Check Your Laws! Catfish Noodling Legality

This past June, four Iowa catfish noodlers were arrested for... noodling! Apparently, in Iowa, you can get into some serious trouble for catfish noodling. Over 170 pounds of catfish were confiscated as well as a small boat. Up to date, catfish noodling is only legal in 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Texas. Reasons for catfish noodlings illegal status in these other states is due to the states seeing the practice as being too dangerous or to the ecosystem. For log onto CP North America for additional details on the arrest in Iowa. 


Before you decide to go noodling, make sure you check the laws in your area to ensure you're on the right side of the law. Also before you hit the murky depths, make sure you know what you're doing with tips from Jerry "Catfish" Rider. Let the catfish noodling veteran Jerry "Catfish" Rider show you the ropes in order to make your noodling experience the most successful one it can be! 

Why Catfish Noodling is Illegal in Some States

Though states like Oklahoma and Texas enjoy legal catfish noodling, there are other states where catfish noodling is illegal. Missouri, for instance, has strong catfish noodling regulations that have made the sport illegal. One of the concerns is that as the sport of catfish noodling increases, the practice has the possibility of depleting the catfish population. Though catfish noodling is legal in Oklahoma, there are ways to catfish handfish and not have a dramatic affect on the catfish population. Noodling legend Jerry "Catfish" Rider recommends a catch-and-release technique to ensure a plentiful future of catfish and fun for catfish noodlers. For more information on why catfish noodling is illegal in Missouri, read up on the official website of the Missouri Department of Conservation. For more on catfish noodling, including the importance of a catch-and-release technique, log on to the official website of catfish noodling legend Jerry "Catfish" Rider.