Noodling

[Bob McCarty]

My wife and I were walking along one of the irrigation ditches on our property with the dog. She asked me if I had seen any frogs yet. I told her no, that I thought it was still too early. She said "what are all those holes in the mud". I said "they may be frogs, why don't you stick your finger in one and see if you can pull out a frog. If there is, you can work your way up to noodling catfish." She didn't know what that was, so I explained how it was a redneck sport. She looked at me and said "you've been spending too much time with those southern boys at Cubfests." I guess I'm guilty as charged.

Bob

[Barnyard]

A guy who used to work with me had bruises up to his knees and elbows from sticking his arms and legs in the catfish nests in our local river.

[tmays]

Exciting stuff, when you come up on a likely spot, stick your hand in the hole, and a big ole cat grabs hold of you. Takes a steady nerve to keep your hand there and keep the hole blocked. Used to do it every year at a lake not far from where I was raised. Got cousins that still do it today

[Tezell]

Not all southern boys do that. My nerves are not that good.

I will stick with a hook and line.

[Harold R]

Yep. Sometimes, there are things besides catfish in those holes. In these parts, once you're in the water.....you're no longer the top of the food chain.

[Tezell]

Harold, that last part is what has always concerned me.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

..... She said "what are all those holes in the mud". I said "they may be frogs, why don't you stick your finger in one and see if you can pull out a frog. If there is, you can work your way up to noodling catfish."......

Around here those mud holes or mounds you see anywhere from a few feet to several yards from the water or frequently crawdad (crayfish) mounds and you can get quite a surprise sticking your fingers down in there.