Comments on: The noodling snobs of California and Missouri

By: Ty Dwyer

Ty Dwyer — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 07:55:41 +0000

I’m a Californian and I have always wanted to try noodling. I wish my state would allow it. Besides Oklahoma, what other states allow noodling? I would go in a heartbeat, but would want some guidance for a safe(sans snapping turtles and water moccasins) and successful trip. How many fish are you allowed to keep?

By: New Spring Swimwear! « Hootentown

New Spring Swimwear! « Hootentown — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 14:52:39 +0000

[...] bathing, and fishing. The only activity for women in the river involved jumping into the river and noodling catfish. Their clumsy Victorian and Edwardian style bathing costumes were often quite burdensome. Making it [...]

By: Aaron Delbruegge

Aaron Delbruegge — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:58:11 +0000

This post may be outdated but I would like to add my input to your comments. Unlike most noodling states, Missouri manages its catfish populations (channels, blues, and flatheads) as game fish and they treat it as such with hatchery rearing and stocking, etc etc. Catfish is ranked #2 as game fish, and is the reason that many anglers are drawn to Missouri’s waterways. Most states that permit noodling do not do so as, so priorities on the part of MO Conservation differ to that of other states’ Fisheries and Wildlife.

Another piece of information that should provide some insight as to why noodling destroys nests and “regular fishermen” do not, is that catfish DO NOT FEED while they are nesting. They will stay with the eggs/fry until the young have left the nest, then the adults will leave to feed. Noodlers reach in to pull the nesting adults out which does destroy up to 65% of egg viability as recent research shows.

Like I said, priorities are focused on maintaining healthy populations of catfish, and that means more tourism $. As for my personal opinion of noodling, I think its poor sportsmanship, very much like baiting catfish with dog food and netting them as they surface. The fun is in the hooking and reeling in.

By: Doug Brethower

Doug Brethower — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:19:26 +0000

Enjoyed this article.

My guess is fish traps account for a whole lot more big catfish being poached in MO waters than noodling. If noodling was legalized, MO would get a whole new group interested in reporting and removing illegal fish traps.

When you can legally set trotlines, limb lines and float jugs through these same waters during the same times of the year, it is hard to imagine legalized hand fishing having much impact one way or the other on large fish.

As someone who has been entangled in a trotline while swimming in the river, I would prefer banning trotlines and legalizing hand fishing in rivers. More big fish would survive. I have never seen a trotliner throw one back. That would be counter to the purpose of the trotline which is not so much sport as harvest.

Killing the quarry would seem to be counter to the interest of true sport noodlers. Just like the catfish guides in the area never keep the really big fish, because their interest is not so much in the harvest as the sport.