Watch Hillbilly Handfishin'

Hillbilly Handfishin' is a reality television show aired by Animal Planet in 2011. The show revolves around the sport of noodling, also called handfishing, a traditional fishing method. The concept of the show is to follow the exploits of various groups of handfishermen and handfisherwomen from around the country as they navigate the dangerous waters of lakes and rivers to catch fish using only their hands.

The show is hosted by Skipper Bivins, who is an expert in the field of noodling and has been doing it for over 30 years. He is joined by Trent Jackson, another experienced handfisherman and the two of them train the novice noodlers on the show. The team is also supported by Christian Bivins and Heather Bivins, Skipper's son and daughter-in-law respectively.

The show is set in the picturesque countryside with beautiful green landscapes and water bodies. The Hillbilly Handfishin' crew travels to various locations to meet up with local noodlers and their friends and family. The show has a certain rustic charm and is full of humor and excitement.

The noodling process is not a simple task, as the handfishermen have to wade into the murky waters, dive under rocks and other debris to catch the fish with their bare hands. The handfishermen have to be careful while handfishing as the waters they wade in are also habitats of other species of fish as well as snakes, eels, and other aquatic creatures. The success of the fishing expedition depends on the skill and experience of the handfishermen and their ability to spot the fish while underwater.

The show follows a predictable format where each episode begins with the Hillbilly Handfishin' crew arriving at a new location, and meeting the local noodlers. The crew then spends some time with the noodlers learning about the area and their fishing traditions, before heading out to the waters for the main event, catch-and-release noodling.

Each episode features three groups of noodlers, and a leader from each group is selected to compete against the other leaders for bragging rights as the best noodler of the day. The competition is held in a friendly spirit of camaraderie, and the noodlers encourage each other and share tips on how to improve. The competition is judged based on the size, weight, and type of fish caught by each leader.

Throughout the show, the Hillbilly Handfishin' team provides educational information about various fish species and their habitats, and the environmental impact of noodling. They also highlight the potential dangers and legal issues that noodlers face and the importance of protecting fish populations and habitats.

The show's production values are high, with beautiful camera-work, and expert editing that captures the excitement and the humor of the fishing expeditions. The show features a lively soundtrack that reflects the mood of the show and adds to the overall entertainment value.

In conclusion, Hillbilly Handfishin' is a fun and adventurous reality show about the traditional sport of noodling or handfishing. The show successfully captures the essence of noodling, which is about camaraderie, skills, and danger, all rolled into one exciting package. The show is perfect for fishing enthusiasts and fans of reality television who are looking for something unique and entertaining.

Hillbilly Handfishin' is a series that ran for 2 seasons (21 episodes) between September 24, 2010 and on Animal Planet