Mississippi—a beautiful state to drive across; a great place for tamales; and a place where sticking your hand in a giant catfish's mouth is a reasonable way to catch it. That's what we did; we showed up at another stranger's house and were welcomed by genuine Southern hospitality and catfish.

The actual act of noodlin' (or hand grabbin', or hand fishin') could have nabbed you a misdeameanor in Texas a few weeks back, but here in Mississippi the method for acquiring these large catfish is still alive and, well.... pretty unbelievable.