Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Ok guys, some of you know I have a catfish noodling guide service here in TN. While out on recon this past weekend with a couple friends, we found a new hole, the results are in this video link.



I have caught over 100 flathead cats by hand, fish in the high 40 lb range are what we consider huge. As you might pick up from my reaction, this one takes the cake. A fish of a lifetime.

DAMN!!!!!!!!!!

Crazy bastards.

No offense meant of course!

Wow what a monster! Good Job!

I doubt I got the nadz fer noodlin'!

PlaynDoc wrote:I doubt I got the nadz fer noodlin'!

We dont use those, we use our hands!!!!!
(GA folks are crazy!)

That's just plain crazy! Awesome fish...you talk about "holes" and such, can you explain a little bit what you mean by that. I have no idea how this whole noodlin thing works? I get you go down and pretty much stick your hand or arm in the things mouth and then get them to the surface but what all happens during that time and just before...ever run into a snake den?

Sure. Catfish spawn in holes they create under anything sturdy, rocks, concrete, hoolow trees, etc. They literally "waller" out the cave and then in the back of it, lay their eggs. The female stays until a male comes along to gaurd the nest. We feel with our feet or hands untill we find the hole, then reach in to see if its home. You will know pretty quickly as most times they charge out and bite the crap out of anything entering their hole. Sometimes we resort to a noodling "rod" which consists of a piece of bamboo with a 1/4" metal rod glued on one end, and bend it just a cooter-hair past 90*. When the cat bites the end, you pull and the cat pulls the other way, esentially keeping pressure on the bottom jaw against the bent portion. When it gets close enough to grab by hand, the real fun begins.

I've seen you guys on television--pulling those monsters out of holes.

And to think that the catfish down river from you are even larger. We had a major catfish tournament this spring, and the winner's 10 fish averaged 25 lbs. I think someone caught one in the 90 pound range.

What a hobby!

Nice video, my ol man did this way back....i know a few guys that do it...i'll stick with fishing poles!

Same here. Y'all are f'ing crazy. But you have my respect for doing it your own way!

thats crazy, nice fish!!

It's the last two weeks of noodlin season, who is coming!?
I had a really cool deal this week with my noodlin biz, will put a post together.....you might see my fat waterlogged arse on the TV very soon.

nice,

any idea on weight?

-bb

My spring-scale said 60, but it fell apart a day later, so not sure it was accurate. We catch a lot in the 40-48 lb range, all weighed with scales, and this one CRUSHED them in sheer size. If you are familier with fishing, I tell folks it had the "frame of an 80lb" fish, it was completely spawned out and they do not eat for a month, so pre-spawn it would have easily been in the 80+ range for sure.

did that when I was a senior in high school on the Verdigris river near Nowata, OK. don`t think I could do it now. But what a rush