Id rather have one on a Rod n reel

But sometimes they ain't bitin!

When you put your hand in the hole keep it on the bottom in the mud. If it feels like it runs up on a rock keep your hand on it and feel for the edge, if the edge is smooth and you can get your hand under it its the bad side of the snapper, trace your hand around the edge till you find the jagged portion. you at the tail then reach under grab the tail and haul him out. We use to noodle snappers that way. Just keep your hand palm down on the bottom of the hole and you will be fine while grabbin' catfish. Take people with you to stick their feet in the escape holes if there is any. Once your hand is in and you find a fish keep your hand in and block any other holes or he will get out. YOUR GONNA GET BIT, just stay in the hole. At times you will feel the eggs feel around till you feel the fish guarding the eggs or just wait to get bit and grab on. If there is grass floating in the entrance it's probably muskrat, keep your hands out of that one. We carried feed sacks on the smaller creeks as we waded to keep the fish in. The non-grabbers and blockers carry the sack. My ex will attest that catfish fins can stick through the bag and get you. Be a sack dragger not an over the shoulder carrier. Have fun, be careful and enjoy it. I'm not an expert this was just some tips I've picked up. Your mileage may vary. Good luck this summer.

very few of the holes that have fish have eggs in them even holes that have two or three fish . I think they start looking for holes and spending time in holes moving around every night long before they spawn . Just because fish are in a hole isnt a guaranty that they are guarding eggs

What Bigfoot said. Yup.

catch and release pretty simple if concerned about population.

You get around snakes, turtles and beaver by never putting your fleshy bits into a hole that can possibly have air in it. Those critters won't reside in a hole with no air in it. Also if you are noodling river banks never go in a hole that angles up Because that's beaver territory. Have been noodling my entire life and absolutely love it. Have caught many fish in the 40-50 pound range. It is illegal in Oklahoma to use boxes, barrels and that kind of thing also but it doesn't keep it from happening. Matt we need to hook up and go sometime. I used to handfish eastern Oklahoma every summer but haven't been in a few years and all my good spots here around home are dried up.

We will try to get togather this spring maybe some sand bass and then some noodling later on in the summer.

great read thanks guys

Lol. When it was time kids would come to school with their knuckles scabbed. Noodling ain't as bad on catfish as otter are.