Members of the community ventured out into the 90 degree heat to enjoy big fish, cold beer and live music.
Over 50 people attended the Sinkin Teeth’s fourth annual Noodlin Tournament Sunday, July 12.
Eight teams signed up for the event, but only four showed up at the weigh in, which was at 6:00 p.m.
Each team is made up of three people.
The winner of biggest fish went to Dusty Nelms’ team with a catfish weighing in at 55.2 pounds.
Nelms walked away, not only with the title of reigning champ, but also with $900 and a new pistol.
Nelms has won the tournament the last four years.
Live music was provided by the Redland Band, snow cones from Polar Roller Express were for sale, there was a slip in slide and small pool for kids and the game of horseshoes and cornhole were available to play.
The tournament was hosted by Joe and Lindsey Ready. Sinking Teeth Outdoors sponsors and funds the tournament every year.
Noodling is fishing for catfish using one’s hands. Noodlers will stick their hands in a hole, if the hole is occupied, a catfish will bite their hands and the noodler will pull the catfish out.
Joe Ready has been noodling for 25 years and started when he was seven.
Ready said he wanted to start his own noodling tournament because he was tired of the drama and cheating that occurred at other tournaments.
“People know if you have the same fish or not,” he said.
Ready said a way people cheat is by using the same fish at different tournaments.
Another reason Ready wanted to start his own tournament was to be able to monitor who signs up.
Noodling partner Andrew Kilgore said it was illegal to bring a live fish across the state line, and the fish needs to be alive at weigh in.
By starting his own tournament, Ready can decide who can participate and who can’t.
Ready said noodling is a dangerous sport.
“You have to have a good buddy that you trust,” he said. “You have to be able to communicate under the water.”
Kilgore and Ready have been noodling partners for six years.
Ready said he loves the rush noodling gives.
“It’s all about the bite for me,” he said. “Whether it’s 10 pounds or 100 pounds, it’s all about the adrenaline.”
Although he’s had a few close calls with snakes and beavers, Ready said the only injury he’s sustained while noodling is having a snapping turtle bite his lip when he was noodling with his dad as a kid.