| It's an age-old fishing technique that my uncle taught | | | | coming into his cozy little hideaway, he'll attack. |
| me down in the Ozarks of southern Missouri - | | | | Step 3 - When he bites, get a handful of fish guts and |
| Noodling. Noodling means catching catfish with nothing | | | | pull. It might take some twisting and pulling, but if all |
| more than your bare hand and quick reflexes. | | | | goes well, you'll have that cat flappin and floppin on the |
| No matter what you call it, tickling, hogging, grabbing, | | | | end of your wrist... and you'll have some good fried |
| dogging or noodling, catching catfish with your bare | | | | catfish for supper tonight! |
| hands is a truly man-against-nature experience! You | | | | I know what you're saying - this is something only |
| can only imagine that this is the way our caveman | | | | crazy rednecks in the backwaters would be insane |
| ancestors must have got their fish suppers! Imagine | | | | enough to undertake. Surely a decent rod and some |
| yourself with a hand full of catfish guts, twisting and | | | | fishing gear isn't so hard to come by. What kind of |
| turning to dislodge that whale of a cat you got down | | | | maniac would plunge his hand right into the water and |
| there! | | | | try to pull out a fish? |
| Okay, let's take a step back and ask - Exactly what is | | | | I'd say 2 things to that - first off, noodling is an old |
| noodling? Well, let me break it down... | | | | tradition, passed down from generation to generation. |
| Step 1 - Go to a spot that is known to be popular with | | | | Second, it's a heck of a thrill, and if you try it once, you |
| our whiskered friends. It also has to be at a time of | | | | may toss that nice fishing rod right in the trash. There's |
| year when the water is more than 80 degrees so | | | | nothing like knowing you caught one with your bare |
| they'll be spawning. | | | | hand! Noodling gives you quite an adrenaline rush. |
| Step 2 - Find yourself an empty log, some tree roots, | | | | It's a great kick, and an effective fishing technique as |
| debris, a river bank, just about anywhere, and wiggle | | | | many guys especially in the southern US will tell you. |
| your fingers. What you're looking for is a male cat | | | | But, it's not without its dangers. |
| guarding his young, and when he sees something | | | | |