The Big Ones: The World Record Smallmouth Bass of Dale Hollow Lake

By Darren Shell

From the World Record Smallie caught by D. L. Hayes in 1955, to Paul Beal’s 1986 wonder caught on eight pound test line, this book showcases the history of the 10 Dale Hollow Lake bronze-backs listed in the world record. Shell shows Smallmouth fishing’s past and offers theories about its future. Comments from some of smallmouth’s greats, including Billy Westmorland, Stephen Headrick, more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fideli Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 30, 2009
• ISBN: 9781604142396

Darren Shell

Darren Shell started writing in the spring of 2005. His first effort was a simple story about Dale Hollow Lake for his daughter, who was then ten years old. “It was crude and simple, but heart-felt and tender,” Shell says. “It was a ghost tale about the making of Dale Hollow Lake and how they had to dig up old graveyards during the construction.” Several people ended up reading this first effort, and many more began asking for copies. Because this first story was so well received, Shell wrote a prequel to accompany it. The reception for this writing was as popular as the first. Building on that success, Shell wrote six additional short stories that all fit into the first. These were eventually combined into a comb-bound book he printed himself and then sold. This book was also published in perfect-bound form, but is now out of print. “To this day, I still get requests for that book,” Shell says. “I’ve sold more than 500 copies, and occasionally I still find the need to print one from my computer for a friend or family member.” After this success, Shell broadened his scope by writing a series of historical stories for local newspapers. This collection was then published in book form titled Stories From Dale Hollow, and sold close to one thousand copies. These stories prompted Shell to start his company, Gravedigger Tours. Each season, he gives guided “ghost” tours of the park in the center of Dale Hollow. “It’s a historical tour,” Shell says, “and my character, one of the lake’s old gravediggers from 1942 when the lake was made, tells all the tales. It’s a crowd favorite and has earned me the nickname ‘Gravedigger.’” In the fall, a full-fledged set of tours are set up and tourists and friends come from miles around to hear the Gravedigger’s storytelling. This is also a great time for Shell to sell copies of his books. Shell’s latest work, The Big Ones—The World Record Smallmouth Bass of Dale Hollow Lake, deals with a different type of lake history. The book tells of the controversy surrounding the number-one world record smallmouth bass, profiles the number two and three record holders, gives the reader a glimpse of the men behind the those catches and includes several fishing experts’ top 10 tips for catching smallmouth bass. Shell has also set aside 50 signed copies of the book for charity. Dubbed “Fishing For Charity,” Shell’s goal is to donate a total of $5,000 in charitable funds to charities chosen by the people buying the special books. Darren Shell lives and works at his family-run marina on Dale Hollow Lake in middle Tennessee.

Book preview

The Big Ones

The World Record Smallmouth Bass of Dale Hollow Lake

Darren Shell

With Special commentary by Stephen Headrick, the Smallmouth Guru, Billy Westmorland, and Bob Coan

Smashwords ebook published by Fideli Publishing Inc.

Copyright 2011 Darren Shell

No part of this eBook may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Fideli Publishing.

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Author’s Note

When I set out to tell the story of David L. Hayes and his magnificent trophy smallmouth bass, I had no idea how huge this story had become and how far its word had reached. I guess that’s why they call them World records. This one fish has made history in so many ways. From day one, this record had made a name for itself, as well as those that share the number two and three positions on the world record chart.

Caught on the Tennessee/Kentucky State Line, both states have laid claim to David’s 11-pound beauty since its scales first felt dry air. With rumors and half-truths buzzing through the Dale Hollow current, I simply wanted to let the world know the story. Three men sat quietly on the sidelines of this controversial tale and watched as their fish jumped up and down that world record chart. In this book’s writing, I hope I truly captured the fish tales behind all the drama of the media. From D. L. Hayes to John Gorman and Paul Beal, I wanted to tell the fun history that captures the hearts of those that love a good story—and love to fish. In my studies I eventually encountered the many Smallmouths caught by Billy Westmorland, also. This man’s name is on the chart many times! All of these men have great stories all twisted into one, right here on Dale Hollow.

I thank them and their families for their wonderful tales. Here is how it all happened.

DS ~

Chapter One

The One That Got Away

November 1952

D. L. Hayes and his buddy, Paul Miller, sat comfortably in their little fishing boat in the middle of Dale Hollow Lake. It was a cool day with a few ominous clouds rolling in the sky. The two had trolled most of their day around Lillydale Campground in the heart of where the Obey and Wolf Rivers meet. It was a favorite for both men, and this particular day was worthy of their admiration. They’d caught several good fish over the course of the day, but both were still anxious to catch what they’d come for … one of those Dale Hollow Smallmouths.

After a long and pleasant day of reeling in a number of good fish, the men decided to call it quits and join their fellow friends back at Lillydale Campground. They had chosen a pristine point in the heart of the lake to set up camp.

Around the campfire that night, Paul made mention of the weather. Supposed to be pretty cold tonight, boys.

Ah, we’re dressed for a little cold breeze, Miller. This is smallmouth country … no room for pansies. Of course, the bantering of friends went on for quite some time that evening, and all eventually took leave and sauntered off to their tents. As they curled up into their sleeping bags, quite a cold storm was brewing.

When the rays of morning light pierced the weave of David’s tent, he reached out to find his thermometer. It seemed bitter cold despite all their cold weather gear they had carted from their homes in preparation for the trip. David soon found that it not only just seemed cold … it was 19 degrees cold! And to boot, there were four dusty inches of bright white snow all about them. Wow, what a difference a day makes.

Needless to say, the boys didn’t rush from their tents and out into the biting wind and spitting snow. The lake looked formidable, and most were intent on building a fire instead. But after a long and frosty early morning nap and an even longer stay by the fire, Paul and David fired up the little 25 horsepower Johnson and piled in their rods. They’d make the best of this icy day on the Dale.

The two quickly decided that a nearby bend in the river was the spot for them. It was a spot they often frequented and, more importantly, was not far away! The spot in question just happened to be the sharp and final bend in the Wolf River, just above the Tennessee/Kentucky State line. It had a nice array of both shallow and deep water for the boys to troll.

As far as shallow water goes, Dale Hollow doesn’t have its share of it. It’s a deep lake where the channels often delve to below one hundred feet, and even the many shallower spots aren’t fishable until the lake drops its level in the autumn. Usually, by mid November, the lake has fallen fifteen to twenty feet in pool due to the generation schedule at the dam and the naturally drier climate during that time of year. On this cold November day, the water had indeed fallen nearly twenty feet making many of the usually deep fishing spots closer to the surface. It was a condition David liked, and he spent many days fishing the lake at its lower levels.

After another fifteen minutes of searching their way through the cold fog, the boys rumbled past Trooper Island. On some days, the trolling would start right here and wind around the corner to their intended destination of Jones Creek Hollow. But today, the men were looking forward to a calm cove with no breeze to begin their fishing adventure. At least it would be warmer there, out of the wind.

Phillip’s Bottom, Mouth of Wolf River

David finally pulled back on the throttle and eased into the waters near Jones Creek (now State Dock Hollow). The dirt road from Burkesville, Kentucky, was in view just ahead on the left, terminating as a make-shift boat ramp. Even in the frosty morning fog, the winding road looked out of place, carved into the mountain side. Former Governor Albert Happy Chandler built the road to what many referred to as nowhere. It wound its way through the tiny community known as Frogue, then delved into the placid hollow of Jones Creek, also known early-on as Hoots Hollow (Hoot Owl Holler). In its early days, few saw need in yet another road twisting its way toward Dale Hollow Lake. But in its later days, many came to enjoy the Kentucky State Park that