by Todd Davis
The Best Okie Noodlers
Let’s face it, Okie noodling, or hand-fishing as it’s called, is not for the faint of heart. Noodling is when you get in the water, find a hole with a catfish in it, stick your hand down the fish’s mouth, and when it bites your hand, you pull it out. Keep in mind you are upside down in water over your head. Typically, very muddy water. You never really know what’s in the hole until it bites you. Noodling or hand-fishing is what the fearless, brave, and arguably crazy noodlers do for fun, and, in this case, to see who is the best at it.
The event happens at Wacker Park in beautiful Paul’s Valley, Oklahoma. The festival atmosphere is electric as fans wait eagerly in front of the stage for officials to weigh the fish. As contestants make their way to the stage, the crowd cheers at the sight of the dinosaur-like fish. The fish are weighed and recorded as pictures are taken. Then they are put in a large holding tank so that no fish perishes needlessly. Of course, some are destined for hot grease.
The holding tank is an aquarium built on an 18-wheeler trailer. Fans can watch the fish as they are placed in the water. If you want to know what it’s like to handle one of these monsters, fans can join the fish in the tank and lift one out. This is a lot safer way to noodle than diving under muddy water and blindly sticking your hand in a hole.
And the Winners Are!
To even the playing field, there are several categories that contestants could compete in. The categories and winners are:
1. Natural Division
a. Winner – Sammy Cooper Jr./68.9 lbs. fish
b. Runner-up – River Williams/65.9 lbs. fish
2. Scuba Division
a. Winner – Cody Stacy/ 63.04 lbs. fish
b. Runner-up – Clay Armstrong/56.46 lbs. fish
3. Female Division
a. Winner – Kodi Bennett/56.37 lbs. fish
b. Runner-up Roker Davis/50.06 lbs. fish
4. Under 17 Division
a. Winner – River Williams/65.9 lbs. fish
b. Runner-up – Grant Armstrong/53.27 lbs. fish
5. Smallest Fish – Gabriel Todd/3.69 lbs. fish
6. Largest Fish – Sammy Cooper Jr./68.9 lbs. fish
What Leads to a Life of Noodling?
The contestants are as interesting as the fish themselves. They come from all walks of life and all over the Midwest. For most, it’s a family affair and in some cases, it’s a husband-and-wife thing. Several couples said their first date was spent in the lake noodling. They have all been married for years, so maybe noodling is the secret sauce to a happy marriage. Let’s meet a few of the contestants.
Kodi Bennett
Kodi won the top female category and was third in the scuba category. She and her husband Levi are from Colgate, Oklahoma. Kodi and Levi met when she was 18 and they have been noodling ever since. She brought a 56.37-pound catfish from under an old boat ramp on Lake Eufaula. She and Levi were fishing together when Kodi found a trail along the bottom of Lake Eufaula that was left by a big fish. She followed the trail to an old boat ramp and wrestled the brute to the bank. Proof that couples that noodle together, stay together.
River Williams
The Williams family is from Shawnee, Oklahoma, and they are well-known around the Okie Noodling community. They were all very successful at the 2023 Okie Noodling Tournament, but the day belonged to 14-year-old River Williams. He has been wrestling catfish since he was three, and no one is more passionate about the sport than River. He spends much of his time helping Adrenaline Rush Adventures, a fishing charter specializing in noodling. He walked the stage with his 65.9-pound catfish like a rock star. His 12-year-old brother wrestled a 48-pounder from a boulder on Rock Creek. River felt there might be another fish hiding in the same hole. River’s hunch paid off and he wrestled the big 65-pounder out of the same hole. River was runner-up in the natural category and won the 17 and under category.
Meet the Fans
The noodling contestants came from every walk of life, and the same can be said for the fans. Many fans saw past tournaments covered on television and decided to come. Others were on the fence about entering the contest and wanted to see it firsthand. Still, others wanted to enjoy the festivities, but most came to see monster fish and the people who caught them.
This group of friends was almost a show all by themselves. They are from Arkansas and Louisiana and are not afraid to give each other grief about living on the wrong side of the border. They were on vacation in Broken Bow, Oklahoma and came over to Paul’s Valley to see the tournament and enjoy the festival. The Okie Noodling Tournament has always been on their bucket list, so they made the trip and had a great time.
Adam and Bridget Rowan
Adam and Bridget are transplants to Paul’s Valley from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This was their first Okie Noodling Tournament and Festival, and it won’t be the last. Although noodling is not something they want to try firsthand, they plan on renting a booth next year. Keep an eye out for the Happily Ever Crafter booth next year and say hi.
The Okie Noodling Festival
The festival was complete with booths and plenty of opportunities to shop at Wacker Park. From food and drink to crafts and knives, there was almost anything you might want. The Fallen Outdoors sponsored the cornhole tournament and raised money for veterans. The mechanical bull claimed its victims. There were bounce houses and a park across the street for the kids to play. Security was present, but the crowd was not one to cause trouble. Kaitlyn Craig was even crowned the 2023 Okie Noodling Queen.
Noodling is not the only contest you will find. There was a contest for everyone to include:
• Cornhole Tournament
• Watermelon Crawl
• Catfish Cook-off
• Men’s Only Wet T-Shirt Contest
• Kid’s Catfish Eating Contest
• Okie Noodling Queen Competition
• Okie Noodling Concerts
The highlight of the festival were the concerts. Kat Hasty and the Ely Young band started things off on Friday. Saturday included Gannon Freeman, along with Shane Smith and The Saints. Of course, the place was rocking, which was great fun for everyone. The event scheduling was great, and it was one thing after another. There was always something going on.
More Than a Noodling Tournament
The Okie Noodling Tournament and Festival is much more than a noodling competition. It is also more than a festival. It is a celebration of a way of life and a proud community opening their town up for all to enjoy. The people are warm and inviting, the local businesses are excited to see you, and the fishermen are bringing in the megalodons of the catfish world. The Okie Noodling Tournament and Festival is America at its best. You should add it to your bucket list, and I will see you next year!
