According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), conservation agents found at least four suspected “noodling” boxes on March 17. The discoveries came during a period of unusually low water levels at Pomme de Terre Lake, located roughly 50 miles north of Springfield in the Ozarks.
Authorities said the devices are typically placed underwater to mimic nesting sites and attract catfish, and note that the state has banned the practice.
What Is Noodling?
Catfish noodling, also known as hand-fishing, is a method of catching catfish by placing one’s hand into underwater holes, logs, or cavities where the fish are nesting. When a catfish bites defensively, the person pulls it out. Noodling typically targets large, mature fish, most often during spawning season when they are guarding eggs, making them more likely to strike intruders…