Get Started Noodling
Noodling can be unsafe. During the spawn when hand anglers are targeting the fish, catfish are incredibly aggressive.
Both flathead and blue catfish, the primary types targeted by noodlers, can be huge and weigh anywhere from 10 to 100 pounds.
These fish are very powerful and more than efficient in dragging or holding an unskilled noodler under the water and drowning them.
Additionally, it’s not simply catfish that inhabit the rivers, lakes, and swamps where noodlers are sticking their bare hands. 
Animals like snapping turtles, harmful snakes, alligators, and even otters and beavers occupy the exact same type of spots that noodler’s hunt and present prospective dangers.
So, if you’re interested in attempting your hand at noodling, it’s most likely best to not just jump in and start haphazardly shoving your arms into underwater crevices.
Rather, set up your very first noodling exploration with a skilled grabbler or guide like Dennis Redden of Redden Outfitters in Western Kentucky.
“I definitely recommend going with somebody who can show you what to do,” Redden told Meat Eater. “If you don’t, you might hurt yourself or not come back alive. When I take people out, I go in first to make sure there’s a fish in the spot, then I’ll block up the hole with my foot and have the client come out. I’ll explain what’s about to happen then I’ll let them take a good breath of air and get out of the way to coach them through it.”
Catfish can be found during spawning seasons in a variety of different areas.
From holes in the bank, to below washed-out boat ramps, to old culverts, if the fish can cram itself in the hole and has sufficient room to lay their eggs and safeguard them against potential predators, they’ll do it.
Due to the fact that of the prospective risks of putting your hands blindly into underwater holes, Dennis advises building and placing boxes in the water so you not just understand where to look for catfish but likewise so you’ll have control over the situation. 
“We’ll build small wooden boxes that are about 3 to 4 feet long with an 11×9 hole cut into one side,” said Redden. “That may not seem big enough, but those fish can shove themselves into some tight places. My biggest was a 72-pound blue cat that you wouldn’t have thought could fit through an 11×9 inch hole but it did, and if they can get in there, you can get them out. I’ll sink the boxes in 4 to 5 feet of water in the back of bays or along the riverbank that is close to deeper water, which seems to be key. They’re just like deer stands because some spots will work a few times or not at all and others will catch fish for me year after year.”
When catfish find the boxes throughout the generating season, the male fish will enter very first and tidy it out of any loose rocks or built-up mud along the bottom.
The female will enter the box and lay her eggs and the male will move back in to fertilize them.
Often both fish will remain in the hole to protect their eggs, making quite a surprise for any noodler who sticks their hand in the hole.
“If there’s two fish in the hole it can be a heck of a time,” said Redden. “But most of the time we’ll only keep one and let the other go. A 30- to 40-pound fish makes for a lot of meat and maybe 20 years old so you want to let as many go as you can to make sure you have more of those big old fish for next year.”
Noodling is a tough sport that takes some experience to do well, however with practice and preparation practically anybody can dive below the water and take out a huge catfish, so long as they understand what they’re getting themselves into.
Sources: themeateater
