I see your point but I disagree. In my opinion the things you mentioned are more fair chase, than pulling a fish out of a hole that has all its escape routes blocked. And keep In mind I do enjoy noodling. These are just my opinions and the way I see it. But again I do see your point and how you could argue that.

Everyone has an opinion but come on guys. Here's mine Let them be. If I have an issue with a law, I talk to congressman. If we all join together we can change a law. But for now it's legal and me ranting over it on the interweb ain't really gonna change it.

Inter web as you say can help to change it! Myself and others do communicate with our representatives. Forums are read by our biologists etc but you see very little response from them on here due to the negative pm 's etc they receive. The squeaky wheel gets the grease as is said!!!!

Tom, it's good to hear that. Just wish more people would join the fight and not just write about it...that's all am saying. It's been too long since this law was passed and I don't see it going away any time soon.

If noodling and keeping big fish is so detrimental to the fish population, I wonder why oklahoma hasn't run out of flatheads yet.

Why ya think their commin to TEXAS

That's not an answer.

They are coming to TEXAS because there are alot of fresh untouched waters to noodle! The daily limit of flatheads in Oklahoma is 10 as opposed to 5 here in Texas. There is no shortage of flatheads in Oklahoma. I do most of my trophy fishing in OK and the fishing gets better year after year.

opus, do some research on oklahoma spoonbill - read the laws...they take their fish conservation pretty serious over there and game wardens up there don't play around - they WILL ticket you...they WILL haul you off to jail - they ARE watching. we know. i was raised there.

now one thing you WON'T find in oklahoma is a bunch of folks tooting their horns about how awesome they are with CPR...they don't have to. common sense.

Common sense and Oklahoma don't belong in the same conversation

Very true.

pot meet kettle

I swear, most of these guys seem to be out to turn cat fishing just like bass fishing. Next time we turn around, they'll be condemning anyone that even mentions eating a catfish.

I don't put my $0.02 to much because it does no good but the thing that gets me is how much energy some folks on public forums put toward putting down someone else's enjoyment. There is a thread on the crappie section about outlawing spider rigging because it helps some people catch THEIR 25 fish limit. People get butt hurt because someone else uses a method of legal means to catch fish and they want to run out and burn people at the stake for doing something they don't agree with? Guys I am all for the resources being here for my kids but come on....there have been families noodling for as long as the water bodies we fish have been in existence and most never know or notice a change. Now it is legal and more openly discussed some say it should be outlawed. I understand most here are not upset about the noodling but more that a large amount of fish MAY be killed at this tournament. Look at it in a logical way, how many teams will be fishing this tourney and of those teams how many will weigh in more than 1 fish with a few select teams bringing in their 5 fish. I will agree that of all the fish brought in to the weigh in I see no reason for all to be killed unless the ones that caught them want to eat them. I would say take a random few of the bigger fish weighed in and use them for the studies and turn the others back. But back to the stones being thrown at the few that are successful at the sport of noodling I say let it rest. I have been noodling since it became legal and I enjoy it as well as my oldest daughter which is 6 yrs old. It is a great way for the family to spend time together, it's like going to the pool, going fishing and having a picnic all at the same time. We turn most fish back and I don't keep any catfish over 10 lbs because I could care less to eat them, I have crappie for that. we are all sportsmen and while there are a few that break the rules they are as many or more breaking them with a R&R. It is what it is I suppose but dang it sure gets old reading all the negative [censored] about a sport that has been around for as long as man knew about a fish and will be around long after you and I are not here to bicker about it....carry on guys and gals and enjoy your time on the water and what ever method you like to catch a fish and be safe.

Clay

The Bass guys have done a fine job in protecting their resources,.....I would love to see Catfishing get as big as Bass fishing...as of right now Catfish aren't on the priority list in many areas..... TPWD being one! The bigger catfishing gets the more resources will be used in research, stocking, protecting the fish.