Published: September 04, 2008 11:51 pm            

MSU focuses on the lost art of grabbling

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University is preparing for a research project to understand what motivates fishermen and women to risk personal injury reaching into a dark underwater hole for a fish instead of using the traditional hook-and-line method.

Grabbling or noodling is a form of angling often referred to as a lost art, handed down through the generations and only a handful of sportsmen and women participate each year.  Wading in the water, close to the bank, an individual places their hand in a cavity, in hopes of obtaining a bite. The individual is expecting a large catfish, but may find a turtle, snake, or some other water loving creature inhabiting the hole and clamping down on their hand.

The person does not necessarily love pain or the fear of the unknown.  These are just individuals in search of a trophy catfish, the size that will definitely leave scars. 

“Grabblers are definitely a unique breed of anglers,” said Kevin Hunt, associate professor in MSU’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center. “Grabbling does not require a special license in the state of Mississippi other than a sport fishing license, so little is known about this group of anglers.” 

To understand the attitudes of grabblers compared to hook-and-line anglers, a new MSU study is looking for these individuals to determine their characteristics. The study will conclude around the end of December.

“We are hoping to find grabblers to participate in the study to identify why they hand grabble, particularly for various catfishes, how often they do so, their attitudes toward fishing and fisheries management, and how they differ from traditional hook and line recreational anglers,” said Susan Baker, a wildlife and fisheries graduate student conducting the study.

Few studies have been conducted on grabblers in the United States and how they differ from traditional hook-and-line anglers, especially since only 11 states allow the sport, Baker added. 

Mississippi is one of the few states that does not require a restriction on the number of fish caught or a limit on the size of fish when hand grabbling. 

Finding grabblers can be a challenge. The season occurs from May 1 to July 15, simultaneous with catfish spawning in the summer, which potentially explains the reason many participate in this mysterious sport. 

Grabblers interested in taking part in the study can contact Baker at (662) 325-4153 or E-mail sfb48@msstate.edu...

“The information gained through this study will provide fishery managers with a better understanding of the social aspects of hand grabbling,” Baker said. 

Those interested can also provide contact information through the Web site https://hdclel.org/grabbler/grabbler.asp. 

“Grabblers interested in the study are also encouraged to find others to participate,” Baker said. 

This study is completely voluntary and information gathered will be kept confidential.  Participants will be provided with an executive summary of study results upon completion.

        

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