Okie Noodling (2001)

It was just by chance that I caught this documentary on my local PBS station. It was by sheer fascination that I actually watched it.

Noodling--a type of fishing that requires a participant to use his/her hand to blindly feel along river banks and beds in hope that some prehistoric sized catfish will bite you--is quite a sight! The oddly endearing doc exposes a cultural phenomenon in the Midwest. It's actually banned in most states, but here, it is celebrated.

What I found most fascinating where the people. There was a genuine passion for this unusual event; the interviewees were consumed by the thrill of grappling in murky water will God knows what. One gentlemen even states his priorities as family, farming, and noodling--in that order.

Okie Noodling highlights Oklahoma with it's noodling tournament and the generations of men that have engaged in the 'sport'.

As I see it, Okie Noodling is an authentic piece of Americana perfectly preserved for posterity. It's an unforgettable eccentric tale that celebrates the passion of a people.