Fishing lost a LEGEND recently

James "Cobby" Hayes was one heck of a fisherman and an even better person. We lost Cobby on July 26th after being diagnosed with cancer only 3 weeks earlier. I did not know Cobby had passed until today due to battling my own medical issues. My buddy Steve Headrick told me about it today and my heart sunk and skipped a few beats. I can't tell you fellas how many times I have sat at the table in Steve's store in Celina and talked Smallmouth fishing and the great Dale Hollow lake for hours on end in 2004 up until this past winter. Cobby would see me out on the water and swing his boat over to say hello and I would do the same. Walleye, Crappie, Gils but most of all Smallmouth fishing was his favorite. Steve said that Billy Westmoreland had the softest but Cobby had the 2nd softest set of hands who could flat out work a jig to perfection. Said he could make a hair jig dance a jig, do the 2 step, line dance or anything he wanted to under water to get the finicky smallies to hit. He loved all kinds of fishing but working a hair jig thru the deep grass beds at Dale for Smallies was his favorite. Cobby was one heck of a fisherman, conservationist and all around nice man. Never heard him say a bad word about anyone nor heard of anyone say a bad word about Cobby. I already miss him and will miss out talks and time spent together late at night when the sun goes down around 5 and the FNF bite is on hold for about 12 hours or so until it rises again. My bet is Billy and Cobby have already spent many hours back together again chasing them old brownfish and catching up on the years since Billy passed on the greatest lake in the world. They have already his the spot in Hendricks where Billy landed the 10 pounder, hit the spot on Christmas day of 1973 where Billy had a sure 13 plus pounder to the boat 4 different times before the fishing gods frowned down on him, and the spot on 5 fingers where as Cobby put it "My jig was ate by a Locomotive and there was nothing I could do with her". I will miss by buddy Cobby and only hope to meet you again so you can introduce me to my fishing idle Billy Westmoreland in person. Maybe the 3 of us can hit the Holler for some Brownfish action and I will take you fellas to my favorite FNF spot that has produced more 5 pounders that I can shake a stick at, tell you a few of my tells in hopes that I can only give back a portion of what you gave me. Thanks for all that you ever taught me about smallmouth and Dale Hollow Lake, thanks for taking in a Kentucky boy as part of your Tennessee clan, thanks for everything. Elnut

Sorry for your loss Elwood, prayers for his family and friends and prayers hoping you have a speedy recovery from your own issues.

Thanks for sharing, Elwood.