Posted by John Nichols on March 20, 2003 at 14:11:36 from 165.91.199.202 user Mcneacail.
In Reply to: Goddling posted by Ross on March 20, 2003 at 12:42:45:
Ross
The word is guddling:
From the OED
2. intr. To grope for fish in this manner.
1881 Blackw. Mag. July 108 We would be plunging down the water like otter-hounds, guddling for the trout under the tree roots and beneath the stones. 1886 STEVENSON Kidnapped xxi. 202 Stripped to the waist and groping about or (as they say) guddling for these fish. 1966 J. CAIRD Perturbing Spirit xix. 204 He went about on his own, guddling in the burns, bird's-nesting.
Hence guddling vbl. n.
1818 HOGG Brownie of Bodsbeck II. 170 ‘So this is what you call gumping?’ ‘Yes, sir, this is gumphing, or guddling, ony o' them ye like to ca't’. 1895 Daily News 18 July 5/2 Horrible to say, Mr. Graham gives instructions for tickling trout, otherwise guddling, or gumping.
In Northern England there was a much greater influence of the Norse and Danish words so Tarn Beck etc.
John Nichols