Noodling

Noodling is a common, especially in the southern states and the Midwest of the United States and operated as a sports equipment of fishing, mainly fish from the family of catfish be caught with bare hands in the.

Noodling is the most common term for this type of fishing, but there are several different regional names, including grabbing, grave bling, hogging, snatching and tickling.

Technology

The archaic technique of noodling is due to the benthic life of the prey fish. Catfish usually stay in self-dug caves at the base of turbid waters on, often hidden in the mud or under dead wood. Therefore, the Noodler examined in stooping gait, in deeper water and diving, the water bottom for holes from. His hands serve as bait, at which the catfish to latch on. Has a catfish so confused a hand with prey, the successful Noodler goes to the surface and attempts by forces the fish to let go of his arm, which often proves to be difficult and even painful procedure.

The noodling is for various reasons a pretty dangerous thing to do. On the one hand reach some specimens, such as the Blue Cats catfish, a weight of more than 20 kg, so that the diver must exert an enormous power to recover the fish - there is a danger of drowning. Since clothing could get caught on obstacles, fishing Noodler usually wearing only shorts.

A well even greater risk represent other inhabitants of the lake bottom, especially snakes and turtles. Especially feared are under Noodlern especially Snapping Turtles, whose bite force quite sufficient to sever a human hand. Beavers, who have settled in abandoned Welsbauten, constitutes a risk

Noodling as a sport

Noodling is generally regarded as a pastime backwoods rednecks and is part of many a modern legend. In the field of view to a wider public the noodling came in 1989, when David Letterman in his Late Show originating from Oklahoma Jerry Rider was noodeln on camera. For some time Rider became the face of Noodlings; numerous television and press articles devoted to his hobby. Many Noodler criticized, however, that would distort their sport and shown in the wrong light.

A more objective access to the topic Opened in 2001, the documentary Okie Noodling Beesleys Bradley, who shed light on the history and technology of sports in Oklahoma and was seen on many stations of the Public Broadcasting Service. This film was also the impetus for the first official noodling - contest, the annual Okie Noodling Tournament discharged.

Fishing with bare hands is legally permitted only in eleven states, despite its widespread use. In 2005 Missouri had three sections of the river for a period of two weeks of trial for noodling. In other states, although it is widely used, but forbidden in part or restricted by law. Thus, a fine of up to U.S. $ 500 is payable in Texas about in the absence of such permission.

Noodling is operated mainly by men, their special fishing techniques usually deliver them to their sons. However, are also increasingly venturing recently women in this male domain.

Noodling outside of the United States

The technique of fishing with your bare hands is also common in other parts of the world. So this applies annually in the Nigerian Argungu fishing festival discharged as the largest noodling contest between the world. Up to 5000 participants compete there for the biggest catch.