this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] FundMECFS@piefed.zip 10 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Is this real? Like do people do this?

[–] seathru@quokk.au 3 points 1 day ago

Yeah, but here in the south we skip that finger foreplay and go straight to fisting fish.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noodling

IIRC, this is from the worst case scenario survival handbook, but has been edited. This is a method of fishing, and you're supposed to hook the gills like that.

[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

It's not that different than the way some people hunt bottom feeding fish like catfish, I guess it's the same if you're just bad at the catching part. In some places you're just going to end up feeding leeches and mosquitoes though.

[–] FundMECFS@piefed.zip 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Aren’t catfish venemous? I was told never to handle a live one. Especially it’s back.

[–] I_am_10_squirrels@beehaw.org 4 points 1 day ago

https://www.catfishedge.com/how-to-hold-catfish/

Apparently it's mostly the small ones to watch out for. Don't hold a baby catfish.

[–] Psythik@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Yes, you can go fishing with just your bare hands if you're skilled enough.

[–] NottaLottaOcelot@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

Personally I’d prefer not to lose my fingers to gar and muskies…

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 38 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Ok hear me out. There is a real local fishing technique for carp when you wade into the water near the end of a dock and hold your fist underwater with worms sticking out between your fingers. You just sit very very still, holing your wormy fist a few inches off the bottom. A carp will eventually try to gobble your fist whole. Then you quickly lift the fish out of water and slam it on the dock to stun/kill it.

They have no teeth to speak of, so no injury to you.

[–] tetris11@feddit.uk 17 points 1 day ago

They have no teeth to speak of, so no injury to you.

So it doesnt need to be your hand then, interesting... 🤔

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I live in Florida there is a swamp near me I will try this tomorrow!

[–] NottaLottaOcelot@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago

The last time I went to Florida I wanted to go hiking. We went to a local trail that had signs for alligators and pythons all over the place, and warning to avoid getting leprosy from armadillos. I don’t know how common these issues would be, but it made Canadian trails look like a walk in the park.

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 day ago

That's the most Florida thing you could do, except for doing it on meth.

[–] Sunsofold@lemmings.world 17 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's probably what the original image was about. The southern US has 'catfisting' which is pretty much the same thing.

[–] Pirat@lemmy.org 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's called noodling. The fisherman doesn't hold worms in his hand. He gets in the river, reaches up under the undercut bank to feel if there is a catfish (or turtle) there. If there is, he just grabs it by the jaw and yanks it out (if catfish). Turtles require a bit more finesse. If you feel smooth shell, don't grab. That's the front and it will grab you back with a mouth made of basically scissor blades. It the shell is jagged, that's the back end. Feel for a tail and yank it out.

[–] W98BSoD@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] MrShankles@reddthat.com 7 points 1 day ago

I don't have the balls to put my hands into water I can't see, especially in the US southeast. Between the snapping turtles, snakes, leeches, giant water bugs, alligators, and whatever else... "no thank you" indeed

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

similar with catfish, but you can get bit with those. i think it's called noodling

[–] BreadOven@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Just don't put your noodle in there.

i ain't kanye

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago

Yes! That's the term I was forgetting. I love to fish, but only do a very limted # of types. Spinner reels, baitcasters and icefishing. A friend I used to go Muskey fishing with used to do this who is the guy who introduced me to it. Not my thing, but funny.

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago