If I were to flip you the bird left-handed, which I sometimes do to mix things up, you’d notice that my middle finger is crooked, with a bulged knuckle. Why does it look like that? Catfish noodling.

When a big flathead bites your hand, your buddies wading nearby can feel the thump reverberate through the water. That telltale sound means a few things to them. First, the catfish hole you just swam ...

Next time, I'll get bitten better or, rather, the way I plan to get bitten. The first time a person tries noodling, it's likely they will mess up, so I jumped right in to get bit and get it over with.

This story was first published in the June–July 2017 issue. MY WIFE, Michelle, chased my little brother out the front door, vowing to whip his butt with a spatula. It was the only weapon she could ...