The act of fishing for catfish using only a person’s bare hands is called Noodling catfish. It is a challenging recreational sport practiced in some  regions of the US and other parts of the world (it’s restricted in some states). Noodling catfish can be very rough, as ‘noodlers’ or people who try to catch the fish wrestle with the fish with their hands in order to catch them. Noodling also applies to catching different types of fishes with the use of hands and it has also come to be identified as any method of fishing which does not use any of the usual or conventional methods of catching fish.

Noodling catfish Vs Wrestling

Although noodling catfish may seem like a simple task, the process requires great concentration and strength and other complicated methods for one to successfully catch a fish. It poses great threats to inexperienced people which is why some states in the US have banned the practice. People however, being the risk-takers they are, continue to practice this sport and some people have been known to excel in it. If you want to try noodling catfish yourself, you have to consider several things before leaping into water to catch the fish.

The right location for noodling catfish

The first thing to know is that most catfish noodling happens in shallow bodies of water. It’d be quite dangerous to wrestle a catfish, especially a big one, in deep waters. Noodlers need to find places in the water where the catfish are likely to hide like in between rocks, mud banks and submerged tree roots. You also need to make sure that you are strong enough to battle a catfish once you’ve located a hiding spot. Going for a catfish with bare hands would pose threats to the noodler especially if the catfish is bigger than the noodler. It’s also important not to startle the catfish once you’ve spotted it. You won’t want to scare lest provoke it to attack you. Going about it without too much noise would help you catch the fish more easily.

Additional tips for noodling catfish

It’s also important to go noodling catfish during the daytime and with companions. You’d have an easier time searching for catfish during the day and you’ll be more productive with more hands to help you restrain the fish once you’re able to get a hold of it. And lastly, always bring a first aid kit when you go noodling for fishes. This activity may become very rough and it is best that you come prepared for any sudden injuries. If ever you are injured or wounded by the catfish, don’t try to pursue it and just let it go. You’ll just put yourself in more danger and it wouldn’t be worth the catch. So if you want to get the most of your “noodling catfish” technique, you need to take these facts and advices into consideration.