I want to do this. Can you do this in Central Texas rivers? I've heard late April to June is the time of year. Any pointers? I'm near Hunt. I've seen a few guides around Texas, but $150 a day to go hand fishing seems a little spendy. TIA!

never heard of anyone doing this in the hill country...i'd be interested in hearing more.

I think one of the keys to successful noodling would be to work undercut banks.

With central Texas rivers suffering from little or no water, this might negatively impact your noodling chances.

Still illegal?

Became legal back in 2011.

It's legal, you just can't make artificial spots for the fish to hole up in, like the okies do. No sinking barrels and the like.

The first time you reach under a cut bank and grab hold of a cottonmouth, nutria or beaver, will mark the last time you do this type of fishing.

The Cajuns have this down the best, but like stated above, it's not legal in Texas, yet.

it IS legal (became legal in the 2011 legislative session). but there's no way in hell I'm blindly sticking my hands where things much worse then catfish may be

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The first time you reach under a cut bank and grab hold of a cottonmouth, nutria or beaver, will mark the last time you do this type of fishing.

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Exactly why it will not catch on!

So, are the folks in Louisiana and Oklahoma more brave? Or Texans just smarter?

Not putting much hope on either statement.

Look at hiring a guide the first time as tuition.

more brave or more stupid?

The part I'm saying is not legal is creating artificial areas in which to noodle.

Feeling around for underwater beaver is the best!

The key is not to go under anything that has an open air space. That greatly diminishes the chances of grabbing a snake or mammal.

Lots of water moccasins in the Guadalupe (if near Hunt) be careful!

Snapping turtles also think fingertips are yummy. I guess in the hill country, the visibility might be good enoguh to use a mask and actually SEE what you are doing.

A fool and his fingers are soon parted.

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I think one of the keys to successful noodling would be to work undercut banks.

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the other key being a pair of well-worn jean shorts.

Based on some of the shows, past or current use of meth might be handy.

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Look at hiring a guide the first time as tuition.

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I thought the same thing. It'd be fun and I'm sure these guys are entertaining to hang around. Traveling 5-7 hours would be the worst part for me.

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Lots of water moccasins in the Guadalupe (if near Hunt) be careful!

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Where are the herp guys? I don't believe this to be true but I may be wrong. I've lived here my whole life and have yet to see one. I went to a herpetology lecture at UT a few years ago and the lecturer stated that there weren't Cottonmouths in Travis or Williamson County. He said you really started to see them once you got over towards Bastrop and they were prevalent in E. TX and the Gulf Coast. Again, I'm not arguing with you, just trying to get an answer.

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A fool and his fingers are soon parted.

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Call me a pvssy, but I'd have no problem wearing gloves.

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The key is not to go under anything that has an open air space.

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sage advice and what I was thinking. Do folks only noodle when the fish are spawning? Any clue when this happens?

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Or Texans just smarter?

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Bingo. Have you seen some of those coonasses?

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there weren't Cottonmouths in Travis or Williamson

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I've seen them in the rocks around Lake Travis. They're also in Burnet/Lampasas and counties further north.

Some info to play with.

http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/30676-Agkistrodon-piscivorus-leucostoma

Scroll down and click on "map". You will see the range map and a number of sightings in the area in question.
http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/30675-Agkistrodon-piscivorus

[This message has been edited by ursusguy (edited 4/2/2014 1:37p).]

There isn't an ecological/biological reason why cotton mouths are not in those listed counties.

So they are there, for all intensive purposes.

My second link will take you to a map with photos of them in those counties (or very close by).

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all intensive purposes

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Never gets old.

Irregardless, I still want to go noodling.
I thought for sure, someone on here would have given it a go. I'll report back when it happens.

btw- that was for you kayak

What, intensive and purposes are both real words. Maybe it's not a real phrase, grammatically but at least they are real words!

If I happen to say it, I actually mean "intensive" purposes.

Ok, maybe not, and I screw that one up all the time.

There are cotton mouths in those counties.

Gawd damn grammar nazis!

If I had a dime for every water snake sighting that was said to be a cottonmouth, I'd be rich.

Thats why I tend to lean towards what the PhD giving the lecture said.But back on topic. I'm less concerned with if cottonmouths are here than I am with where to look for catfish

Just an fyi, several of those Austin/San Antonio sightings in the link I posted are by the state herpetologist.