Noodleing CatFish Question

jrbsr · 01-25-2005, 10:08 AM

On fishing shows,
I have seen noodlers that have done it for a long time.
And some of them have some missing fingers.
I supose it is from the big catfish biteing them off.

Is there a safe way to do this with out you loosing any fingers ?

Thank You

slicendice · 01-25-2005, 10:16 AM

I'm no noodler, but if I had to guess why a noodler was missing a digit, my guess wouldn't be the catfish, but rather the turtles that also live in the boxes and nests that they put their hands in.

Slice

Firehawk7309 · 01-25-2005, 08:13 PM

It's not so much the catfish you have to worry about, more like the turtles, snakes, possum, and whatever else is lurking in the water. Main thing to remember when noodling is to try to find holes, stumps that are totally submerged so as to limit the possibility of finding something attached to your hand that you don't want. I've tried this type of catfishing once, it's not in my blood to do it though.

ELKINMTCWB · 01-25-2005, 08:29 PM

I can tell you there is no way a cat can take a finger.I have played a lot in with the big boys.What gets you is the turtles and the beavers.In one bite the beaver can take your hole rist.It is very eazy to tell if some one has been nuddleing just look at there arm from elbow down to fingers there will be a ton of scratches A TON.I did have a turtle get my thumb had to use a knife to pry its jaws off,after we cut its head off. It was a big one I do not think it could take my thumb off but it did give me 14 stiches.

The safest was to do this is knock one end of an old bath tub out put the open end down streem in watter about 2to 4 foot deep.Fast moving whater is better,no matter what the watter needs to be moving.

Beaver holes are a very good place to find big cats but it is allso where you find the beaver.

Champlain Islander · 01-26-2005, 12:55 PM

I guarantee that noodling is one way to fish that I know I will never try. My hats off to all the guys that practice this method but no way for me.

PikeTipper · 01-27-2005, 07:36 AM

I saw a video on it and a guy asked the same question to a noodler that had a missing finger. He said he lost it at work (construction) and most noodlers work jobs that they use their hands often. If a guy is willing to stick his hand in some hole in the river containing who knows what then I can see him putting his hands too close to a saw blade or whatever.