It's early, I'm working, and I'm getting a head start on a sore throat and head congestion (which suggests something unhealthy heading my way prior to my Tennessee trip), but I can't leave the Underground's Alert Readers wholly bereft of their morning fix. Drink fully my friends - of the rich, tasty "Nectar-of-the-Gods" fullness that is modern fly fishing...

Later today, I expect to have some urgently breaking bamboo fly rod news that could affect your children's health (the health part is not true, but I learned that teaser from the TV news). It will involve gripping drama, but for now, I'm going to focus less on the refined and more on the absurd...

Noodle this....

Dave Edmondson is clearly Trout Underground material (in that he's a little off center), so I wasn't completely surprised when he offered to loan me a DVD titled "Okie Noodling" - a multiple-award-winning documentary (I am not making this part up) about an obscure branch of the sport where you don't actually fish for fish as much as grab them with your bare hands.



Needless to say, this is not a pursuit you want to practice where there are alligators and other vicious, toothy predators, but in the few states where it's legal, it attracts a loyal following. The Underground gives the movie two thumbs up (and we don't noodle so we still have both thumbs). It's definitely worth Netflixing (hey - we invented a verb) and you can see the trailer at their site.

Less odd (but more relevant) is an interesting fly fishing blog from a United Kingdom fly fisher who - because of his love for bamboo and lively approach to the sport - is probably also Underground Material. Visit this fly fishing blog (Urban Fly Fishing on the Kelvin) that's dedicated to... (wait for it) "Anyone that wears chest waders on the bus."

OK, that's an admittedly small part of the population, but in an age when half the e-mail you receive is probably from criminals, it's nice to see someone's point of view so clearly spelled out at the start.

Also worth a visit is the Fishing Jones blog, which is titled "News for angling addicts."

Later, we'll cover the breaking bamboo news and also do a little weekend fishing report roundup, that awkwardly assembled furball of misinformation I put together when I didn't actually fish myself. It's a winner. See you wherever noodling's legal.