Oklahoma's noodlers find big cats despite tough conditions - Tulsa World
The catfish was the biggest of the day Saturday on a noodling day across Oklahoma marked by high-water challenges and festivals celebrating the art of hand fishing. Battle of the Big Cats, Route 66 Richest Noodling Showdown, entertained a crowd at Will Rogers Downs near Claremore and involved 45 anglers on 15 teams. The time-honored 16th Annual Okie Noodling Tournament at Pauls Valley had 60 individual entrants. Pauls Valley typically has more than 100 hand-fishers. “We heard from several people who simply said there was no way for them to get to the places they normally fish,” said Sherri Wing, president and CEO of the Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce. Nate Williams of Okemah — a hand-fisher of some television fame with History Channel’s Mudcats and other shows — was the big winner at Pauls Valley with a 60. 9-pound flathead that was largest overall and largest in the “natural” category — as... He won $3,000 for largest fish and $1,000 for the category. The Pauls Valley contest rewards largest individual fish in several categories with a $3,000 prize for largest fish overall while the Claremore tourney offers $5,000 for the largest stringer of three fish, plus $500 prizes for biggest catfish by... Source: www.tulsaworld.com
