Learn Something Fun: The origin of the term "noodling" is unclear. A columnist at The Oklahoman newspaper polled readers about it a few years ago and got several theories, including that catfish are as slippery as wet pasta and that a hand fisher's arm hangs like a noodle after battling a catfish.
There are so much worse things humans do to animals and this is what they ban?
Catching a fish with bare hands is the most natural thing I know. People have done it thousands of years and it's in no way unfair. Using TNT on the other hand is.
I would not like to stick my hand in some deep underwater hole
noodling bad - fish traps ok?
go figure ...