On Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:16:18 -0400, BAR wrote:

In article ,
says...

On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:33:39 -0400, iBoat Often wrote:

I've caught my share of catfish and bullheads. But, I was watching those
southerners noodling which for those that don't know is using your hands
to pull them out of their hiding places. They seemed to have no regard
for the barbs on the fishes dorsal fin or pectoral fins. Anything that I
can find says that ALL catfish have barbs. I'd think those 20# or 30#
ones would have some big barbs!!! But again, those people were holding
them up against their torsos and such with no regard. So what's up with
that?


You just need to know how to hold them.
In a sea cat, if I really want to grab one, I center the dorsal
between the pointing and FU finger and hold them around the middle.
Usually I prefer not to touch them and just use my blue fish dehooker.
(a stainless car antenna with a hook on one end and a big wood handle
on the other) and flip them off.
Just be careful it doesn't flip off on your foot. BTDT

You need to fish the fresh water lakes up north and catch the smaller
catfish. The 1.5 to 3 pound ones are the best. I really can't see why
anyone would want to eat a big old bottom feeding fish from a murky
southern river.

I absolutely agree. I've often wondered what they do with the damn things when they catch them. A
big catfish tastes much like the mud they were caught from. BTDT...once.