Okie Noodling Tournament Photos

nationalgeographic ^

[JoeProBono]

Once a year, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, is home to the Okie Noodling Tournament, a 24-hour race to bring in the biggest catch using an unusual—and sometimes dangerous—technique. Unlike traditional anglers, noodlers forego the rod and reel and take on massive catfish with their hands, pulling them from holes by their toothless mouths.

[JoeProBono]

[GeronL]

I wonder if Laz would.... nah

[caver]

Them some ugly catfish!

[a fool in paradise]

NAPL!

[Non-Sequitur]

I know a couple of noodlers, who will remain nameless because I can’t remember if Missouri is in a ‘noodling is legal’ or ‘noodling is illegal’ phase right now, and while I think they’re nice guys I also think they’re crazy for sticking their hands into submerged places looking to see what’s there. The same kind of areas that attract big-ass catfish also attract big-ass snapping turtles.

[a fool in paradise]

Pa: "HERE'S your new pet!"

Son: "But I wanted a puppppppy!"

[SpinnerWebb]

I don’t think he’d hit a catfish...

But he definitely had redefined “noodling”...

[Non-Sequitur]

Son: "But I wanted a puppppppy!"

Dad: "Think of it as a mudpuppy."

[GeronL]

lol

[SpinnerWebb]

i could be wrong about the catfish...

[GeronL]

lol

[GeronL]

With a hammer maybe

[wbill]

I was just on another thread where Laz was discussing what he'd hit. This chick made the catfish look good.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2489105/posts

[I_Publius]

I’d worry about a mess of water moccasins up in there....to heck with that!

[GeronL]

lol!!

[Hot Tabasco]

I wonder what them folks do for fun on Saturday nights?

[JoeProBono]

[Slyfox]

This one is SO huge (as you can tell by the 7 foot width of its head),
it took three men and 47 minutes to get him noodled.

And it darned near ate Lorenzo.

[green pastures]

“pulling them from holes by their toothless mouths.”

Wow. I had no idea there were so many toothless people in Oklahoma. Bobbing for catfish. Who knew?

[JoeProBono]