First Time Catfish Noodling @ The Okie Noodling Competition

In a special series of articles known as The Amateur by Spencer Hall, Hall goes on his first catfish noodling expedition during the Okie Noodling competition with a few other experienced catfish noodlers. In addition to play-by-play details of noodling for catfish, Hall also provides his own dialogue in which the catfish noodler and the catfish have a conversation about what is going to happen to the catfish after he is caught. 

For expert catfish noodling advice, look no further than the DVD tutorials by Oklahoma's own catfish noodling pioneer, Jerry "Catfish" Rider. 

Catfish Noodling On the Radio

From the Public Radio Exchange (PRX), reporter Scott Gurian joins catfish noodling veteran Thomas Riggs  in Watonga, OK for a noodling expedition as well as joining Riggs at the annual Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, OK. Gurian's audio story does a wonderful job expressing the attitudes of a veteran catfish noodlers as well as describing the sights and feelings involved with a catfish noodling experience. Riggs likens his catfish noodling experiences to that of a drug addiction with Gurion comparing the Okie Noodling Tournament to a joyful AA meeting where no one is ready to give up their addiction. To listen to the full story, PRX has this colorful story of catfish noodling and the culture surrounding it.

To have a leg up and hand in on the competition or just to improve your own skill, veteran catfish noodler Jerry "Catfish" Rider is pleased to provide lend a hand with some of the finest DVD tutorials for catfish noodling available. Log on to the official site of Jerry "Catfish" Rider and get started with some of the finest catfish noodling tutorials available. 

Catfish Noodling Deemed the Latest "Extreme Sport"

Despite many states still outlawing catfish noodling, this has not hurt catfish noodling's appeal in other states. Thanks to coverage of catfish noodling from the annual Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma and shows like Animal Planet's "Hillbilly Handfishin'", catfish noodling has never been more popular. As more people give catfish noodling a try, from new-comers to the sport to Congressman Ryan's admission to enjoying the thrill of the catch in the murky depths, more brave souls are wanting to give the age-old sport a try. According to a recent write up in the Tyler Paper, catfish noodling is now considered one of the newest "extreme" sports to hit the mainstream. To learn how to get in on the action with quality catfish noodling instructional DVDs, look no further than the official website of Jerry "Catfish" Rider. Look through his video collection and find out how to have the legend himself come speak at your next event! In the meantime, stay cool and safe in the murky lakes and rivers! 

2012 Okie Noodling Tournament Champions

A group of Claremore catfish noodlers made history this weekend at the 2012 Okie Noodling Tournament with a 70.46 pound catfish; the largest ever caught in the famous competition. The annual catfish noodling tournament played host to catfish noodlers from all over the country as they came to Pauls Valley, OK to show off their prized mudcats. Taking grand prize was 24-year-old Claremore native Kaleb Summers. When Kaleb isn't competing, he's showing people around Oklahoma on his nature tours and even takes a few brave souls into the murky depths for a one-on-one catfish noodling tutorial. For details on the catch and the tournament, log on to this Sport Extra feature on Summers. For more on catfish noodling, technique, or hiring a seasoned pro for speaking engagements, log on to the official site of Jerry "Catfish" Rider.