Contents of the December 12, Press Release by the IGFA..
Plus my own comments

IGFA Restores 50 Year Old Smallmouth Bass Record

     Dania Beach, Fla. (Dec. 12, 2005) After an intense investigation of documents, many from over 50 years ago, the International Game Fish Association, the organization which among its duties maintains world records for both Freshwater and Saltwater game fishes, has reinstated a record for the biggest smallmouth bass ever caught.
     While Fishing Dale Hollow Lake on the Tennessee/Kentucky Line, July 8 1955 David Hayes, Litchfield Ky. caught the biggest smallmouth bass of his life. He brought it to a nearby marina which weighed the catch at 11Lb. 15Oz. and measured it at 27 inches long with a 21.5 inch girth.
(Editor's Note: The fish was weighed at 2 different Marina's. Originally at Wisdom Dock in Kentucky but the Scale was not state certified. The Dock owner sent them to the Cedar Hill Dock where there was a Certified Scale. The weight at Wisdom was noted as 11 pounds 15 ounces... The IGFA was provided statements and information on this by TWRA in the mid 90's)
     Hayes entered the fish for a record with Field and Stream, magazine which at the time was the keeper of freshwater records. Field and Stream magazine granted Hayes fish a record for the heaviest smallmouth bass ever taken on road and reel, and in 1978 when the IGFA took over freshwater record keeping from Field and Stream it was granted a world All-Tackle record by the IGFA.
     On August 17, 1955 unbeknownst to Field and Stream or the IGFA, Raymond Barlow submitted an affidavit to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stating that Hayes Fish, had only weighed 8lbs 15 oz. and that eh had stuffed 3 pounds of metal (Motor Parts in most stories) in the fishes mouth and stomach to make it a record. It was not until 40 years later when the affidavit was uncovered that the IGFA was contacted and informed about the sworn statement.
(Editor's Note: I saw the affidavit, or a copy sent to me by Ron Fox of the TWRA. The Affidavit in question was not a legal document. It was NOT SIGNED by either Raymond Barlow, or the clerk of the court or a judge as is required to make it a LEGAL document. Sworn Statements have to be signed by the person making the accusation and verified by a judge or clerks signature) (Second Note: Field and Stream when contacted for the original article on this site said they were aware of the controversy at the time and sent a reporter to Celina Tn. to check out the story. The reporter found no reason to believe any of the rumors or the affidavit.)
"The IGFA's policy has always been to investigate standing records when proof is brought forward challenging its legitimacy." said Jason Schratwieser, IGFA Conservation Director. "After reviewing the affidavit, the IGFA in 1996 rescinded Hayes record and a 10lb 14 oz. smallmouth caught by John Gorman in 1969 on Dale Hollow Lake was recognized as the new IGFA All Tackle world record.
( Editors Note: The IGFA totally ignored the same evidence presented to them, that the record was NOT salted for 10 years. Failing to give Ron Fox of the TWRA any credit for the research he did on this record proving it was not salted. Only after Ken Duke of Bassmasters wrote an article that showed their arrogance did the IGFA return the record)
The Release goes on to point out that the Hayes fish was longer and had a larger girth than the record fish that was currently recognized.

All in all.. I am EXTREMELY happy for David Hayes. Through all of this David was a true gentleman and a true sportsman. He stayed out of the fray and accepted what the IGFA ruled. David Hayes KNEW he had the record and that was all that mattered to him. What others thought was not important.

The IGFA owes Mr. Hayes an apology for the 10 years that his record was out of the books. The IGFA did NO investigation of the SINGLE document that was produced to cause the rescission of the record. It failed for 10 years to accept the input of others that made the same arguments that Ken Duke made. ONLY after a National Publication came forward and embarrassed them would the IGFA reconsider.
At one point I personally was told by an IGFA Representative that the IGFA does not get involved with any fish that has a controversy about it. It will be a cold day in hell before the Hayes fish is ever considered for the record.

I guess it got really cold down there on December 12, 2006.

Jim Dicken
World Record Smallmouth.com
Float and Fly.com
Fishing Guides Home Page

Fishing Guides Home Page

Contact Information for
the International Game
Fish Association: 
300 Gulf Stream Way 
Dania Beach , 
Florida 33004 U.S.A.
(Map - Click Here)
Phone (954) 927-2628
Fax (954) 924-4299 
E-Mail: hq@igfa.org

Contact for the Kentucky
Department of Fish and
 Wildlife Resources:
Kentucky Department 
of Fish and Wildlife Resources 
#1 Game Farm Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
800-858-1549 
E-Mail our Information Center

Pictures of David Hayes
Late 2004 Click on Pic 
For larger full size image.
 

Photos By Ed Harp of 
The Ohio River.com