Thank God It’s Now Legal to Go Catfish Noodling in West Virginia

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I’ll tell you guys what – I’m a big believer in West Virginia. That’s definitely one of those states I just inherently, without control, root for. I want to see them succeed. I want their people to prosper – just the whole shebang. And, why not? Have you ever driven through West Virginia? It’s beautiful.

Well, now, thanks to a group of determined and admirable people, the fine folks of West Virginia can now legally go noodling in the state’s bountiful rivers.

Courtesy of the West Virginia Gazette-Mail:

A brand-new fishing season makes its debut Friday in West Virginia.

For the first time ever, people in the Mountain State will be allowed to noodle for catfish. Noodling, also known as hand-fishing, grabbling and tickling, has long been legal in the Midwest and Deep South, but has always been illegal in West Virginia.

That changed in May, when members of the state Natural Resources Commission voted to create a noodling season with a fixed opening date of June 15 and a fixed closing date of Aug. 31.

Noodlers catch catfish by feeling around in underwater openings until they touch a catfish. They then grab the fish by the mouth or gills and yank it out. The practice has acquired a cult following among daredevils who enjoy the adrenaline rush of wrestling with fish that can weigh up to 70 pounds.

It’s been roughly a week since this went live, and I can tell you one thing: I haven’t heard a single peep from any of those catfish in West Virginia. R.I.P.

There’s a surprising amount of noodling rules, though. You can only noodle during daylight hours, can’t catch more than four per day, you can’t use bait, no scuba gear, and you can only noodle in rivers. No lakes allowed.

But, I like it – makes it just you and a catfish, mano y mano. I’ve always found that while hunting (I don’t hunt), it’s always much more thrilling to track my prey and kill it than bait it in while I just lazily sit in a tree stand. That’s just me, though.

I can say for sure, though, that there is nothing more attractive than a noodlin’ woman. Might have to make a trip up to West Virginia JUST to sit in the wood and watch women. Isn’t that a veritable hobby up there?

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley

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