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Noodling in Oklahoma
On this month's tour of America's Heartland we will be introduced to some of our country's most unique sportsmen as they gather in Pauls Valley, Okla., to determine the Okie Noodling Champion for 2007. According to a convincing description in Wikipedia--"noodling is the practice and sport of fishing for catfish using only one's bare hands." Clearly defining this uniquely extreme sport as not for the faint of heart, the following excerpt from an article by Keith Sutton on Cabela's website says it all "when a noodler reaches into a catfish's lair, the fish may nip, bite or engulf the noodler's hand. Some noodlers wear gloves. Most believe this hinders the sense of touch necessary for determining the type of creature in the hole, its position and the best method for capturing it. The noodler reaches in and tries to grasp the fish by the mouth or gill cover. He attempts to resurface with quarry in tow. This may require extraordinary effort. It may be impossible. That's part of the challenge." You may have already begun planning your first excursion into the secret lairs of catfish noodling--packing up the old SUV, loading the cooler and preparing to bring in the granddaddy of all catfish without losing a single digit (or one of the kids). Or perhaps you are inclined to experience this phenomenon a little more vicariously. If that's the case, plot your GPS for Pauls Valley (Exit 72 off I-35 just south of Oklahoma City) to meet and cheer on those intrepid fishermen and their whiskered catches as they compete for bragging rights at the 2007 Okie Noodling Championships June 30. It's a family affair at Bob's Pig Shop, the official site of the annual competition, and admission is free. 
But don't for a minute think that noodling is the height of excitement in Pauls Valley. During June's port-of-call we will stay overnight in a Moorish mansion at Pauls Valley Bed & Breakfast, enjoy wine tasting at Valley Vineyards & Winery, visit the world's only Toy & Action Figure Museum, savor pecan pie fresh from Field's famous ovens, tempt our taste buds as we tour Bedré's luscious chocolate factory, fill our not so empty tummies with sizzling fajitas at Los Dos Amigos, and shop 'til we drop in historic downtown at gift and antique shops like The Corner Market and the gallery where we find colorful, international merchandise from wearable art and handmade pottery to matchless jewelry and fine leather goods. For information about Okie Noodling, visit www.okienoodling.com or for more on Pauls Valley call 405-238-6491 or visit www.paulsvalley.com. Susen Foster writes monthly travel columns for several magazines and is the author of a series of popular travel books including the upcoming Inns & Wineries of America's Heartland showcasing Kansas and Oklahoma. She can be reached at info@greatersuccess.com. 6/18/07 Advertisement
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