noodling

[Mike Steckelberg]

the other day i was watching a rerun of a noodling documentry down in oklahoma.(i think it was from 2003)i'm wondering what everybodys thoughts are on this type of handfishing and if it was a legal way to catch fish here in minnesota would you try it?

[DTro]

I look at it this way, if these guys/gals are pulling these fish out, having fun, taking some pics, and letting them go. I say have at it! I would never do it, but there are a lot of things I won't do.

Now if they are killing all these fish, my opinion changes greatly.

[Mike Steckelberg]

thats is where i am at with this..when i was watching this show they was showing stringer fulls of huge fish and showing the killing process and it almost made me sick to see some 30,40 and bigger pound fish being killed..i would try it but i would also take a pic and let the fish go

[aanderud]

I didn't see the noodling special, so I'm only speaking from other noodling I've seen here...

To me, noodling seems really like a type of "trapping" than a type of "fishing". Though they're catching fish, they aren't doing it in the fish's natural habitat. They sink boxes and then go down the line pulling the fish out of the boxes with their hands. It's really no different than putting out any other type of fish trap, other than the collection mechanism involved.

Nope, I wouldn't try it. Other than the obvious turtle/snake/etc dangers, it just seems like it has very little skill involved. It's sorta like putting feeders out for deer and shooting them at the dinner table.

[harvey lee]

I agree with the releasing of the fish. Only thing here is, they would probably keep them if they were angling also.

It's great to see all the cat fisherman releasing the fish around here for future trophies.

[Mike Steckelberg]

aanderud...the show i was watching they were catching them in holes, snags, sunken highways and other natural structures...i agree that if they are basically trapping them then that is totally wrong

[rushing]

I have been waiting for an extreme Mountain Dew commercial featuring hill billy noodling. "Do The Dew!" as a snapping turtle is removing a finger.

I am glad Minnesota has done a pretty good job protecting our fishing resources over the years. We have pretty darn good flathead fishing here and with responsible angling it should stay that way for many years to come.

[Mike Steckelberg]

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I have been waiting for an extreme Mountain Dew commercial featuring hill billy noodling. "Do The Dew!" as a snapping turtle is removing a finger.

I am glad Minnesota has done a pretty good job protecting our fishing resources over the years. We have pretty darn good flathead fishing here and with responsible angling it should stay that way for many years to come.

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now that would be funny

[aanderud]

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aanderud...the show i was watching they were catching them in holes, snags, sunken highways and other natural structures...i agree that if they are basically trapping them then that is totally wrong

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Gotcha. In the video I saw on youtube, they don't make too obvious at first, but about 3 minutes in they mention that 'serious noodlers' use sink boxes to 'improve their success'...it looks like they're in good 'natural' cat territory, but under the water they're just standing on the only open end of an otherwise sealed off box and scaring the fish into biting their hand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biL-QcviQGk

Interesting, but still no-go for me. I'll check out that special they had on PBS the other day, a guy from work has it on DVD and he gave it to me yesterday but I forgot it there.

[Mike Steckelberg]

i see what you mean by the boxes they are using..that there is wrong,basically just cheating...

[icehousebob]

After watching the caracters they interviewed for that show, all I can say is," That's what happens when close relatives marry and reproduce."

[sparcebag]

Seein I'm probably the only minnesotan around who has experience noodlin,Those boxes you speak of are most likly for TV or video purposes,I've noodled in OKLA.Lake euphally(spell?)red river NE Texas,yes the end of the ozarks hillbillies just the same as river rats here,except here Ya'll got a nasal twange.We never set boxes some did If ya had personal waters to set em,thing that got me was any fish (flat) they got was cleaned and eaten,I saw 70-80 lb. fish cleaned,I jug fished its legal in Okla.thats where the really big cats were caught,and ya need some guts or no brains,(guess i got no brains)to stick your hands into murky water with beaver tunnels all over,those huge snappin turtles with heads as big as your thigh,water mocacins,copper heads(cotton mouth)and while walkin to shore watchin for rattlers,the drowing part is false they impress their women with their man hood that way,all ya gotta do if its a really big flat is let go.

[rushing]

If the fish isn't caught by rod and reel its illegal in Minnesota. One of the main reasons we have a good fishery here is because its not legal to take fish by jugg fishing, trot lines, or noodling. Not to mention the amount of rods you can use in some states.

[Larry FlatCaster]

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Ya can do it right here on the minnesota no snakes no worry,I dont think its illeagle if ya release em.I found a boulder rubble shore that looks perfect!Or under some big snags,log piles.

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Read up on your Regs Mate, We don't need people getting the wrong idea. Lots of new people participating and learning about this sport. Its our responsibility to make sure that people are educated in conservation. The guidelines are here for a reason, and this is what makes our fisheries one of the best all around in the nation.

[hanson]

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It's great to see all the cat fisherman releasing the fish around here for future trophies.

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Or so we think. That is the common practice in our "circle" of educated anglers but I really cringe to think about what else happens on the river. Don't be naive to think everyone else releases them because we do... they don't.

[Larry FlatCaster]

Sparce,

Thanks Mate.

[sparcebag]

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Sparce,

Thanks Mate.

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No problem when I'm wrong!