Its Always Good To Dream

[demodan]

The world record was caught on a small CB deep diver; right??? The story from 1955goes that D.L. Hayes from Litchfield Ky. caught it on a pearl color deep diver bomber. But some say that this was not true...that it was actualy caught on a differnet type of CB, one not easy found, made of wood of course, had a metal lip. Im sure of this...Saw a picture of it once. D.L. Hayes himself showed the CB to a close friend back when he caught it (as I recall the story),...and only him. After D.L. Hayes died...his friend showed the world the actual CB..and Field and Stream Magazine took a picture of it right then.
My Gradfather died...he left me his tackle box...and it had the same model CB...but just a different color. I can't recall the name / type of CB it is, I have it at home...I'll look at again when I get home this evening. I also have the magazine artical that has a piture of the CB, and the last interview with Mr. Hayes. Where he caught it, ...is some confusion as well. Some said he was in Little Sulphur...but Im 100% sure in his last interview recorded...Hayes said he caught it up Illwill creek half half way up, just past Fanney's creek on the west side bank...of course in Ky! Also, the second largest Smallmouth bass also came from Dale...10lbs.14 ounces... they said that this one was caught in Little Sulphur for sure, also on a deep diver CB! But if I had to pich another place a world record smallie would be caught..I'd go with the Tenn. River...from the west Tenn., into Alabama. Many brown pigs are being caught there...very large smallies...9 & 10 pounders have been recorded here as well.

[kygorski]

The biggest bass I ever saw[lmb] was caught on a white bomber in january, on center hill. This was in 1957.We drove from chicago in an ice storm, there were no diveded highways, few all night gas stations, and only two launch marinas on the lake then.We went there because of the huge walleyes they were catching.It was a bust for eyes, but did get some decent bass. first time I ever heard or saw a doll fly, and lost almost a weeks pay learning how to fish them. many of those big walleyes, were snagged by locals, the old big treble, cast and yank.That bass was weighed at almost 13 lbs. Also found about sculling padles.

[mhall]

The world record was caught on a small CB deep diver; right??? The story from 1955goes that D.L. Hayes from Litchfield Ky. caught it on a pearl color deep diver bomber. But some say that this was not true...that it was actualy caught on a differnet type of CB, one not easy found, made of wood of course, had a metal lip. Im sure of this...Saw a picture of it once. D.L. Hayes himself showed the CB to a close friend back when he caught it (as I recall the story),...and only him. After D.L. Hayes died...his friend showed the world the actual CB..and Field and Stream Magazine took a picture of it right then.
My Gradfather died...he left me his tackle box...and it had the same model CB...but just a different color. I can't recall the name / type of CB it is, I have it at home...I'll look at again when I get home this evening. I also have the magazine artical that has a piture of the CB, and the last interview with Mr. Hayes. Where he caught it, ...is some confusion as well. Some said he was in Little Sulphur...but Im 100% sure in his last interview recorded...Hayes said he caught it up Illwill creek half half way up, just past Fanney's creek on the west side bank...of course in Ky! Also, the second largest Smallmouth bass also came from Dale...10lbs.14 ounces... they said that this one was caught in Little Sulphur for sure, also on a deep diver CB! But if I had to pich another place a world record smallie would be caught..I'd go with the Tenn. River...from the west Tenn., into Alabama. Many brown pigs are being caught there...very large smallies...9 & 10 pounders have been recorded here as well.

Caught trolling a Hellbender which was made by Bomber, I believe that story to buddy, Know some old timers that swear it was definately a Hellbender it was caught on.

[Shimano4Life]

I once believed the next record brown would come from Dale or Cumberland.

I hate to say this, but I think it will come from out West, probably California. The extended growing season and the trout are plentiful, allowing those fish in particular to grow at a more rapid pace than around our region.

If the fish is caught in our region, it will be close to death because our growing period isn't as long as warmer regions and it will be an ancient toad.

Like I said, the West is probably more likely to produce the record. Doesn't necessarily mean that I like it that way, but the resources are there to produce it.

[Chubminnow]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know which month the record was caught from Dale, under what conditions, day time or night time?

[elnutsmalljaws]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know which month the record was caught from Dale, under what conditions, day time or night time?

July 9, 1955, trolling a Pearl White Bomber crankbait in the daytime in his Lone Star Cabin Cruiser with David Jr. and his wife on board. They were asleep at the time he hooked the record. David had hooked this fish in November a couple of years earlier and named it Ol Joe. 27 inches long, 21 2/3 inches in girth, he let out line just across the state line north of Lillydale with the Phillips Bottom bluff to his left and hooked the fish as he swung around the point of trooper island that stretches out into the Wolfe river towards the now day state park lodge. 11-15 in the dead of summer is very impressive. Add a pound of eggs or more back in Mar or April before the spawn and you are looking at a 13 pounder for sure

By the way, July 9 happens to be my mom's birthday so there is NO DOUBT that I will catch the next Record Smallie, mark it in your book, GUARANTEED 110% GURARANTEED - I think

[mhall]

Trolling a Hellbender in daytime in July. That white pearl Bomber stuff was made up to keep people off of the Hellbender bite.

It is my understanding that during those days ALOT of smallmouth and largemouth were caught out of that lake trolling these deep diving UGLY baits. Never have been able to throw one much just too dang ugly, but man they get down there on 10 or 12# test though.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Trolling a Hellbender in daytime in July. That white pearl Bomber stuff was made up to keep people off of the Hellbender bite.

It is my understanding that during those days ALOT of smallmouth and largemouth were caught out of that lake trolling these deep diving UGLY baits. Never have been able to throw one much just too dang ugly, but man they get down there on 10 or 12# test though.

Are you sure Mark about the Hellbender? I was told by Steve Headrick about the Pearl White Bomber a couple of years ago and then the book "The Big Ones" came out early this year that was the history of the 3 biggest Smallies on record, Hayes Record, Gorman 2nd and Beals 3rd biggest fish and it says a White Pearl Bomber as well. Where did you get the Hellbender story?

[mhall]

This is ole wives tell stuff but here goes. Hayes had told many of his close friends and relatives what he really caught it on and why he wanted to change the story. The color was white but it was a Hellbender instead of the crankbait he claimed. This was also brought up later by the KDFWR to try and lay more stock that he and his brother put weight in the bass's belly as well to bump up weight. According to many reports that alot of guys in the know would catch alot of big smallmouth trolling Benders deep and didn't want the general public to know about this pattern.
I have heard this story over the years from many different people including a older gentlemen that lives close to Burkesville that said he knew Hays well and this story was true.
As you travel around down there and meet folks ask around about this story and I bet you here itseveral times. Sounds like the poster above on this thread has heard it before.
MANY World record fish caught the recorded truth about them is mostly BS, especially what they were caught on.
Do I know this as Gospel............of course not it is all backroom tackle shop talk, but I've heard it enough from enough people and especially the one that claims he knew him that I actually believe it, I guess we'll really never know for sure, one of life's great little mysteries I guess.

[rickhise]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know which month the record was caught from Dale, under what conditions, day time or night time?

july 1955, daytime,

[Duayne]

If there are smallies feeding on trout out west, then that's where the record will probably be challenged. Most people do not make the connection but the size of the LM bass and stripers dropped considerably in Cumberland when they stopped stocking it with trout. A fish on trout is equal to a fish on steroids. I can only imagine what Cumberland would be like if they still stocked it. Sadly, it wouldn't be all good.