Rockwall fisherman recovers after wrangling prize-winning catfish

(Rockwall) June 21, 2013 – Recovering from a serious ankle injury and staph infection is just one more challenge that “bare knuckle” fisherman Eddie Drake of Rockwall is determined to win.

The 32-year-old Bodin Concrete worker is resting at home following more than two weeks of treatment at Lake Pointe Medical Center. He’s on the mend after snagging the biggest catfish ever entered into a noodling tournament on record – and the biggest cash prize ever awarded – at the Red River Noodling Shootout in Oklahoma. The tournament was held June 1 as part of Durant’s Magnolia Festival at Choctaw Event Center.

Eddie – along with his teammate Blake Pruett – took home more than $5,000 with their monster catch of an 81.25-pound flathead, plus a 63.3-pounder and 33.5-pounder, for a three-fish stringer totaling 178.35 pounds. They won $4,000 for first-place stringer plus $1,525 for the biggest fish. It was Eddie’s first time in an official noodling competition, an event which requires the noodler to wrangle a catfish out of its hole using only his bare hands.

“Eddie wants everyone to know he is improving and plans to return stronger than ever,” said Eddie’s wife, Jennifer, a 12-year Realtor with Coldwell Banker Apex. “He has been doing physical therapy and rehab exercises while fighting his infection. He is a firm believer that you should always noodle with a buddy and never alone. “

Eddie’s initial injury actually came prior to the tournament, when he was fishing at a local lake. He sliced his foot open between his heel and Achilles tendon on an exposed piece of rebar. That incident resulted in ten stitches and a short stay at Lake Pointe Medical Center – a mere bump in the road for the 6-foot-5, 400-pound former offensive tackle who headed to the tournament despite a bandaged ankle. After winning big at the Red River Noodling Tournament, Eddie returned to Lake Pointe where he received additional treatment for a staph infection.

Eddie has lived in Rockwall for more than 25 years, and fishes Lake Ray Hubbard for bass, catfish and crappie.

“His grandfather was a huge influence in his life,” Jennifer said. “He was the first to buy Eddie a fishing pole and ‘shoo’ him out of the house.”

Eddie’s grandfather lost his battle with cancer six years ago, but Eddie plans to pass along his love of fishing and hunting to his twin boys, now 29 months old.

Eddie’s noodling buddies entered two fish in June 15th’s Battle of the Big Cats in Claremore, Oklahoma, capturing a 1st place prize of $5,000 and a 2nd place prize of $2,500. On Saturday, June 22, the team will compete in the largest and longest running tournament, Okie Noodling, in Paul’s Valley, Oklahoma.

UPDATE: Injured Rockwall noodler’s teammates continue to win big

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