Noodling is the practice of catching catfish with one’s bare or gloved hands.

Sounds easy, right?

It is, save for the occasional loss of digits from bites or infection.

Oh, and the snakes and snapping turtles that periodically decide to move into abandoned catfish holes.

Did I mention the very real risk of drowning due to the encumbrance of the fish or the catching of clothing on submerged logs and branches?  No, well there’s that, too.  It’s enough of a risk that most experienced noodlers use spotters.

Other than that, it’s a piece of cake.

Here are some more links and a couple of videos for those craving more information on this sport that’s only legal in 13 states:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noodling

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/noodling.htm

http://www.okienoodling.com/

http://www.ethantw.com/noodling.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/general/columns/story?columnist=sutton_keith&page=g_col_sutton_noodling