Okie Noodling “Extreme Hand Fishing”
The 2026 Okie Noodling Tournament & Festival is rapidly approaching. This is the event created for the documentary Okie Noodling (2001) that started it all. This is a once-a-year chance for noodlers and handfishing enthusiasts to compete and meet-up in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma for the world’s largest noodling contest. The character of this event, much like the original documentary, is steeped in backwoods tradition, yet given modern cultural relevance. The crowd in attendance is a unique concoction of local fishing enthusiasts from around Oklahoma and beyond, curious folks, and media from around the globe.
This tournament has been the pulse of the noodling community and has served to inspire television shows, feature films, and books. This event is the only sponsored noodling tournament in the world and has resulted in the sport's recent popular success through shows like Hillbilly Handfishin' (Animal Planet) and Mudcats (History Channel.) Past years have brought The BBC, National Geographic, The New York Times, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The Sportsman Channel and The Discovery Channel to cover this unique festival.
FAQs
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Okie Noodling is a tournament that started 26 years ago at Bob’s Pig Shop. It is one of a kind and has grown to be the world’s largest hand-fishing tournament.
Noodlers pay their entry fees before the deadline prior to the tournament, and start noodling at the start time. The noodlers can fish in Oklahoma waters only, and they have until 5:00pm sharp to have their live fish in line for weigh in at Downtown in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.
There are two divisions to compete in from scuba & natural.
Registration - $45 for entry fees received on or before June 11th, after that the price goes to $55 for registrations starting June 11th-12th. REGISTRATION CLOSES AT NOON ON JUNE 12TH.
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Throughout the day on Saturday there are several activities and competitions planned. These change from year to year but we do our best to have fun things for all ages to participate in while you are waiting on those big fish to arrive!
Be sure to check out the Dog Jog, Little Mr. & Miss Okie Noodling Pageant, Catfish & K9 classics, Okie Noodling Queen contest, Catfish Eating Contest, Men’s Wet T-shirt, and other activities this year.
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Gate admission is FREE, June 20th
Free parking
OKIE NOODLING CONCERT is Free
PRESENTS: CARLY NASH
RAY AND THE HIGHROLLERS
Vendors: CC and cash accepted.
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The Okie Noodling Festival has everything you need! Don’t worry about bringing the ice chest/cooler and trying to keep track of it while you are out enjoying the event. The festival has great food and beverages on site for your enjoyment. Support the Okie Noodling Festival and all of its vendors! New Oklahoma liquor laws state you cannot bring outside beverages into festival and festival grounds.
No one will be allowed to bring in or take out any beverage from the designated festival area. Everyone consuming any alcoholic beverage, must be over the age of 21 and provide a valid ID to a tournament official prior to receiving a wristband. You must have a wristband to purchase alcoholic beverages. Everyone consuming alcohol on the premises must have a wrist band.
We are not allowing any pop-up tents at the festival this year with the exception of our vendors. We understand wanting shade, but these inhibit others view and cause security/medical concerns when trying to get to someone in need during an emergency. Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed.
Noodler Registration Information
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WEIGH-IN FROM NOON-5:00 PM DEADLINE 5:00 PM
OKLAHOMA FISH ONLY, IN OKLAHOMA WATERS ONLY
NOODLERS CAN ONLY CHECK IN ONE FISH EACH.
NO STRINGER COMPETITION! BIG FISH ONLY!
NOODLERS MUST CHECK IN FISH OR BE IN LINE BY 5:00 PM CST ON JUNE 20TH, 2026. NOODLERS ARRIVING AT THE CHECK IN LINE AFTER THIS TIME WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
NOODLERS MUST OBEY ALL OK WILDLIFE REGULATIONS.
NOODLERS MAY NOT BEGIN FISHING UNTIL 36 HOURS PRIOR TO CHECK IN (FISHING MAY BEGIN AT 6 AM CST JUNE 19TH, 2026.)
FISHING LICENSE MUST BE PURCHASED AND DATED NO LESS THAN 36 HOURS PRIOR TO THE CHECK IN TIME.
ABSOLUTELY NO WALK-UP ENTRY FEES ACCEPTED.
ALL FISH MUST BE ALIVE AT WEIGH-IN TIME, WHICH WILL BE CONFIRMED BY WEIGH-IN OFFICIALS. FISH THAT ARE NOT ALIVE WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.
TO CHECK YOUR FISH IN, YOU MUST HAVE A COPY OF YOUR OK FISHING LICENSE.
BE MINDFUL OF NO NIGHT TIME NOODLING LAW.
ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON ON THURSDAY JUNE 11TH, 2026.
EVERYONE WHO ENTERS THIS TOURNAMENT IS SUBJECT TO POLYGRAPH TESTING AND GAME WARDEN INSPECTION.
WE STRONGLY ENFORCE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY REGARDING ANY EFFORT TO CHEAT. POLYGRAPHS WILL BE USED. ANY PERSON, UPON THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OR OKIE NOODLING COMMITTEE, THAT SHOWS A LACK OF CONSIDERATION FOR OTHER CONTESTANTS OR THE RULES WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT ANY CONTESTANT HAS QUESTIONABLE WEIGH-IN ENTRY, OR HAS INITIATED ANY DETRIEMNTAL ACTIONS, BEHAVIOR, OR HARMS THE ENJOYMENT OF THE TOURNAMENT FOR OTHER CONTESTANTS OR SPECTATORS, WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE TOURNAMENT AND WILL FORFEIT THEIR CHANCES AT ANY WINNINGS. OKIE NOODLING RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ENTRY OR ASK ANY PERSON TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY WHO HAS DISPLAYED ANY ABOVE MENTIONED UN-SPORTSMAN LIKE BEHAVIOR OR SHOWS DIS-REGARD TO THE TOURNAMENT, THE RULES, OR ITS OFFICIALS AND/OR CONTESTANTS.
BY ENTERING THE TOURNAMENT & PAYING YOUR FEE YOU ARE AGREEING TO ALL THE RULES LISTED ABOVE.
PRIZE MONEY FOR TOP NATURAL, AND TOP SCUBA.
CHECKING IN / STAGE
UPON CHECKING IN EACH REGISTERED NOODLER WILL RECEIVE A WRIST BAND, ALONG WITH ONE EXTRA WRIST BAND THAT WILL ALLOW YOU, PLUS ONE, TO CARRY YOUR FISH ON STAGE. ANYONE WITHOUT A WRISTBAND IS NOT ALLOWED ON STAGE. NOODLERS MUST TAKE THEIR FISH WITH THEM FROM THE STAGE AND DISPOSE OF IT THEMSELVES. ALL TOURNAMENT PHOTOS, FOOTAGE AND LIKENESSES ARE PROPERTY OF THE OKIE NOODLING TOURNAMENT.*Upon checking in, each registered noodler will receive a wristband, along with one extra wristband that will allow you, plus one, to carry your fish on stage. Anyone without a wristband is not allowed on stage. Noodlers must take their fish with them from the stage and dispose of it themselves.
All tournament photos, footage and likenesses are property of the Okie Noodling Tournament.
ENTRY FORMS CAN BE MAILED TO:
OKIE NOODLING TOURNAMENT, P.O. BOX 778, PAULS VALLEY, OK, 73075
Music Lineup & Event Schedule
Dog Jog 5K - REGISTER
Winner Circle
Vendors open
Weigh in Begins - REGISTER
Catfish & K9s Dog Show -REGISTER
Catfish eating contest
Running of the Wieners- REGISTER Men’sWet T-shirt contest
Adult Queen competition
Weigh-In closes
Winner Announced
Carly Nash Acoustic Open
Ray & The High Rollers
BC & The Big Rig
Close
7:30am
8:30am
11:00am
12:00pm
2:00 pm
3:00pm
3:30pm 4:00pm
4:30pm 5:00pm
5:15pm
5:30pm
7:00pm
9:00pm
11:00pm
Our Sponsors
Become a Sponsor
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the 26th Annual Okie Noodling Tournament please email tourism@citypaulsvalley.com or call Pauls Valley City Hall at 405.238.3308
Vendor Registration
Food Vendor Registration
10’ x 10’ Food Vendor Space (Non-Truck) - $125
10’ x 20’ Food Vendor Space (Non-Truck) - $200
10’ x 30’ Food Vendor/Truck Space - $300
Electric fee - $25
Water fee - $25
FULL for 2026
SEND COMPLETED FORMS & PAYMENT TO:
OKIE NOODLING REGISTRATION
P.O. BOX 778
PAULS VALLEY, OKLAHOMA 73075
Vendor Registration
10’ x 10’ space - $100
10’ x 20’ space - $150