Across the state, low water conditions have exposed illegal noodling barrels placed to attract spawning flathead catfish. Sites like these are primarily used by noodlers and scuba divers sporting illegal poles with hooks attached. Game Warden Brady May in Cherokee County has made cases at this location on Lake Tenkiller before simply by watching scuba diver's activities. The last diver to use this site was hiding his plastic pole with hook attached in the railings underneath his pontoon boat. The remains of broken poles and hooks were found deep inside the cavities of these man-made caves.

With the help of federal lake rangers, Oklahoma game wardens have removed hundreds of these barrel traps from dry lake beds all across the state. With the onset of spring rains, many returning fish poachers will return to these sites only to find out that our officers have evened up the score.