Anyone ever "noodle" for cats?

[Ronaldthe1]

Saw a TV program where this guys were feeling around logs, and rocks for cat fish, then they would grab a hold of em a drag em to the bank.  I was just waiting for one of them to find a nice size snapping turtle.

[John]

I noodled several years ago, but don't any more. I used barrels, and used scuba gear to run my barrels with. I had barrels in three different lakes in NE Oklahoma.

My largest fish was just a bit over 70 pounds, and I caught several in the 50-60 pound range.

Most of my noodling was done in water with zero visibility and anywhere from 6 to about 15 ft. deep. It was all by feel, and things like snappers laying down there with their mouth open did cross my mind.

I did noodle natural holes as well, sometimes in the middle of the night

My methods weren't always completely legal, sometimes there was a hook involved, and the state has since outlawed the barrels. It's just not worth getting caught, and besides I catch all the fish I could ever hope to use by other more conventional methods now days.

[prairiedog555]

It is legal for Indians to "hand fish" is what they call it around here in NE Kansas.  Went with some guys I worked with.  It was a hoot.  They waded around in a stream, and probbed with their hands under water along bank.  They caught a bunch, and one took 3 of them.  It weighed out at over 50 lbs. 
When I asked them what it was like they said if you feel fur, don't grab it.  You put your hand in their mouth and when they bite you grab.  You can tell a hand fisher, his forearm is all scarred up.

[suthincomfort]

ever think you might get ahold of a cottonmouth they're real friendly lol