| The
long-standing 11-lb., 15-oz. world record smallmouth bass
from Dale Hollow reservoir, Tenn., has been removed from
the International Game Fish Association's record books,
because the fish was apparently "salted" by a
fishing guide. The IGFA dropped fish from its record lists after a 41-year-old affidavit concerning circumstances of the fish's weight somehow reached the record-keeping group. That affidavit, signed by a Clark Co., Tenn., circuit court judge in August, 1955, states that Dale Hollow fishing guide, John H. Barlow of Celina, Tenn., and others, added weight to the bass while the angler, David L. Hayes, was occupied elsewhere. Barlow swore that he "salted" the fish with 3 pounds of lead and outboard parts, the smallmouth had "lacked 1 ounce of weighing 9 pounds." Barlow apparently mailed the affidavit to the U.S. Corps of Engineers which manages the lake. The Corps returned the statement to Barlow with a note saying the engineers do not keep or participate in world record fish data. There is an article with photos in the November issue of Bassmaster magazine. The IGFA ruled that a 10-lb., 8-oz. smallmouth caught by Paul Beal from the Hendricks Creek area of Dale Hollow is now the world record, although a larger smallie was caught, registered and well documented in newspaper and magazines. Hoosier John T. Gorman, hometown unknown, caught the 10-lb., 14-oz. smallmouth at Dale Hollow in 1969. According to discussion on the Internet newsgroup rec.outdoors.fishing.bass, the IGFA, which just opened a spectacular new showplace in Florida, had "never heard of Gorman." Here is an original account of the Hayes catch that was posted on the Internet newsgroup by Roger Felber: "On July 9, 1955, David Hayes disembarked from Cedar Hill Dock, Kentucky (just outside Tennessee). It was a fair day and like so many times before, Dave had come about 100 miles to troll for smallmouth bass. About 10 a.m., as he skirted a shale point, Dave hooked and landed what was to be the new world record. The giant bronzeback tipped the scales at 11-lbs., 15-ozs., was 27" in length and estimated to be 13 years old. "According to Dave, the fish was caught in Tennessee water, but since the ramp he used was in Kentucky, both states lay claim to the record. This fish shattered the former world record by nearly one-and-one-half lbs." "The catch-and-release formula for estimating fish weight For Smallmouth Bass: length cubed/1600. Using that formula for a 27-inch smallmouth bass produces a weight of 12-lbs., 3-ozs. Since Dale Hollow smallmouth growth rates are higher than at any other known body of water, the "real" fish ought to have weighed even more than 12-lbs.,3-ozs., according to the formula. The formula appears to be at least optimistic. This is the third major freshwater world record fish to fall in the past few years. The Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wis., tossed out the former all-tackle world record muskie and the world record walleye, based mainly on photo evidence. None of this should come as a surpise to any angler, because prevarication is a major part of the sport, and we're darn proud of it! 11/24/96. -30- |
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© 1997
Copyright Jordan Communications Published by Digital Voodoo |