A popular method of fishing down south is called "noodling".

In a nut shell, it involves catching a lazy catfish in the heat of
the day, by hand. They are semi dormant when it gets hot. The
noodler either wades or reaches around very slowly till he finds
one, feels around and finds the head and then waits till the big cat
opens his mouth. At that point he reaches in the mouth, grabs some
gills and HOLDS ON FOR DEAR LIFE.

These here guys down on the bayou are doing this in Louisiana &
Texas.

Bob-tx