[csvset]

before consisIent evidence for effective fishing gear appeared,

In other words, they don't know how they caught the fish.

Simple, the guys were hungry and they figured out some way of catching them.

[nomorelurker]

This is the most “well duh” post ever on Free republic.

[wildbill]

See the cable TV show about “Okie Noodling”.

If you’re hungry enough, or crazy enough, you just dive down to a catfish hole and stick your hand in the mouth of a big ol’ catfish and bring him up.