I just finished an article in FHM magazine (don’t judge) about a sport I have never heard of before: Noodling.
So, what is it? Well, let’s let our all-knowing friend wikipedia help explain it:
Noodling is the practice and sport of fishing for catfish using only one’s bare hands. Noodling may be called grabbling, graveling, hogging, or tickling, depending on what state you’re in (Kentuckians call it dogging, while Nebraskans prefer stumping.)
So, how does one noodle?
“Though the concept is simple enough – noodling fish with only the use of your hands – 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. Flathead catfish live in holes or under brush in rivers and lakes and thus are easy to capture due to the static nature of their dwelling. To begin, a noodler goes underwater to depths ranging from only a few feet to up to twenty feet. Placing his hand inside a discovered catfish hole, a noodler uses his arm as bait to entice the fish. If all goes as planned, the catfish will swim forward and latch onto the fisherman’s hand and arm.”
Oh yes, there’s more…
“From here most noodlers have spotters who help them bring the catfish in, either to shore or to their boat. The first order of business after catching a catfish is to get them unstuck. When a catfish bites onto a noodler it holds on for quite a while, believing it has caught some food. With gills and teeth scraping and cutting into the fisherman’s skin, the spotters helps to secure the fish by other means and then proceed to ease the catfish’s grip off of the noodler’s arm.”
Yes, you read that right. They stick their HAND in the fish’s mouth and wait to get bit! No, this is not a joke…and, apparently there’s a documentary about this…wonderous….inspiring…sport.
I, I can’t even really say that much. Yes, it’s late, and yes, I’m tired…but, I can’t help get over the fact that these guys risk their lives to catch giant fish with thier bare (or bear?) hands.
Since we touched on it earlier..wikipedia did offer me one little bit of noodling info that caught me off guard (and, quite frankly, made me laugh):
“Although some women relate stories of times they have noodled, the majority of practicing noodlers were and are men.”
I do hate when there’s exaggeration in times of noodling. This is too much..I must go to bed.
Yes, I’ve been “noodling” before. Surprised? Prolly not. I’ve only been once and it was after watching the documentary on ESPN. I caught one fish and my hand was all cut up from the gill plates. I went in the Oconee river when I was in college.
I’ve never actually done it before, but I’ve heard of it. And, despite being an aforementioned Nebraskan, I prefer the term that I always heard it being, “Catfisting.”