Last week, I touched on the subject of noodling and I felt it’s a worthy to elaborate.

Native Americans were the first to practice this type of fishing.

Noodling takes place during the warm summer months when catfish spawn in the south and Midwest.

According to the National Geographic, this sport goes by many names. In Nebraska, it’s known as stumping.

In other places, it’s called grabbling, hogging, dogging, graveling, or tickling.

In Oklahoma, the pastime is known as noodling, which, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, describes “a stupid person.” Coincidence? Perhaps.

You might think I am making this stuff up but it’s true.

As much as I hate to admit it, my buddies and I have gone noodling before. I wish I could blame it on the booze, yet none of us drank.

When we slid into that muddy Salt Fork River, we were four stupid guys with a clear mind but with not too much sense.

Norlin was the leader of this expedition, so he gave the other three of us directions on who was to do what. We felt around with our feet along the river bottom until we found a large rock. Norlin had each of us to go under and feel for any openings under the rock.

I have to admit when I went under, I was praying to God to forgive my stupidity in case I was about to die. I hoped there would be nothing there.

To my surprise, I found a hole and slid my hand under the rock and when mºy fingers touched the slimy skin of whatever it was. I let out a yell and surfaced immediately.

Everyone surfaced and they too had felt the fish.

Thankfully, my hole was too small for it to escape. All I had to do was keep my foot in front of the hole.

Bershe was standing across from me with the same duties. But poor Miller he was chosen to go under and grab the fish by its mouth and pull it out.