When a big flathead catfish bites your hand, your buddies wading nearby can feel the thump reverberate through the water. That unmistakable sound indicates a few things. First, the catfish hole you just swam down to check is indeed occupied. Second, you are probably thrashing around in murky water, fighting to pull that fish out of its hiding spot before you have to come up for air. And third, they better be ready to help the moment your head breaks the surface.
There’s no denying that catfish noodling is an absurd sport. It’s also some of the most fun you can ever have catfishing — assuming you’ve got enough redneck in you to give it a try. More states have begun legalizing catfish noodling in recent years, but it’s still an uncommon method for catching catfish. Most folks prefer to soak bait or kick back and spectate rather than wade into the water with a pissed-off, prehistoric fish.
Catfish make spawning holes in all kinds of places: in and under old concrete slabs, rootballs, banks, and rip rap. Natalie KrebsA noodler about to surface after checking a hole for catfish. Noodling uses the buddy system, and fishing with a friend can help you wrangle a catfish — and also check on you if you don’t resurface when expected. Natalie KrebsTwo noodlers tag-team a flathead. One holds onto the tale to prevent it from thrashing away, while the other repeatedly dives underwater (even after pulling the fish from its hole) to get a firm grip. Natalie KrebsHomemade noodling sticks, which are cut from old broom handles, topped with dull hooks, and tied with buoys to keep the sticks from sinking when the noodler needs to drop it in a hurry. These are not legal in every state, but they’re incredibly useful for reaching into larger catfish holes where they are permitted, such as in Kentucky. Natalie KrebsGrabbing a catfish is one thing. Holding onto it is another. Courtesy Michelle BrantleyThe author secures a flathead by threading one hand through the gill plate and linking her hands. This technique is done carefully, and only on bigger fish, to avoid damage to the gills. Courtesy of Michelle BrantleyTwo noodlers wrestle a giant flathead. Courtesy Michelle BrantleyThe big flathead wriggles free before the noodler can get a solid grip on it. Courtesy Michelle BrantelyWill Brantley, a longtime noodler from Kentucky, wrangles a flathead out of the water for a photo. Natalie KrebsA smaller flathead catfish tucked under a rock. Although this cat lives in clear water, noodling often takes place in muddy, turbid water where you cannot see fish. Ryan Hagerty / USFWSBrantley’s wife, Michelle, pulls a thrashing flathead out of its hole. Natalie KrebsA burn from grabbing cats. Apart from a fishing license, gloves are one of the few essential pieces of gear needed for noodling catfish. They protect your hands from rough surfaces and the catfish itself. Natalie KrebsNoodling is relatively safe, but life jackets are smart for younger kids who might be tagging along. A kevlar sleeve on the noodler’s dominant arm is also a good idea to protect it from abrasions, like the one above. Courtesy Michelle BrantleyInspecting the fish’s gills to make sure the flathead will survive upon release. Courtesy Michelle BrantleyA boat is handy, but not necessary, for noodling. This crew usually keeps a couple catfish every summer, and always have a stringer, coolers, and ice at the ready. Natalie KrebsBrantley spots his son as he holds up a flathead. Noodling is fun as hell, a great spectator sport, and generally suitable for anyone brave enough to give it a try. Natalie Krebs
