Is Noodling Cooking Pasta or Catching Catfish?

Noodling conjures up images of standing over a vat of boiling water, cooking some kind of Italian pasta to perfection.  This may be one definition of the term, but in reference to one of the oddest fishing styles known, it refers to the art of fishing for catfish using only bare hands and a big stick for prodding purposes.  That is correct; using only your bare hands to feel your way along the mud-caked bottom of a river in search of a catfish is called noodling. Better still, these catfish can weigh an awful lot.

Noodling, also referred to as grabbling, is legal only in certain states and was practiced by Native Americans long before the settlement of Europeans.  To experience noodling you must plan a trip south to Arkansas, North Carolina or Mississippi.  During the Depression, it was rumored grabbling became popular as a rapid and inexpensive manner of providing food for the family.  Today, grabbling as a means of fishing for flathead, channel and blue catfish is mainly for entertainment, as most grabblers practice catch-and-release.

From late May to July, when the days lengthen and water temperatures become warmer, catfish seek out shallow water to lay their eggs.  Sheltered secluded locations are preferred such as boat ramps, holes in rocks and sandbanks.  Once the female catfish lays her eggs, she departs the nest, leaving the male catfish to guard the eggs and keep them aerated. The male will not leave the nest until the baby catfish are ready to leave as well. Catfish are very aggressive during spawning season. For this reason, care must be taken to avoid becoming victim to that aggression when noodling.

Locate bedding catfish by running your bare hands along the river bottom in search of an opening.  For a bottom-feeding fish, the catfish is rather clean and delicate. Openings are easy to find because the catfish will continue to clear its home and area.  Some experienced grabblers plan their trips during the winter when water levels are low, where it is possible to see potential hideaways that will soon be submerged.  They then return to these locations during spawning season.

An angry growling sound, described by some as a “thump”, lets you know you have located your prey. Submerging yourself is required for a good portion of the grabbling expedition; clearly, the longer you are able to hold your breath, the easier it is to grabble.  Once a spawning location has been identified, use a big stick to guide the catfish out of the nest to within arms reach.

Now knowing where your prey is, place your hand with outstretched fingers into the hole.  The catfish will quickly become angered at your intrusion and will strike out, either hitting your hand or grabbing your hand while biting it with its mouth.  He may clamp on to your hand and attempt to pull you into the hole, hence the need for additional assistance when attempting grabbling.  Once he bites, grab him with both hands on his lower jaw, wrap your legs around him if necessary and pull him completely out of the water.  Twisting and rolling is sure to ensue, but perseverance will ensure your victory.

Clearly, “noodling” is not an experience everyone will enjoy, least of all those who are faint at heart, and injury is always a possibility.  For some, the pasta-cooking scenario may be much more preferable.  But for a “hands-on” fishing experience that anyone from the young to the elderly can delight in, there is nothing quite comparable.

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Is Noodling Cooking Pasta or Catching Catfish?

“Noodling” conjures up images of standing over a vat of boiling water, cooking some kind of Italian pasta to perfection.  This may be one definition of the term, but in reference to one of the oddest fishing styles known, it refers to the art of fishing for catfish using only bare hands and a big stick for prodding purposes.  That is correct; using only your bare hands to feel your way along the mud-caked bottom of a river in search of a catfish is called noodling. Better still, these catfish can weigh an awful lot.

Noodling, also referred to as grabbling, is legal only in certain states and was practiced by Native Americans long before the settlement of Europeans.  To experience noodling you must plan a trip south to Arkansas, North Carolina or Mississippi.  During the Depression, it was rumored grabbling became popular as a rapid and inexpensive manner of providing food for the family.  Today, grabbling as a means of fishing for flathead, channel and blue catfish is mainly for entertainment, as most grabblers practice catch-and-release.

From late May to July, when the days lengthen and water temperatures become warmer, catfish seek out shallow water to lay their eggs.  Sheltered secluded locations are preferred such as boat ramps, holes in rocks and sandbanks.  Once the female catfish lays her eggs, she departs the nest, leaving the male catfish to guard the eggs and keep them aerated. The male will not leave the nest until the baby catfish are ready to leave as well. Catfish are very aggressive during spawning season. For this reason, care must be taken to avoid becoming victim to that aggression when noodling.

Locate bedding catfish by running your bare hands along the river bottom in search of an opening.  For a bottom-feeding fish, the catfish is rather clean and delicate. Openings are easy to find because the catfish will continue to clear its home and area.  Some experienced grabblers plan their trips during the winter when water levels are low, where it is possible to see potential hideaways that will soon be submerged.  They then return to these locations during spawning season.

An angry growling sound, described by some as a “thump”, lets you know you have located your prey. Submerging yourself is required for a good portion of the grabbling expedition; clearly, the longer you are able to hold your breath, the easier it is to grabble.  Once a spawning location has been identified, use a big stick to guide the catfish out of the nest to within arms reach.

Now knowing where your prey is, place your hand with outstretched fingers into the hole.  The catfish will quickly become angered at your intrusion and will strike out, either hitting your hand or grabbing your hand while biting it with its mouth.  He may clamp on to your hand and attempt to pull you into the hole, hence the need for additional assistance when attempting grabbling.  Once he bites, grab him with both hands on his lower jaw, wrap your legs around him if necessary and pull him completely out of the water.  Twisting and rolling is sure to ensue, but perseverance will ensure your victory.

Clearly, “noodling” is not an experience everyone will enjoy, least of all those who are faint at heart, and injury is always a possibility.  For some, the pasta-cooking scenario may be much more preferable.  But for a “hands-on” fishing experience that anyone from the young to the elderly can delight in, there is nothing quite comparable.

Any ideas?

Catfishing the Right But Simple Way

There are a few basic methods that are effective in catching catfish.  Bear in mind that specific methods are applicable to specific kinds of waters.  That is because techniques and baiting mixtures are formulated for specific targets.

The following methods are simple, yet proven successful when used:

1) Rigging method – Depending on the bait used, loop the bait holder or the treble hook from a line to a preferred distance to the end. Bait movement is not suggested; therefore, a weight must be used to allow the rig to be still. A good distance shall be about 18″ to 24.”

Same as the first method, using the Slipweight to make the bait stable is also effective. The weight does not matter as long as it can slide in the line. The fish will not feel any weight and it will be late until they realize that the bait is fake.

Multibait technique allows multiple catches at once. Simply place three-way swivel along the line. As it draws more strikes it makes a great choice for catching more catfish at the same time.

2) Bait – Experts opt for chicken livers or medium sized shrimp from groceries. The shrimp’s tail and skin must be removed and body should be big enough to slide up in a number 6 hook. This is simpler than the chicken which necessitates the use of pantyhose. A diameter of a quarter is wrapped in a piece of pantyhose leaving a tag end then attach it through the treble hook. Blood worms, minnows, catfish paste, night crawlers, snails, living or dead small fish, and dough baits are also good choices of baits. Remember that the best baits are always those that nature produced.

3) Chumming – Fishermen catch more catfish with this method. This is simply throwing balls of mixtures of natural recipes in the fishing area. This attracts more catfish; the trick is that the mixture should be right enough for the catfish to feed heavily. The hook that will be used to fish normally must have the same recipe for the bait. Adding a good smelling flavor into the pasty mixture attracts catfish more.

4) Tackling – Although the technique involved in this method is by far effective, it’s still the bait that attracts and brings the catfish in. As simple as it is, the tackle should be about 6 feet long with a spinning real. Choose heavier lines to allow more battle between the fisherman and the catfish. It doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. The experience you get from a cheaper tackle is no different from an expensive one.

Make sure the grip is secure hooks are removed by pliers after catching the fish. Avoid being stuck with the fins as some are poisonous. Just simply sliding the hand up to its belly from tail, placing the fingers behind one side and thumb behind the other can remove the catfish from the hook without any harm. Happy catfishing and good luck!

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