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