Okie Noodling

Do you noodle? No, not canoodle, but fish for 50 lb. catfish using only your bare hands, mano y fisho, so to speak. Noodling is only legal in four states--Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma--the last being the setting for Bradley Beasley's offbeat and entertaining hour-long documentary that follows a handful of handfishers who praise their sport and compete in the First Annual Okie Noodling Tournament (held in Paul's Valley, with the official weigh-in at Bob's Pig Shop). Originally a Native American practice, noodling is definitely an acquired taste, carrying as it does, a fair amount of risk of bodily harm, ranging from snake or beaver bites to outright drowning (you basically stick your hand into a hole underwater and hope that you are stronger than whatever bites back). Viewers will meet three generations of noodlers in the Baggett family, Letterman guest Jerry "Catfish" Rider, and author Burkhard Bilger (who says that the historical literature is full of references to drugging, lassoing, spearing, and caging fish--among other capture methods--but the first mention of handfishing doesn't even appear until 1775). Of course, most of the neighboring Oklahomans are not handfishers (I agree with Art McFarlin, who says, "I'm a freezer fisher, myself"), but the great thing about video and DVD is that you can watch these colorful characters do what they do and not get hurt yourself. DVD extras include filmmaker's commentary (Beasley answered the siren call of noodling) and 15 minutes of deleted scenes. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (R. Pitman)