I believe it's called noodling, and it takes a stup... err, special type of person who wants to do it. This is the land of nasty poisonous snakes that take offense at people wading around on their turf, such as cottonmouths. Plus there's always the danger of sticking your hand in there and grabbing a pissed off muskrat, or worse, snapping turtle instead of a catfish. One of my cousins (who lives in SC) is missing two fingers off his left hand for just this reason.