Late 60s I got know an old man that lived on James River near Galena, Mo. Mr. Byers. Don't know his first name, just always called him Mr. Byes. He had a lot of river stories. Was in his mid 70s at the time and was old enough to remember being on the river in locally made wooden jon boats before outboards were common. At his age he could STILL pole a jon upriver. It was art to watch him. It's not strength but technique. Seemed effortless to watch him. Took his time, but he got there. Went down river the same way. No paddle, just a pole.
Anyway, one of the stories he told was when he was a young man he and the boys were noodling, he stuck his arm back in a hole and noodled a beaver out. Said it cured him and he hadn't noodled since.

And old river man i knew from further up the James said everyone pole boat and you hardly ever saw a paddle used he told me a story about seeing his uncle laying on a flat rock near tory creek laid on his back spitting out water and suckin air he'd got a hold of a big fish and couldn't get it out and it wouldn't let go and almost drowned him he said it cured him from trying to noodle