Missouri Department of Conservation Says Noodling Can Hurt Catfish Populations. ... When the catfish bites onto the hand, the noodler pulls the fish off the nest and out of the water.

Is noodling bad for fish?

Is it legal in Californai? Answer: I have good news and bad news on this one. The bad news is that despite how much fun it probably is, noodling for catfish is not legal in California because catfish (and nearly every California fish) can be taken only through angling — meaning with a hook and line.

Where should you not touch a catfish?

The areas of concern in regard to being “hurt” or “stung” are the dorsal and pectoral fins. These fins are located behind the head on each side and on the top of the fish behind the head (refer to the image above).