Noodling for Catfish in Georgia

On Friday, July 1, 2004 it became legal to noodle for catfish in Georgia. So if you have an overwhelming desire to go down to the river or a pond and stick your hands under logs and into holes trying to find a catfish, you can do so legally now. Noodling season in Georgia runs from March 1 – July 15 so you have a couple of months left to give it a try this year.

Noodling it a tradition in the south and it is now legal in six states. I have never tried it, but have watched it on TV. That is probably as close as I will get to the real thing. There are way too many critters with teeth, fangs and beaks that like holes in the water for me to want to stick my hands in one.

Can you imagine wading waist deep in water in a creek or river and sticking your hand up into a hole in the bank under the water. You might find a catfish. If you do you grab it in the gills and pull it out for supper. If you find a snapping turtle or snake I guess you ease your hand out slowly and hope your fingers don’t become supper.

Give noodling a try if you want to – but you might want to wear gloves!