Only been noodlin once...

[P.Smash]

Cause the water been so high all stinkin spring...
But here's a couple of decent fish, got a few scratches and scrapes from these. The big one is 36 lbs. The smaller one with my little girl was 24 lbs.

[mchildress]

Those are some nice cats.

[HORSEMOVER]

36lbs. WOW! How big do they get?

[P.Smash]

36lbs. WOW! How big do they get?
I caught one a few years ago that nearly drowned me that weighed 52 lbs. The life expectancy of a flathead is about 20 years. I have heard of 80+ pounders.

[HORSEMOVER]

Wow! I have seen it on tv and it looks like some crazy fun but never seen it in person or tried it.

[P.Smash]

Almost forgot, the 36 pounder in the picture had a 16" largemouth bass in its gut that would've prolly weighed nearly 2 lbs. The bass's tail was sticking out of it's throat. They're pretty amazing predators, people think they are slow or lazy, but to catch a bass of that size shows what kind of predators the flathead really are. Flathead are'nt like other catfish, they prefer live food, they're not scavengers. That's why I like 'em so much, they are hunters.

[P.Smash]

Wow! I have seen it on tv and it looks like some crazy fun but never seen it in person or tried it.
It's a total rush, putting you're hand in a hole underwater trying to bit by a huge fish! Then wrestling that monster in his element.
Noodling is only legal in 4 states, Oklahoma being one of them. If you ever come to Ok in late May or June I'd be glad to take you.

[gotaluvthospens]

I like to think of myself as a true outdoorswomen but in all honesty I don't think I could ever noodle. I'd get so freaked out.
Also.... I just want to point out that you have a picture comparing the size of a catfish to the size of your infant. I find this humorous and I just can't help it.

[P.Smash]

I like to think of myself as a true outdoorswomen but in all honesty I don't think I could ever noodle. I'd get so freaked out.
Also.... I just want to point out that you have a picture comparing the size of a catfish to the size of your infant. I find this humorous and I just can't help it.
That's just a true redneck moment captured in time. I wanted to take that pic so I could show her when she's older. My wife did'nt understand either. I thought it was classic.

[HORSEMOVER]

If you ever come to Ok in late May or June I'd be glad to take you.


Thanks for the offer. If I ever make it out I would love to give it a try. I have to admit sticking your hand in a hole not knowing whats in there sounds crazy but wrestling a monster sounds like an absolute blast. Thanks for sharing the pics.

[venisun]

Awesome. :jaw:

[cordwood]

You're a redneck man!:thumb: ...I wish I was half the redneck you are, but I gotta draw the line somewhere. Puttin my hand down into the water trying to get bit is crazy man!!! For one, ive seen snapping turtles around here capable of tearing off a limb(or at least a finger). And two, those cats are huge and can throw there weight around... I guess im just too chicken... Even if I did successfully get a big cat to bite my hand instead of a turtle, im afraid he'd break my arm off or drown me.:o

Awesome cats...but you're crazy man!:freakjam:

:2thunbs:

[P.Smash]

My only real concern with the whole concept is a cotton mouth. A flathead nesting hole is always clean and smooth. Holes with leaves or sticks can mean a snake or a beaver could be hiding in there, either one is trouble. Once you know its clean you're in the clear.

[L-train]

A real Redneck wouldnt be wearin sissy rubber gloves, j/k, pretty cool P.

[Ultramax]

Almost forgot, the 36 pounder in the picture had a 16" largemouth bass in its gut that would've prolly weighed nearly 2 lbs. The bass's tail was sticking out of it's throat. They're pretty amazing predators, people think they are slow or lazy, but to catch a bass of that size shows what kind of predators the flathead really are. Flathead are'nt like other catfish, they prefer live food, they're not scavengers. That's why I like 'em so much, they are hunters.Most people dont know the differance between a flathead, a blue, or a channel. I have several friends and family who thought they didnt like catfish until they tried flathead. The meat is white and flakey and I like it about as much as crappie. In Missouri were not allowed to noodle so we have to use bank poles or trot lines. I would love to try noodling sometime though!

[DustyRx]

Most people dont know the differance between a flathead, a blue, or a channel. I have several friends and family who thought they didnt like catfish until they tried flathead. The meat is white and flakey and I like it about as much as crappie. In Missouri were not allowed to noodle so we have to use bank poles or trot lines. I would love to try noodling sometime though!

How true that is. Oh the days of living in Texas between the Red River and the Sulphur River. There is a huge difference in farm raised channel cat and river flatheads.

[P.Smash]

A real Redneck wouldnt be wearin sissy rubber gloves, j/k, pretty cool P.
I had to go in to the office that morning and I wear rubber gloves when cleaning them to keep the smell down. If you've ever cleaned a big flathead you'd know that the smell is almost impossible to get rid of for a while.
Sometimes I dont mind the smell, but it's not very professional.

[labdad]

Nice fish, I like to catch flatheads and blues. Noodling is fun but I havn't done it in years. Getting lazy, to easy to sit in the boat and catch them.

[cdhunter]

As a Canadian still can't wrap my head around shoving your hand in a fishes mouth for it to clamp down on!!!!!!! either way nice fish time to go get some walleyes.

[willraygreen]

My dad tells me stories about "noodling", but I was always more baffled by the "feeling for snappers" that he and his brothers used to do. They would wade small streams, and feel for snapping turtles, reach in, pull them up, and put them in burlap sacks. He said you can always tell which end was the head because the shell was smooth there. It was sawtooth on the back end near the tail, so that was how they knew which end to grab.

I did "noodle" once, but that was only because I was on a Boy Scout Survival outing, and I saw a nice blue cat swim into a half buried barrel in some shallow water. Still pretty wild, I can't imagine if you couldn't see anything. I did eat well that night though.

[archer1983]

That's just a true redneck moment captured in time. I wanted to take that pic so I could show her when she's older. My wife did'nt understand either. I thought it was classic.

I agree. Its a classy pic! Don't never let no one tell ya no different! :rofl:

Looks like a lot of fun as well! :woohoo:

[Randy D]

Which river? Neosho or Spring River.

[Droptyne1]

You got some big you know what to do that! I think it would scare the crap out of me. Always found it interesting when I see it on tv. Nice catch though!

[P.Smash]

Which river? Neosho or Spring River.
These fish came from Lake Tenkiller. I do like noodlin Deep Fork arm of Eufaula as well.

[P.Smash]

You got some big you know what to do that! I think it would scare the crap out of me. Always found it interesting when I see it on tv. Nice catch though!
The first couple of times was pretty scary. Now it's just a rush.