Big Fish Adventures
Big Fish Adventures
Big Fish Adventures in Temple is taking fishing to the extreme and showcasing it to the nation with the popular TV show Hillbilly Handfishin' on Animal Planet.
Also known as noodling, grabbling, graveling and stumping, Big Fish Adventures owners Skipper Bivins and Trent Jackson will take you on the adventure of a lifetime. To noodle, you first have to submerge yourself chest deep in water then use your hands and feet to feel along the sides of the banks. Catfish create holes in the sides of banks where the females lay their eggs. The fiercely protective males then guard the eggs and will attack whatever comes near it.
Bivins and Jackson, showcase the activity as a family sport, since it's been passed down to them from generation after generation. The duo have been noodling together for over 20 years, and insist that anyone interested in noodling has a partner. Snakes and unknown dangers make it hazardous to go alone, plus your partner will help you when it comes to stringing the fish. Blue catfish are catch and release only, though flathead catfish are fair game.
Since successful noodling depends on the catfish breeding season, the best time to go is between mid-May and August. Contact Big Fish Adventures to get set up for the experience of a lifetime, or catch their episodes on Animal Planet.