A woman carrying a large catfish
A boy grabbing a catfish in a tank
A group of people holding large catfish
Three men up to their shoulders in a lake
A man holding a fish next to a boy
Crowds in front of a small building
A man holds a catfish by the lip
People standing around a catfish tank
Two boys holding a large catfish
A crowd taking photos of a fish
People with large catfish on a street
People holding trophies and checks
A man and fish in a tank
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Big MouthOnce a year, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, is home to the Okie Noodling Tournament, a 24-hour race to bring in the biggest catch using an unusual—and sometimes dangerous—technique. Unlike traditional anglers, noodlers forego the rod and reel and take on massive catfish with their hands, pulling them from holes by their toothless mouths. The American Festivals Project was on the scene to capture the action in 2009. Read more about the Okie Noodling Tournament from the American Festivals Project blog.
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project

Okie Noodling Tournament

See photos of the 2009 Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, in this American Festivals Project travel photo gallery from National Geographic.

April 05, 2010

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