There's a really weird fishing technique that I've known about for a little while now, but I don't think I realized that it's actually illegal in Minnesota and many other states.

I'm personally not much of a fisher. I've done it in the past, haven't done it in a long time, and it's just not usually my cup of tea. It's fine, but I'm not someone who has the itch to get out and go fishing.

However, I'd go fishing with a fishing rod way faster than I would ever do this strange fishing technique.

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Noodling for Catfish Fishing Technique

The weird technique I'm talking about is called noodling.

Catfish fishing, catch of fish, fishing scene
Sablin, Getty Images
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If you don't know what noodling is, it's where you use your hand to catch flathead, channel, or blue catfish instead of a traditional fishing tool like a rod.

Here's a more in-depth description of it from Field and Stream:

Catfish spawn in underwater holes, so when spawning season comes, you reach or dive underwater, stick your hand in an underwater hole, wait for a catfish to bite down on your hand, and then you grab the fish by its jaw and wrestle it out of its hole and up to the surface.

A Brown Bullhead is a catfish
Judy Darby, Getty Images
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They also point out that catfish noodling is dangerous, and you can definitely get injured by doing it. Gee, I wonder why. Sorry, but this is just so strange to me! I would never.

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Will Brantley with Field and Stream writes, "I’ve seen noses bashed and bloodied, fingertips smashed purple, and arms lacerated by underwater rebar."

He also says that his left middle finger is now crooked with a bulging knuckle from when a catfish broke his finger while noodling. Yeah, no thanks!

Where is Catfish Noodling Illegal

Catfish noodling is actually illegal in most states. Most of the states where it's legal are in the South.

a catfish swimming underwater
Milos Prelevic, Unsplash
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Minnesota is one of those states where it's illegal to noodle for catfish.

The list of states where catfish noodling is illegal is much longer than where it's legal, so let's take a peek at that list instead.

Where it's Legal to Noodle for Catfish

According to the website Meat Eater, the states where catfish noodling is legal are:

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin

In any other state, catfish noodling is illegal. That's fine by me, I have no desire to try it anyway! What about you?

Fisherman holding a catfish over half of his size in a lake
Tramper2, Getty Images
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