Sherry Chandler

The New York Times discovers the fine art of noodling:

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The real risk in noodling, which involves sticking your arm into a catfish nesting hole and yanking out whatever swallows your fist, is not in getting caught doing it out of season, but in reaching too far into the hole and getting snagged by spiny fins.

Just consider the case of Gov. Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky.

A year ago, after being accused of illegally forcing Democrats out of state Civil Service jobs and giving the jobs to political loyalists, Mr. Fletcher, a Republican, dismissed the charges as little worse than noodling in March. (Noodling is legal only from June 1 to Aug. 31.)

…

As a Republican running the executive branch after such a long period of Democratic rule, Mr. Fletcher faced an unusual level of pressure, especially from rural Republicans. Many accusations center on the state’s transportation cabinet, partly because in poorer regions of Kentucky, there is no political capital more precious than state positions as road crew supervisors or backhoe operators. The jobs pay well, are relatively secure and require limited qualifications.

Thurston “Fuss” Poe was a master at catching fish with his hands. He was my father’s lifelong hunting/fishing/drinking/dancing buddy and I thought he hung the moon. When I was 4 or 5, he’d let me ride on his back through the deep holes of Eagle Creek. In water up to his neck, he’d probed under the ledges cut in the rock and clay by the current. He was slow and easy and very often pulled out a nice catfish. And if he ever got finned, he didn’t tell me about it.

When I asked how he could get a fish to sit still long enough for him to grab it, he didn’t say a thing about it swallowing his fist. He said he tickled ‘em.

A difference in style, I guess.

As for our boy guv, he’s above all this wallowing in the mud banks. He prefers the fishing style of kings:

“I like fly-fishing, myself,” Mr. Fletcher said with a chuckle. “Noodling is risky if you don’t want to get stung by catfish whiskers.”

Maybe he ought to try less fist and more tickle.

Charlie Hughes of Wind Publications is always way out ahead of me. For example, I pointed you all through to Verlyn Klinkenborg’s NYTimes reflection on Donald Hall and his appointment as U.S. Poet Laureate. In this article, Klinkenborg said: “It’s assumed that the laureate will try to advance the cause of poetry — especially the public awareness of poetry — in a manner somehow separate from the writing of poems.” Charlie, posting on his Kentucky Literary Calendar and Newsletter, has brought the thought closer to home. Here is his POV on the Kentucky Poet Laureate:

[Klinkenborg's statement] brought to my mind the position of Kentucky poet laureate, due for an appointment in 2007. Here’s a quote from a 2004 Kentucky Arts Council press release: Every two years the Kentucky Arts Council coordinates the nomination and selection process for Kentucky’s Poet Laureate. The position was officially created by the General Assembly in 1991 [KRS 153.600] to honor an outstanding Kentucky writer as a champion for the literary arts. The word poet in the position’s title is interpreted in its broadest sense to include persons whose accomplishments are in any of the recognized literary forms, including poetry, fiction, biographical work, creative non-fiction, and playwriting. . . . Kentucky Poets Laureate promote the literary arts in Kentucky through readings and/or public presentations at meetings, seminars, conferences, and other programs across the state, including Kentucky Writers’ Day. The thought that occurred to me is that the art of poetry or writing can best be served or “championed” by a writer doing what s/he does best — writing. If the Kentucky Arts Council (a worthy organization which inexplicably operates under the auspices of the KY Commerce Cabinet) desires to “promote” poetry as described above, perhaps employment of a public relations firm or an advertising agency would be more appropriate, allowing the appointment of poet laureate to do what was intended — honor the recipient and recognize the recipient’s contribution to the literary arts.