I met David L. Hayes today....THE MAN

[AndyG]

Great story. That wouldve been awsome.

[Todd2]

That was better than most stories in Bassmasters, lol. Thanks for sharing.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Something I forgot was Mr. Hayes was trolling when he hooked Ol Joe. His wife and son was asleep in the bottom of the boat and he yelled for Mrs. Hayes to get up and get the net. He put the boat in a slow turn in order to help get some line back on the reel. When Joe jumped the first time, as he did the previous 2 times she was hooked, she broke the back hook out of the Bomber Crankbait. Mr. Hayes saw this happen and knew she was barely hooked then. When he got her next to the boat he could see that the fish had the front hooks inside its gills thru the outside of the body. When he got her in the net and picked up the fish as he went to remove the hooks it fell right out. There was not a barb at all attached to the fish. Sometimes it is just fate that a fish is caught.

I have the pictures on email if anyone wants them, send me an email to [email protected] and I will forward them. Still don't know how to post them here but my guess is Redneckshadrap will help me figure it out or someboday.

[thebassman30]

I ran into Dave Stewart and he mentioned that you posted here.

The only thing to top this would be for you to break it on the FNF.

[johnking82]

Thats awesome Elnut...great writeup!