illegal in Iowa and in most other states because during certain times of the year, the big flathead catfish try to defend their eggs and will bite anything that comes close including human fingers and toes.
Why is noodling banned?
Due to concerns over the safety of noodlers and sustainability of fish populations, the technique is illegal in some states where it was once traditionally practiced.
Why is it illegal to noodle in Missouri?
KANSAS CITY Mo -- Catfish noodling, or hand-fishing, is illegal due to potential harm to fisheries. But the method also prompts junk to be tossed into public lakes as accessories. Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) agents in recent weeks pulled 142 noodling boxes or containers from Truman Lake.
Who invented noodling for catfish?
One of the earliest accounts of noodling was written in 1775 by trader-historian James Adair, who described Indians grabbing for catfish.
What is a noodler?
Noodler definition (music, sometimes derogatory) One who improvises. noun.
Why is catfishing called catfishing?
That fishy story originates as a kind of Christian parable recorded by the early 1900s, but the documentary popularized catfish as a metaphor for a person who seduces another with a fake profile, pretending to be someone more attractive, successful, interesting, or sympathetic—keeping the seduced “on their toes” like ...
Is noodling legal in Illinois?
But it's a perfectly legal practice on waters where wading is allowed and where site regulations do not prohibit such activity. All you need is a valid Illinois fishing license (unless exempt), a strong grip and a craving for primitive adventure.
Can you noodle catfish in Illinois?
One of those states that few people know about is Illinois. Yes, it is legal to noodle for catfish in the Land of Lincoln. One of the more prominent catfish noodlers out there is Hannah Barron of Alabama.
Why do they call it noodling?
“Guddling” is an old Scottish word that is phonologically close to noodling which describes catching trout by hand.” And, of course, the most common theory for the origin of the word: “People who blindly explore underwater crevices to get a giant catfish to bite them must be off their noodle.”
How did noodling start?
Trader-historian James Adair reported American Indians catching catfish with their bare hands as early as 1775. Handfishing also was practiced in Europe. In Scotland, a similar fishing method for salmon is called "tickling." But the origin of the term "noodling" is unknown.
What is the biggest catfish caught noodling?
Nate Williams and Kelly Millsap haul in an 85-pound, 2-ounce Flathead catfish to break the national hand fishing record in Texas tournament on Lake Tawakoni. The birthplace of noodling, Oklahoma, has held the hand fishing national record for some time at 81 pounds.
Is noodling legal in California?
despite how much fun it probably is, noodling for catfish is not legal in California because catfish (and nearly every California fish in inland waters) may only be legally taken through angling. If the noodler is lucky, a monster catfish will strike and attempt to swallow their hand.
Is noodling illegal?
Due to concerns over the safety of noodlers and sustainability of fish populations, the technique is illegal in some states where it was once traditionally practiced.
Do you need a fishing license to go noodling?
You must have a fishing license on you and I keep mine in a bag to stay dry.
What is noodling in fishing?
Noodling is fishing for catfish using one's bare hands, and is practiced primarily in the southern United States. The noodler places their hand inside a discovered catfish hole. Many other names are used in different regions for the same activity. The term "noodling", although today used primarily towards the capture of flathead catfish, ...
Where did Rider go to demonstrate noodling?
Rider even traveled to India to demonstrate noodling while visiting the country for the weekend. Most of these stories were light-hearted variety pieces with little information; very few of them looked at the practice as a serious sport, as noodlers may have wanted.
Why do noodlers have spotters?
Most noodlers have spotters who help them bring the catfish in, either to shore or to their boat; noodling in pairs is considered important for safety, and also makes it a more social activity, with noodling partners often forming long-term partnerships.
When was the documentary Okie Noodling released?
The closest thing to a serious examination of noodling accessible to popular culture was a documentary released in 2001 called Okie Noodling, directed by local documentarian Bradley Beesley. The documentary covers the history and current practice of noodling as it is practiced in Oklahoma.
What shows have noodling?
Noodling has often featured in or been referred to in popular media, including for example, the King of the Hill episode " The Redneck on Rainey Street " , an episode of the TV series Cougar Town, the 2009 movie Leaves of Grass, which featured Keri Russell as a noodler, the 2009 film Fish Tank, the Ben 10 Omniverse episode Gone Fishin', and the 2016 movie Deepwater Horizon. It has also been featured on various networks such as the Discovery Channel, History Channel and Animal Planet.
Where was the first noodling tournament held?
During the course of the documentary the realization that there were no official noodling contests spawned the First Annual Okie Noodling Tournament held in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. The tournament brought in young people from across Oklahoma to a sport mostly passed down from father to son.
Can you drown from a noodler?
Losing fingers is also a risk, whether from the bite or infection. Most holes are deep enough that diving is needed, so there can be a danger of drowning.
How many states have noodling?
It’s legal in 16 states, mainly in the South and the Midwest. That may not seem like a lot, but it’s up from only four states in 2001. In fact, more states are legalizing it every year – most recently West Virginia, which passed a new law on noodling in June 2018.
Why is noodling bad for fish?
The problem is that noodling specifically targets large, breeder males while they’re guarding their eggs. Harvesting these fish leaves the eggs defenseless. According to a spokesman from the Missouri Department of Conservation, these unguarded eggs usually develop algae and die soon afterward, wiping out thousands of the next generation of Catfish.
Why do noodlers wear sleeves?
These days, many noodlers wear special sleeves to prevent “river rash” – cuts and scrapes from the fish’s sandpaper bite.
What is catfish noodling?
Catfish Noodling: Getting to Grips With a Unique Way to Fish. Catfish noodling takes the cake for the most unique type of fishing in America. In fact, many anglers don’t think of it as fishing at all. Throughout the South and across the Midwest, people spend their summers waist-deep in water and elbow-deep in huge Catfish.
What is noodling in fishing?
Because of this, noodling is also known as “hand-fishing” or “grabbling,” as well as more inventive names like “gurgling” and “cat-daddling.”.
Why do people noodle for catfish?
(USFWS, CC-BY-2.0) However, there is a good reason people specifically noodle for Catfish: they don’t have teeth. A Catfish’s mouth is like sandpaper.
Is noodling an American thing?
So, is it just an American thing? Not exactly. Cultures all over the world have developed some way of catching fish with your hands. Early settlers must have seen noodling as an extreme form of Trout tickling, a traditional style of hand-fishing in Europe. The difference is in the sheer size of the fish noodlers catch.
Overview
Noodling is fishing for catfish using one's bare hands, and is practiced primarily in the southern United States. The noodler places their hand inside a discovered catfish hole in order to catch the fish. Many other names are used in different regions for the same activity.
The term "noodling", although today used primarily towards the capture of flath…
Method
Although the concept of catching fish with only the use of the arm in the water is simple, the process of noodling is more complicated. The choice of catfish as the prey is not arbitrary, but comes from the circumstances of their habitat. During the spawn, catfish will dig or enter a hole underneath a structure submerged in the water. The female will lay the eggs in the hole and the male will guard the eggs. When the eggs become fry, they will leave and the male will also leave …
Noodling as a sport
The closest thing to a serious examination of noodling accessible to popular culture was a documentary released in 2001 called Okie Noodling, directed by local documentarian Bradley Beesley. The documentary covers the history and current practice of noodling as it is practiced in Oklahoma. The documentary was aired on PBS affiliates.
Dangers
Noodling can result in superficial cuts and minor wounds to the noodler. This can be reduced by wearing gloves and other protective clothing. Losing fingers is also a risk, whether from the bite or infection. Most holes are deep enough that diving is needed, so there can be a danger of drowning. A person with confident swimming abilities may be caught off guard by the sudden added strain of carrying a large fish to the surface. Spotters can alleviate this danger, but it is still present. A …
In popular culture
Noodling has often featured in or been referred to in popular media, including for example, the King of the Hill episode "The Redneck on Rainey Street", an episode of the TV series Cougar Town, the 2009 movie Leaves of Grass, which featured Keri Russell as a noodler, the 2009 film Fish Tank, the Ben 10 Omniverse episode Gone Fishin', and the 2016 movie Deepwater Horizon. It has also been featured on various networks such as the Discovery Channel, History Channel and Animal Pl…
See also
• Hillbilly Handfishin' – Television reality show about noodling
• Okie Noodling – 2001 film by Bradley Beesley
• Trout tickling – Method of fishing by hand
External links
• New York Times article on noodling and anecdote from the writer
• Okie Noodling Documentary Website
• ESPN Article on Noodling
• Long Arm of the Law Penalizes Texans Who Nab Catfish by Hand Wall Street Journal
What Is Noodling?
How to Noodle For Catfish
- So, you know the broad strokes of what noodling entails and have a vague idea of how it all works. There’s a lot more to it than meets the eye, though. Here’s a run-down of how to grab a Catfish.
Catfish Controversy
- You may be wondering why noodling is illegal in most states. There’s no law against catching Catfish in general, after all, and noodling is very much a niche even in states where it’s allowed. Hand-fishing has its fair share of criticism and controversy, though. Some see noodling as unsportsmanlike, as the fish don’t have the chance to escape and a...
A Tradition Worth keeping?
- There are arguments for and against Catfish noodling. Most noodlers see it as a time-honored tradition which their families have been doing for generations. On the other hand, it clearly is a threat to Catfish populations, which is probably why a 2005 surveyfound that avid Catfishers are actually more likely to oppose noodling than your average angler. The truth is that this strong se…