Noodling is unique and can be one of the most exhilarating activities a sportsman every experiences. It is also sometimes dangerous, as people have drowned and have been seriusly injured while participating in this form of fishing. Noodling is a sport where fishermen use their bare hands instead of tackle to catch a fish, usually a type of catfish, the flathead being the most popular. To accomplish this act of fishing without bait, the “noodler” inserts his/her hand into holes under muddy banks, rocks, or inside of hollow logs in rivers or a lake, and wiggles his fingers in the hole until the catfish inside attempts to grab a hold of the hand. The noodler must then attempt to pull the fish onto dry land or a waiting boat without being pulled under. Now we're not talking about a 4 lb. catfish... but instead some fish large enough to pull a man underneath the surface.
For safety and also a successful fishing adventure, it is often recommended that two work as a team when noodling. There is always the danger of not being able to surface because the catfish may be too large or too strong, plus the possibility of getting trapped in fallen logs or other debris.
The first step is to find a hole using hands and/or feet to locate them. The shelter for a nesting catfish can be under rocks or mud banks, hollow logs or even inside an abandoned drum. Precautions should be taken to not reach a hand into a hole which might be 
occupied by a angry beaver, water moccassin, or snapping turtle. Some noodlers will probe the holes with a stick or other object first. If you find something which feels smooth, if is probably a catfish. If it feels like a rock? Probably a turtle! Once a catfish is found in its nest, the noodlers must block off all other exits with their bodies, rocks, sandbags, or other objects to prevent the fish from escaping. Once all other escape routes are blocked, the noodler will reach into one of the holes just enough to reach their hand inside the catfish's den. Using their hand as bait, the noodler allows the catfish to bite down upon it.
I have personally had a catfish bite down on my hand while attempting to retrieve a hook and I know that it can be quite painful. My catfish weighed only 4 pounds, yet it left me with several bleeding reminders of that wonderful catch! Catfish have strong jaws and teeth like rough sandpaper. They also have leading rays on dorsal and pectoral fins that can cause cuts and puncture wounds. Some noodlers recommend wearing gloves while noodling while others advise against it. Though the gloves can act as protection on the hands, they can also be a hazard, as the possibility of snagging them underwater and can lead to serious injuries.
Catfish have a tendency to spin in the water to tear and pull at meat, so attempt to neutralize the fish’s movements as much as possible. The noodler can pull the fish out with the hand, grab one of its gills, or poke a hole through the catfish’s lower jaw and run a rope through it to help pull the fish out. If the cat is grabbed by one of it’s gills, it serves two purposes. First, it makes it difficult for the cat to bite the noodler and secondly, it prevents the cat from escaping. If using a rope, tie it to a tree or some other stationary object on land first. To noodle alone, requires that the angler be skilled and know the dangers associated with this type of fishing. He should also be a good swimmer! Safety being more of a concern, a noodler of limited experience should have a safety line tied to a permanent object on shore to help in retrieval of the fish, as well as pulling oneself free of obstacles in or under water.
The name "noodling" is just one of the many names for this type of fishing. In some states such as Alabama and Mississippi, it is called "grabbling". In Arkansas and Missouri, many refer to it as "Hogging". Kentucky? "Dogging" and in Nebraska? "Stumping", but it official name is "hand fishing" according to most State Wildlife Services. Noodling is only legal in a handful of states, (mostly southern states) so before you set out to try this sport of wrestling your next fish dinner through the mu
d and water, check your state's regulations. Some states also have bag limits and being in possession of gaffs, spears, or even poles while noodling in some states are prohibited.
Witnessing the sport of noodling, for the first time ever, was quite an experience for me as a watched a gentleman on the river in search of a catfish lieing in its den. After prodding inside the familiar hole, where he had found bedding catfish previously, I saw a smile appear on his face. He had found one! Shirtless and determined, he reached inside the hole, where his arm was immediately seized with great violence. The catfish was, no doubt, furious from being intruded upon. It seemed that an all-out war had begun! I watched in total amazement as the noodler seized the voracious fish and struggled against the rocks and current to bring the massive creature safely ashore. Out of breath and wet from head to toe, the fisherman proudly displayed the catfish for all to see. It was indeed a trophy-sized fish and would provide lots of meat for his family's table.
Noodling is definitely an extreme sport to say the least. Many have compared it to bullfighting, wrestling with alligators, and walking a tightrope. You definitely have to have guts to even attempt it. One of our fellow WomenAnglers' writers even told me she thought the sport of noodling was for "crazy" folks! Regardless, many people pursue the sport of noodling with a passion, often doing it for the adrenaline rush, then releasing the catfish unharmed after weighing it and taking pictures. Though I have no desire or plans to attempt this type of fishing, I have been told that many women participate, including Kristi Addis, former Miss Teen USA 1987, who told pageant judges that grabbling for catfish was one of her favorite pasttimes.
