Strange Sports #2 - Noodling

For those of you uncouth enough not to know, noodling is another word for hand-fishing, mainly for catfish, which is apparently legal in only four states: Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

A little about the 2001 documentary on the sport:
Shot on video and film, “Okie Noodling” follows three main groups of Oklahoma hand fishermen. Each one has their own take on what noodling is all about and what the secrets are. One of the noodlers has been mentioned prominently in the past, even having appeared on David Letterman, though I apparently missed that episode. They each come from very small towns in the backcountry and their passion happens to be catching giant catfish with their bare hands. One of the first shots of the film shows the self-proclaimed noodling champion up to his neck in dirty, placid river water, grimacing and then pulling to the surface a three-foot long, 35-pound catfish that has its mouth around his hand. You can also see the man’s fingers coming out the gills, which is how he gets a grip on the fish. According to the director’s commentary, this shot has elicited many a gasp from film festival crowds, and it is indeed a good way to start.

From: www.audiorevolution.com/dvd/revs/okie_noodlingp1.html 2.9.05

Also: www.okienoodling.com