Chasing trophy catfish can be one of the most rewarding pursuits in all of ice fishing. These fish grow big—often topping 10 to 20 pounds. They fight hard, too, tougher than any bass, walleye, or ...

If I were to flip you the bird left-handed, which I sometimes do to mix things up, you’d notice that my middle finger is crooked, with a bulged knuckle. Why does it look like that? Catfish noodling.

When a big flathead bites your hand, your buddies wading nearby can feel the thump reverberate through the water. That telltale sound means a few things to them. First, the catfish hole you just swam ...