Missouri’s least appreciated oppressed minority, the intrepid “noodlers” who prefer to catch humongous catfish by hand instead by hook or trotline, this week moved a step closer to equality with their tamer (or saner) brethren.

The Missouri House Agribusiness Committee on Tuesday approved House Joint Resolution 20. It would allow voters to amend the state constitution to create a two-month season for “handfishing,” the formal name for noodling — or catfisting, grabbling, graveling, hogging, dogging, gurgling, tickling or stumping, depending on where you live.

By whatever name, this is the process: You submerge yourself in a river or pond, reach into a cave or under a stump, wiggle your fingers and wait for a giant catfish to bite them. Meanwhile, you hope you don’t grab a water moccasin or snapping turtle by mistake.

When the fish clamps down on your hands, haul it in. Wetsuits, gloves and beer are optional, but advised.

The Missouri Conservation Department suspects that noodling depletes stocks of mature catfish. In 2005, the department began what was to be a five-year experiment with legalized noodling, but ended it after two years, saying too many fish were dying. Noodlers say the decision had more to do with politics — economic pressure from conventional catfishing interests — than it did with fish biology.

Neighboring states, in particular Oklahoma, have enjoyed a noodling boom. Oklahoma officials say science doesn’t support the anti-noodling claims. Missouri’s noodlers say their sport is part of their heritage. If HJR 20 is approved by the House and Senate, it still would need approval by voters. How great would that be: a constitutional right to noodle.