Any body ever noodled a cat?

[Uncle Grump]

Hi all

Saw a show on Iowa PBS TV yesterday called "Okie Noodling" - about a 4 y.o. fishing contest for cats in Oklahoma - where they go after the cats (flatheads) w/ there bare hands.

There has been a film made - I can email the URL if any one wants it - or if it would be permissable - I will will post it here. How about it moderators???? If not permissable - those words typed in to Google ought to get you to the site.

As for me - well - I think I'll stick to a rod and reel - as there was some discussion of the hazards of doing it - like snake bite, one man stuck his arm in to a beaver den and had it well shredded, etc.

They brought it some awfully big fish - 30-40 and 50#'ers.

UG

[rushing]

Yeah I saw that movie on PBS awhile ago. I enjoyed watching it but man those guys were either the really stupid or really brave! I guess sometimes there is a fine line between the two. I recommend checking it out if anyone gets the chance.

Rob

[Crawlerman]

All I have to say is don't try it here; It is VERY Illegal in the State of Minnesota.

What I find funny is awhile back the In-Fisherman (which is based in MINNESOTA) did a whole article about "alternate" catfishing teqinques (including noodling), most of which were illegal in all but a few states, with no disclaimer nor warning beforehand on the matter. Way to go to encourage breaking the law....

As far as noodling (where it is legal...) goes, there is no way in H*ll I would stick my hand into one of those things maw. I've heard stories from people who know people who've done it down south, and it includes many missing fingers. Not worth risking never to be able to hold a rod for something so sucidal.

[Dennis Steele]

A buddy sent me a tape that had it on(Hi vern )
I wrestled a 24lber that I had found four miles up a creek to return her to the main river as winter was coming but that was hardly noodling.Very dificult to say the least.Chased her around for the better part of half an hour.The only thing that would creep me out is what if there was something other than Mr Whiskers home!

[Guest]

You know, there's a reason people in the south get their reputation for stupidity. One of them is noodling.(I can say that, I'm from the south). There is no faster way to injure yourself than noodling. In the south especially with so many cottonmouths and Snappers. Just another one of man's cruely effective means of thining out the gene pool or at least pointing out the ones that should be thinned out.

Just My opinion

[Aquaman01]

Little off topic, but...
I've lived all over the country (mostly) and there's a few coloquial differences in certain situations - an example might be different people's response to seeing someone doing something stupid, dangerous or that might have a nasty outcome.

East Coast (NY, Boston, Philly) - "Yo! What the %&$# are you thinking?!"
West Coast - "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
Midwest (Minnesota 'Nice') - "Would you like some help?"**follows the nasty outcome**
Urban South - "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Rural South - "Looks like fun - can I try?"

I bet you could sell a nine-fingered noodler an Aqua View.

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Aquaman
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Peace and Fishes

[Guest]

My big problem with Noodling is, well the whole dam premise.

What they should say is "Lets go rip spawning fish off their nest and kill their young before they hatch".

That is why they "Noodle", the cats are caved up on their nests, easy prey. The cat will not leave the nesting site so it is fish'n in a barrel time.

*IMHO*
Not a sport, just exploitation of vulnerable fish during a critical period. Most of the nests are lost to other juvenile cats eating the spawn once the big brood cat is ripped off, so there went that batch too.
So... Billy Bob Joe Willie McCormick Jr, YE-HA...lets get & drag them Dar spawner's out.

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[simplefish]

When I was 14 or so I tried it in a backwater on the missy. I never got anything (thank god) but another guy we were with got the tip of his fingers nibble on (and off) by a muskrat or something. We called him tips from then on... I guess thats what happens when you decide to invade the home of a water rat... I decided to wise up and play it smart by catching frogs in a little pond by my house that was the home of a three legged snapper... O the good ol' days...