Noodling For Catfish

Do you have what it takes to catch a catfish with your bare hands?

Some people fish with a rod and reel. Others with a cast net. Some have even been known to use a stick of dynamite. But nothing compares to the sheer craziness of noodling.

Noodling — also called graveling, hand grabbing, or hogging — is the sport of fishing for massive flathead catfish with nothing but your bare hands. Fishermen on noodling trips will scour inland rivers and lakes for submerged, hollow logs, underwater hollows, or holes in which the massive catfish spawn. The flatheads typical hover in the chamber, slowly paddling oxygenated water over the egg mass contained therein. Typically, a single flathead sits at the entrance to the hole, but in some cases multiple fish have been found in a single hole.

Having found a potential habitat, a fisherman will dive down and place his hand and arm in the cavity. If he is lucky, the catfish will strike out at the arm and bite down, securing the hand with a strong grip and a mouth lined with sandpaper-like tissue. With the fish locked on, the angler then hauls the fish out of the hole, up through the water, and on to the boat.

"It's a tough breed that does this kind of thing," says noodling enthusiast Gene Hayes. "You've got to realize there are certain things that can happen out there that can happen when you're doing this."

He adds, "It takes a special individual to stick their hand in a hole in the Lowcountry. It usually involves Budweiser. You're gonna leave with some blood on you. That's one of the reasons why you don't have a big following."

Flathead catfish are not native to South Carolina. The species was introduced to the area water systems during the mid-1960s, when the S.C. Department of Natural Resources purposely stocked them in what is now Lake Thurmond. A number of tributaries led from the lake, providing a perfect spawning environment for the massive flathead catfish. As a result, record-breaking flatheads have consistently been pulled from the area. In the two tributaries of Little River and Long Cane Creek, fishermen are permitted the use of a seine or net in catching the fish. This practice is only legal on these two tributaries, however; elsewhere, hand-grabbers are on their own.

Because the flathead is not only huge but also highly piscivorous — it eats other fish — it has the ability to dominate all other species in a lake, stream, or river. As a result, the DNR's policy toward the flathead has been to encourage their harvest. The organization's efforts to manage the species in Lakes Moultrie and Marion have paid off, with the population of flatheads having stabilized and those of their smaller cousin, blue catfish, having dipped of late.

Catfish Noodling: 5 Things You Need To Know |

If you’re a catfishing fan, you probably know about catfish noodling, or you may have even tried it, but do you know that there are certain things that will make you much more successful at catfish noodling than if you just went at it without any information, just for the mere fun of it? In this article are tips that will help you catch more catfish using catfish noodling, and they tell you about the dangers you should be aware of as well. To be safe, let’s start with the dangers:

1. Be strong enough You never know the kind of catfish that may be hiding in your chosen spot, and many people who practice catfish noodling will tell you that occasionally, you will get a big one. No free creature wants to be captured if it can help it so you will be fighting a catfish that’s possibly the same height as you. You need strength for this. If you are not strong enough, instead of getting the catfish out of the water, it will get you in and accidents could follow.

2. Never go alone Catfish noodling works best in teams. There will be the main noodler and the rest of the team is there to help him when he makes a catch. Again, it’s because catfish are known to fight back and single handedly, they could overpower you. Your team should all understand the sport well, and if possible, they should know basic life saving techniques, especially those related to water.

3. Go in the day You’ve seen how the Red Indians of old used to hunt for fish with spears. They would be so silent that the fish would almost not know they were there. That’s what you want to aim to do. As a team, you’re having a lot of fun and it can get noisy, but by keeping the noise down, you will go home with lots more catfish.

5. Carry along a first aid kit Catfish noodling is a kind of sport that gives thrill from the danger in it. It’s that easy to lose a finger. It’s that easy to lunge and catch another kind of fish that could take off a limb. Always make sure that you carry medical supplies with you and that in your team, someone is familiar with how to give first aid until you can get to a hospital. An experienced swimmer is also necessary – some catfish will weigh up to 30 Kgs and can easily take you under. Treat it like bungee jumping – thrilling but you’re harnessed to the hilt.

When it comes to fishing, this is possibly one of the most enjoyable ways to get a catch. Just make sure that you know all that you need to know and that your team has the necessary knowledge and tips as well. You’ll draw a bit of blood as you catch the cat fish, but catfish noodling is definitely worth it if you’re out for a thrill.

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