Noodling in Wisconsin

I was just looking into the newly passed catfish 'noodling' regulations. I've been watching a lot of videos online so I can learn how to properly pursue this and give it a try for next summer. I read an article that was published at the time that it got legalized and was said to hopefully bring in some more recreation to the outdoors. Almost all the videos I've seen, the noodlers go about the sport in two different ways. By either setting out tubular structures or nesting boxes and sticking their hand in the entrance of the hole OR put on goggles and search for deep holes and large pieces of structure such as boulders or large sunken logs. After reading the regulations, setting out any kind of box, tube, or artificial nesting box is prohibited, as well as wearing goggles or any kind of eye protection - making it virtually impossible to do any kind of noodling here in Wisconsin. Yet, you can go out and shoot a big flathead with a bow and that's perfectly legal now. That's how unbelievably stupid the bureaucrats in our Department of Natural Resources are. Just thought I'd share.

I don't know anyone that noodles

Too cold for me. 30* tonight.

AJE - That's because of this....

Gary Benson - It's only open June - August up here.

most noodling goes on in water so muddy you couldnt possibly see in,. you just have to feel for the holes and the fish in them . It takes a special kind of person to feel around blindly for fish that can be the size of a preteen child . It is a rush . when you find a whole with fish in it check it again in a few days more fish will move in . As you do it more you will build an iventory of likly holes for next season . Scout when the water is low for holes that may be suitable for the fish when the water rises . concrete slabs make some of the best holes rip rap has lots of cavities in it but its tedious to feel around in it for fish but they will utilize rip rap in july . The holes in rip rap will be there from year to year if you find a fish in a cavity another will use it again either in a few days or next season . there are often nice cavities under the edges of boat ramps or abandoned road beds that run into a lake . It just takes alot of scouting to consistantly take fish .

I looked it up on You Tube. I'll pass.

Chicken. I'd love to do it. Dad used to tell me stories about when they went as kids and young adults. If it were legal here, I'd be doing it.

That’s how you hillbillies lose fingers! One of those holes will have a snapping turtle waiting for ya! Lol

just noodle them to turtles can be tasty

Atleast in wisconsin you dont have to wory about Cotton mouths . The best noodling videos on youtube are Hanna Barrons

Agreed! Huge fan of Hannah and Jeff Barron. That guy is a workaholic. Love his drive and down to earth attitude.

In Alabama, when they draw down the lakes/rivers in winter, we would go dig holes in the bank to be no deeper than three foot at full pool. Dig the hole angled down so it can’t hold any air pockets to help keep snakes or turtles out. The holes silt back in by the next winter. I could care less about cotton mouths, it’s the snappers that give me chills thinking about one in a hole. We had a long stick with flagging tape on the end of it to check from the boat. If ones home, they attack the stick. Then jump in and grab them. Not many flatheads where I was so I’d check from the boat and cover a couple miles of water.

Nice thread, nostalgia.

Where I grew up in Southeast Nebraska, the Nemaha River has a rocky bottom which makes for some great noodling. I won't go into the dens in the banks as the beaver don't like being noodled. Feeling around the edge of the big rocks on the bottom you won't find anything but a fish. They're generally under there nesting around the first of July. It can be a surprise to get the tips of your fingers nipped, but if you keep your fingertips on the bottom you can feel the fish when you touch it and not get bit. It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Now the dang gar have polluted that river and I don't know if anyone still does it anymore. I doubt kids today can get off the couch to go handfishing.

You’re missing the point

Noodling's not a legal method of take here in Nebraska, from what I understand. That's not to say people don't do it, of course. Personally, that sound terrifying. Big fish give me the heeby jeebys. Those big catfish ate strong enough to grab your hand and drag you under. No thanks.

I have never wore goggles, look for bank holes in rivers in clay banks. Boat ramps are great to check out as for any large flat rocks. Hollow logs are great spots also. If you can't put out nesting sites. Go look for hollow logs close by water and set them up to noodle out of. Old car bodies anything that a catfish can get in or under to fan out a nest will hold fish. Its a fun time, and when the fish bites you you always jump no matter how many times you have done it.

I never did deep water either. Had an uncomfortable incident below the dam at Wymore back in the day involving barbed wire in deep water. Yikes!

Noodling is only legal in a handful of states, for good reason. It only works during the spawning season, and removes the fish from their beds. This is fine in states with large flathead populations, but in other states where they aren’t as plentiful it can destroy the population in a hurry. Comparing bowfishing a fish rarely seen by bowfishers to noodling is comparing apples to potatoes.

Here in Tennessee it's known as hogging. I use to love to hog 35 or 40 years ago. We would hog Forked Deer River or Obion River and would feel holes up under the bank and under logs and brushpiles and in hollow logs. Forked Deer River was much snakier than Obion River. I could tell if a fish had been in that hole by the slickness of the mud in the hole. If a catfish was in the hole we'd grab him in the mouth; we'd grab carp or buffalo with middle finger and thumb in the eyes and the other hand would grab just in front of his tail. What they show on TV shows for the most part ain't the real hogging. Most of my hogging buddies have died and the cottonmouths have gotten entirely too populated for me to hog now. I sho-nuff enjoyed it though. It's fun if ye don't have to worry much about cottonmouths and I figure that some of them boys south of me have to worry about gators.

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.