It's called noodling. The fisherman doesn't hold worms in his hand. He gets in the river, reaches up under the undercut bank to feel if there is a catfish (or turtle) there. If there is, he just grabs it by the jaw and yanks it out (if catfish). Turtles require a bit more finesse. If you feel smooth shell, don't grab. That's the front and it will grab you back with a mouth made of basically scissor blades. It the shell is jagged, that's the back end. Feel for a tail and yank it out.

Yes! That's the term I was forgetting. I love to fish, but only do a very limted # of types. Spinner reels, baitcasters and icefishing. A friend I used to go Muskey fishing with used to do this who is the guy who introduced me to it. Not my thing, but funny.

Just don't put your noodle in there.

That's the most Florida thing you could do, except for doing it on meth.

The last time I went to Florida I wanted to go hiking. We went to a local trail that had signs for alligators and pythons all over the place, and warning to avoid getting leprosy from armadillos. I don’t know how common these issues would be, but it made Canadian trails look like a walk in the park.

Aren’t catfish venemous? I was told never to handle a live one. Especially it’s back.