A few years ago I was at a boat show outside of Houston. I got in a discussion with a couple of Texans who started talking about the most efficient ways to fish. Being a good Californian, I asked which patterns of flies they were using. They exchanged glances and one of them said "Hell, boy, we're talking about using dynamite! In all innocence, I asked them "how did they get the fish out of the trees?" One of them said "Hell, boy, why do you think we all carry chain saws in the back of our trucks?
Do you think they were putting me on? Would Texans do such a thing?
I saw this done once in private lake. The explosion was certainly loud - it actually broke out windows in an old shed near the lake. However, the explosion did not really cause the lake water to shoot up in the air. Nonetheless, it was effective in killing fish - soon after the explosion went off, hundreds of fish started floating to the top of the water. The owners then went out into the lake in a boat and started retrieving the fish out of the water with a net. The fish were not damaged from the explosion - I guess the sound repercussions was what actually killed the fish.
So in summary, I think those fellas were probably serious about dyamite fishing, but pulling your leg regarding the trees and chainsaws. However, I guess if they were to use enough explosives, you could have fish flying through the air.
I have heard about this all my life, but never actually seen it done.. I am not sure if it is really legal or not here in Texas, but it has definitely been done before.. There are also many other non-typical methods that have been used over the years as well...
I remember as kid going out in the boat with my Grandfather. I never could figure out what that box with the crank on it was for. It wasn't till I was older that I figured out what they were doing. Also I couldn't figure out why their were so many fish floating on top of the water.
I don't ever remember seeing any explosive devices though.
Yea it can be done, but it comes with one helluva fine and ALOT of jail time!!!!!!!! Also as to bzzboyz "handcrank", ive seen that done, and it works, but I just don't need that much catfish. Also, they have a device out now that the game wardens can drop into the water and tell almost exactly where it is being done!!!!! (direction and distance!!!). Hell, noodling is illegal in texas!!!!! I have never figured out why though.
"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!"
Adolf Hitler, 1935
In the oil business when we drilled an expolratory well offshore that was not to be produced and we needed to cut the casing near the mudline, we used explosive charges. There were always a number of fish that came to the surface after we detonated a charge. The boats would go in and pick up what they wanted. I have not been involved with this in 20 years but think this is no longer allowed.
Keith
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