You also have to consider that he might see you coming and decide to
take off and ram right into you. This could be rather painful or he
could decide to defend himself and bite a couple fingers. If he's big
enough he may even try to eat your whole hand and keep going up the
arm. The point is that you must always expect and be prepared for the
unexpected. Anything can happen when handfishing for catfish.
Watch out for snakes and snapping turtles. They inhabit these areas of
the water as well and could cause serious injuries or even death. Even
when you find the catfish you should expect to have a few scratches or
injuries that you will have to deal with. If the catfish struggles you
could get cut up on the rocks and other obstacles in the water. You are
certainly taking a risk each time you step into the water with the
intentions of handfishing.
If you really want to give handfishing a try but are not quite ready to
take on the chances involved, then you have two options you can try.
Some people will wear scuba gear and thick gloves to make it safer.
Some will carry a hook and line underwater with them and hook the
catfish, then pull him out with the line. Now of course, this will not
be considered true handfishing but it can give you a better idea of
what to expect.
You will hear handfishing being referred to as fun, exciting,
interesting and down right stupid. However, the fact still remains that
it is one of the most thrilling types of fishing around. It is no
wonder that it survived as a legitimate method of fishing for all these
years. There will always be fishermen out there that will keep the
technique of handfishing alive. If you have never tried it but are
searching for an adventure you will never forget, now is the time to go
for it. Who knows, you might really enjoy it.
Before you venture out to see what all the fuss is about check on the
rules and regulations in your state to make sure it is legal. Some
states will not allow you to handfish in their lakes and rivers and
others may have restrictions on when and where you can perform this
technique.
To get the full "Noodling For Catfish " article you'll need to download it here.
