"Dangers:
Almost every instance of noodling involves minor wounds. Although superficial cuts are received with every catfish caught, this can be avoided to an extent by wearing gloves and other protective clothing. Even so, losing fingers is a real risk, whether from the bite or infection. A slight danger of drowning exists, as most holes are far enough down in the water that diving is required to reach into them. A person confident in their swimming abilities may be caught off guard by the sudden added strain of carrying a large fish to the surface. Spotters can alleviate this danger, but it is still present. It is possible that statistics on noodling deaths are not available or accurate due to the depths at which many catfish live. A severely wounded noodler ten to twenty feet underwater might not have the physical capacity to return safely to the surface of the water, resulting in the official cause of death as death by drowning. Another danger lies in one's clothes, getting tangled or snagged on roots or rocks. To avoid this, many noodlers will dive wearing nothing more than their shorts.
The largest danger posed to noodlers are other forms of aquatic life found in catfish holes. Far more dangerous than catfish are alligator, beavers and snapping turtles, who will take over abandoned catfish holes as homes of their own. These animals are always on the mind of experienced noodlers."